HMCS REGINA K234

 

Flower Class Corvette

 

 

HMCS REGINA K234

RCN Photo

click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1942-44,   Mediterranean  1943,   English Channel  1944,   Normandy  1944

 

 

Laid down: 22 Mar 1941

Launched: 14 Oct 1941

Commissioned: 22 Jan 1942

Fate: Sunk on 08 Aug 1944

 

Built at Sorel Quebec, REGINA arrived at Halifax on 06 Jan 1942, and was commissioned on 22 Jan 1942. She served with WLEF from mid-Mar 1942 until Sep 1942, when she was reassigned to Operation "Torch." Crossing as escort to convoy SC.108, she arrived at Belfast on 22 Nov 1942 for refit, following which she was employed as escort to U.K.-Mediterranean convoys. While thus engaged on 08 Feb 1943, she sank the Italian submarine Avorio in the western Mediterranean, north of Phillipville, Algeria. Returning to Canada late in Mar 1943, she briefly rejoined WLEF before commencing a refit at Sydney on 09 Jun 1943. The work was completed at Pictou in mid-Dec 1943 and workups carried out there, followed by further repairs at Halifax and Shelburne. REGINA joined EG C-1 in Feb 1944, and at the beginning of Mar 1944 left Argentia to escort SC.154 to the U.K., but was detached in mid-ocean with VALLEYFIELD to escort an RN tug towing the convoy rescue ship DUNDEE toward Horta. She left Horta on 14 Mar 1944, this time escorting the damaged HMCS MULGRAVE, under tow for the Clyde. Arriving at Londonderry toward the end of Mar 1944, REGINA was assigned to Western Approaches Command for invasion duties. She was employed as an escort to Channel and coastal convoys until 08 Aug 1944, when she was torpedoed and sunk of Trevose Head, Cornwall, by U 667. REGINA sank almost immediately after being hit. Thirty of her ship's company, 1 officer and 29 ratings, were lost.

 

After the war, it was learned that the Regina was the victim of an attack by U-667, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Lange, one of the new snorkel-equipped boats that could stay submerged longer - another one of Hitler's newly designed weapons that arrived too late in the war to make a difference. And, as happened with so many submarines of the German navy in that war, she too met her end a few weeks later, the victim of a mine laid off the French coast with all hands lost.

 

Submarines sunk:  Italian Sub Avorio (LCdr Fiorentini) sunk on 08 Feb 1943 by HMCS REGINA K234 off Philipeville, Algeria.

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

A Casualty of the Invasion: HMCS REGINA          Remembering HMCS REGINA K234 - Glad to be alive

 

Naval Monument honours RCN prairie seamen and ships HMCS REGINA K234 and HMCS WEYBURN K173

 

Sitting Ducks (starts on page 8 of the link - a story about a young man who joined the RCN in WW II)

 

 

RCN Memories:     My Return to Canada - Donald McIntosh

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr Roland Fraser Harris, RCNR - 22 Jan 1942 - 23 Feb 1942

Lt Roy Stanley Kelly, RCNR - 24 Feb 1942 - 20 Oct 1942

LCdr Harry Freeland, DSO, RCNR - 21 Oct 1942 - 03 Sep 1943

Lt Jack Wiles Radford, RCNR - 04 Sep 1943 - 08 Aug 1944

 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

ARKELL, Joseph W.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

ASSELTON, John D.

L/Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

BEATON, Neil K.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

BLAIN, Ronald G.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

BURROWS, Ernest E.

Sto 2c, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

CRAMP, William J.

Stoker PO, RCNR

killed - 08 Aug 1944

DAWSON, Alfred E.

Stoker, RCNVR

killed - 08 Aug 1944

DENONCOURT, Charles

L/Sto, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

EAST, Richard G.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

FERRON, Kenneth

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

HARRISON, Robert M.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

HELIS, Joseph F.

ERA 4c, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

LATREILLE, Theodore

Sto 1c, RCNVR

died - 25 Mar 1943

LONEY, Donald C.

Stoker, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

LOVELL, Alec S.M.

