HMCS PORT ARTHUR K233
Flower Class Corvette
Built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Port Arthur, Ont., she was commissioned on 26 May 1942 at Montreal. She arrived at Halifax on 10 Jun 1942 and was allocated to WLEF at the end of Jul 1942. In Sep 1942 she was appointed to Operation "Torch" duties, arriving at Londonderry on 01 Nov 1942 from convoy SC.105, and during the next four months escorted U.K.-Mediterranean convoys. On 19 Jan 1943, while so employed, PORT ARTHUR sank the Italian submarine Tritone off Bougie, Algeria. She arrived at Halifax on 23 Mar 1943, and, after brief repairs there, joined Western Support Force at St. John's. On 01 May 1943, her CO, Lt E.T. Simmons, was awarded the DSO. Early in Aug 1943 she began a major refit at Liverpool, N.S., completing on 31 Dec 1943. After working up at Halifax, she joined EG W-9, WEF. In Apr 1944, she was assigned to Western Approaches Command for invasion duties and left St. John's on 24 Apr 1944 for Londonderry. During the following four months she was occupied as a convoy escort in support of the invasion, and in September joined Portsmouth Command. In Feb 1945, she returned to Canada, where VE-Day found her still under refit at Liverpool, N.S. She was paid off 11 Jul 1945 at Sorel and broken up at Hamilton in 1948.
Submarines Sunk: Italian Sub Tritone sunk on 19 Jan 1943 by HMCS PORT ARTHUR off Bougie, Algeria
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos Looking Astern, "PORT ARTHUR" Bags a U-boat
Commanding Officers
Lt Edward Theodore Simmons, DSC, RCNVR - 26 May 1942 - 08 Jul 1943
A/LCdr Kenneth Taylor Chisholm, RCNVR - 09 Jul 1943 - 11 Jul 1945
In memory of those who have crossed the bar They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
(R72) - name from 1972 crew reunion letter
Photos and Documents
(1) The launching of PORT ARTHUR at PORT ARTHUR, Ontario 18 Sep 1941 (2-4) HMCS PORT ARTHUR on her commissioning day - 26 May 1942 DND/RCN photos
Gunshield art of HMCS PORT ARTHUR Source: Designs of Distinction by David Freeman
Gunshield art of HMCS PORT ARTHUR Courtesy of John Palmer (via Bill Gard)
Newspaper clippings from the PORT ARTHUR News-Chronicle Monday May 18, 1942 (LM01) Article on the presentation of comforts and gifts to the crew of HMCS PORT ARTHUR (LM02) PORT ARTHUR crew members - L-R: Front - J.R. Elderbroom, C.J. Barrett, C.F. Brooks, J.J. Reeves, A.J. Gallo, V.T. Robson, E.O. Williams, M.Craing. Back - S. Wilson, A. Crilly, T. Brooks, H. Winslow, L. Manuel, J. Skinner, N. Longworth, H. Quance, E. Sorel, K. Robertson, R. Batchelor (LM03) Three Lakehead men in PORT ARTHUR crew - L-R: Telegrapher C.F. Brooks, Stoker I.L. Manuel and, Stoker I.E.C. Sorel (LM04) Officers of PORT ARTHUR: L-R: SLt G.S. Richardson, Lt Simmons, DSC, CO, LT L. Hoare and SLt R. Cowan (LM05) Photo of the presentation with ship's CO and dignitaries
From the collection of Louis Arthur Manuel, Stoker Courtesy of Bruce Hulbert
Premier of the movie "Corvette PORT ARTHUR", PORT ARTHUR, Ontario, 1943
Photos of the premier of the move "Corvette PORT ARTHUR" in 1943at PORT ARTHUR, Ont. This movie illustrates the Royal Canadian Navy's part in battling the U-boats and protecting Britain's supply lines, featuring the crew of the PORT ARTHUR. This propaganda film used a British submarine on training duty to represent a U-boat that was forced to the surface; the U-boat's surrendering crew was played by the British submariners. Source: Hot Rods and Jalopies Submitted by Bruce Hulbert
Letter sent to the attendees after the crew reunion of HMCS PORT ARTHUR in 1972
From the collection of William Crombie, Tel, RCNVR
Courtesy of Robert Crombie
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