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

LUSTY, Frank O.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

MALONE, Thomas

AB, RCNVR

killed - 08 Aug 1944

MCCARRON, Francis

AB Radar III, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

MOORE, Harold B.

LS AA3, RCN

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

POUND, Francis J.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

RATHBONE, John C.H.

SA, RCNVR

DOW - 09 Aug 1944

ROBERTSON, Douglas

Sto PO, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

RODSETH, John N.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

RUTTER, James A.

Coder, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

SAULNIER, Joseph M.

AB A/RDF 2c, RCNVR

killed - 08 Aug 1944  

SIMPSON, Frederick

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

SMITH, Adam J.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

SUTHERLAND, Robert

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

SWALM, Charles H.

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

TAYLOR, Albert D.

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

THOMPSON, John

Cook (S), RCNVR

MPK - 08 Aug 1944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

(s) - survived the sinking of HMCS REGINA on 08 Aug 1944

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Alexander, R.J., S.P.O. - 1943 (of Gravenhurst, ON)

 

Bailey, Raymond Geoffrey, A/War (E), RCNVR

 

Barclay, E.W., Stoker

 

Barr, Robert, OS

 

Belanger, Joseph Jules Amable, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

 

Burton, T., L/Sig - 1943 (of Hamilton, ON)

 

Clark, G.L., AB (Crandall, MB)

 

Davies, O., Coder (Winnipeg, MB) - 1943

 

Dryburg, George, OS - 1943 (of Toronto, ON)

 

Edmunds, John

 

Erherdt, Victor, AB

 

Ferrie, R., AB (Invermay, SK) - 1943

 

Flannagan, Pat (s)

 

Forsythe, R., AB (Brandon, MB) - 1943

 

Garneau, Joseph Francois Marcel, SLt, RCNVR - 19 Jul 1943

 

Grant, J., Sto, (Swift Current, SK) - 1943

 

Harrison, Walter, AB - 1943 (of Toronto, ON)

 

Harvey, Denis Pearce, Lt, RCNVR - 11 Apr 1942

Henderson, T.W., E.R.A. - 1943 (of St. Catharines, ON)

 

Herchek, G., CK (Edmonton, AB) - 1943

 

Hogg, Robert, AB

 

Hurst, Allen, C.E.R.A., RCNVR - 1943 (of Dartmouth, NS)

 

Jenkin, B.J., LS

 

Jones, L., Sto (Winnipeg, MB) - 1943

 

Lacey, Francis, Sig (s)

 

Leblanc, R. AB

 

Levins, P.A., AB (Saskatoon, SK) - 1943

 

Maier, Herman Ludwig Peter, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Jun 1943

 

Male, W.A., AB - 1943 (of Welland, ON)

 

Mann, George L., AB (Calgary, AB) - 1943

 

Marr, Francis Barbour, Lt, RCNVR - 25 Apr 1942

 

Martin, B., AB - 1943 (of Hamilton, ON)

 

Martin, Victor 

 

McCulloch, John, Surg-Lt, RCNVR (of Toronto, ON)

 

McDowell, B.A., OS - 1943 (of Port Colborne, ON)

Munro, Ralph Davidson, Lt, RCNVR - 30 Apr 1942

 

Reuvers, John, PO (s)

 

Roger, F., OS (Winnipeg, MB) - 1943

 

Samson, Peter Blay Crombie, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

 

Smith, Robert, AB

 

Smitherman, James William, Stoker 

 

Stewart, John Rawson Kennedy, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

 

Sullivan, Eric

 

Thomas, Roddick Barclay, Lt, RCNVR (of Longueuil, QC) - 1944 (survived sinking of HMCS REGINA)

 

Todd, G., AB (Winnipeg, MB) - 1943

 

Tidsbury, William Harold, A/Lt, RCNVR - 15 Feb 1944

 

Walker, T.R., Sig (REGINA, SK) - 1943

 

Washbrook, Murray, OS (s)

 

Webster, William, AB (REGINA, SK) - 1943

 

Welbanks, Norman, L/Sto - 1943 (of Toronto, ON)

 

Williams, F.N., AB (Winnipeg, MB) - 1943

 

Yankowshi, J., PO

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

Able Seaman Frederick W. Simpson, V/64048, RCNVR

 

MPK - 8 August 1944

Courtesy of Bill Stanbridge

HMCS REGINA K234

HMCS REGINA K234 at Pictou NS circa May 1943 - May 1944

Photo taken from HMCS Kamloops

From the collection of Kenneth Medford, DSM

Courtesy of Gary Medford

Personnel of the corvette HMCS REGINA, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 1943. (L-R): Petty Officer W. Cramp, Able Seaman R. Leblanc, Stoker E.W. Barclay, Petty Officer J. Yankoshi, Leading Seaman B.J. Jenkin, T.N. Jackson

Source: Lt Gilbert Alexander Milne / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-16129

Able Seaman J.M. Saulnier of the corvette H.M.C.S. REGINA, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 1943

Source: Lt Gilbert A. Milne/ Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA 161289

Survivors from the sinking of HMCS REGINA - left to right - AB Robert Smith, RCNVR; AB Victor Erherdt, RCNVR; AB Robert Hogg, RCNVR; OS Robert Barr

Able Seaman Thomas de la Hunt Malone, V/48090, RCNVR

 

Killed - 8 August 1944

 

This story was passed on to me by John Hawley as it was told by survivor Donald McIntosh, V37067, Engine Room Artificer.

 

"On that fateful day when HMCS REGINA was torpedoed, Donald's action station was on the quarter deck with Able Seaman Malone, as part of the crew that prepared and launched the depth charges. REGINA was escorting a convoy when one of the tankers was torpedoed.  The Captain, based on stories from REGINA's survivors, thought the tanker had hit a mine and stopped to pick up survivors. Able Seaman Malone was among many wondering why they were not searching for a submarine.  Having one of those "bad" feelings, he called the bridge and requested permission to put the depth charges to safe.  Not waiting for a reply he had already had those on his crew setting all the charges to safe. Shortly afterwards REGINA was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 30 officers and men - including Able Seaman Malone.  By his actions, Able Seaman Malone saved many of his fellow crewmates for if the depth charges had not been set to safe there was little chance anyone would have survived them exploding as the ship sank." Able Seaman Malone's body, along with those Stoker 1st Class Dawson and Stoker PO Cramp washed up ashore near Pounstock, Cornwall, UK.  All three are buried way at the back of a very old cemetery near where they were found - almost invisible - and almost forgotten. And I say almost.  When John Hawley visited the U.K. he went in search of Able Seaman Malone's grave; which he found and took the photo shown below.  One of the locals had told him how, not long ago, some town's folk found the graves over grown and in a state of disrepair.  They "adopted" them, and cleaned up their final resting place ensuring that the memory of these three men would not be forgotten.

 

The information below is from the web blog of Pierre Lagacé

Son of Thomas De La Hunt Malone and Antoinette Saucier Malone, of Three Rivers. Province of Quebec, Canada. Antoinette Saucier was the daughter of Jean-Ernest Saucier and Antoinette Lamontagne. His father's parents were:  Thomas Malone and Mary-Clare Walsh.

Headstones for: Stoker 1st Class A.E.D. Dawson RCNVR; Stoker PO W.J. Cramp RCNR; and AB Malone RCNVR all who died when HMCS REGINA was lost.

Headstones located in a cemetery in Pounstock, Cornwall, UK

Courtesy of John Hawley

 

William (Bill) Fraser MacLeod, RCN

 

Born:  25 Aug 1903   Crossed the Bar: 03 Oct 1994

 

HMCS REGINA 14 Oct 41 - 08 Aug 44

 

Source: Clan MacLeod Society of Cape Breton

 

James Hawley, RCNVR, HMCS REGINA K234

 

Below is an excerpt from his story on the memory project (published here with permission of his son John).

 

"Yeah, we went along and it was just getting dusk, which I think was about 11:00 at night over there [8 August 1944]. It used to be daylight quite later than here. And I just come off duty and walked up to the bridge, chum of mine, George Dick, he was on the signal lamp on the bridge and I was just heading up to see George and wham-mo, we got her. Just all hell. All I remember is being in the water and looking up and see the forecastle of the ship, where she split right in half when we got hit. And the forecastle went up and I could see the forecastle. I was scared because I thought it was going to come over on us because we were in the water. Oh, it got torpedoed, it split right in half.

Boy, I was lucky, I was above deck. All the guys below deck were killed. Everybody that was below deck, all the engine room, boiler room. The only guy below deck that got off was the guy that was on the wheel and he got washed out. Everybody else got killed.

We were floating around in the oil, that was the hardest part, the water was covered with oil. I forget how long it was we were in the water before we got picked up. An American landing craft picked us up."

08 Aug 1944 - The aftermath of the sinking of HMCS REGINA by U 667. She was torpedoed off Trevose Head, Cornwall, and 30 of her ship's company were lost.

Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

08 Aug 1944 - The aftermath of the sinking of HMCS REGINA by U 667. She was torpedoed off Trevose Head, Cornwall, and 30 of her ship's company were lost.

Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

Headstone for Supply Assist. J.C.H. Rathbone RCNVR who died when HMCS REGINA was lost. Headstone is located at St Winwaloe Churchyard. Poundstock

Headstone for A.B. J.M. Saulnier RCNVR who died when HMCS REGINA was lost. Headstone is located at Rathbone at St Merryn near Padstow.

HMCS REGINA K234

Courtesy of John Hawley

Sailors on HMCS REGINA K234 posing by her gunshield art

Survivors from HMCS Regna K234

ERA Donald McIntosh, front row, 1st on right

Letter sent to Mrs. Violet Pound about the loss of her son, John Pound, when HMCS REGINA was sunk

Source: Remembering HMCS REGINA - by Pierre Legace

Canadian Sailors Blast U-boat From Sea

Winnipeg Free Press, Tues 25 May 1943

Newspaper article on HMCS REGINA sinking a submarine in the Mediterranean

article from unknown newspaper

 

L-R:  Front Row: Sto J. Grant, of Swift Current, SK;  Coder O. Davies, of Winnipeg, MB;  AB P.A. Levins, of Saskatoon, SK;  AB G. Todd, of Winnipeg, MB;  Sto L. Jones, of Winnipeg, MB;  AB G.L. Mann, of Calgary, AB

 

L-R: Second Row: AB F.N. Williams, of Winnipeg, MB;  OS F. Roger, of Winnipeg, MB;  AB William Webster, of REGINA, SK;  SA C. Rathbone, of REGINA, SK;  Sig T.R. Walker, of REGINA

 

L-R: Top Group: L/Sto D. Robertson, of Saskatoon, SK;  AB R. Ferrie, of Invermay, SK;  Cook G. Herchek, of Edmonton, AB;  AB R. Forsythe, of Brandon, MB;  AB G.L. Clark, of Crandall, MB

 

Courtesy of John Renforth

Gallant Vessel is Sunk Helping Merchantman

Newspaper article on the loss of HMCS REGINA

Crow's Nest newspaper - Sep 1944

Newspaper article on HMCS REGINA sinking Italian Sub

The Evening Telegraph, Toronto, 25 May 1943

Source: The Memory Project

Canmore Sailor Among 27 Missing As REGINA Sunk

Courtesy of Operation Picture Me

Article on the death of AB Saulnier, AB Harrison and LS Moore when HMCS REGINA was sunk

Courtesy of Sean Moore

Blown high by torpedo but lives to tell about it

 

Article on HMCS REGINA survivors

 

Mentioned in the article:  PO John Reuvers, LS John William Walsh, OS Murray Washbrook, Sig Frances Lacey, Pat Flannagan; and SBA H. Oneschuck

Ord. Coder Maurice Martel describes the sinking of HMCS REGINA

Article from the Cornwall, Ontario), Daily Standard Freeholder 18 Sep 1944

Courtesy of Operation Picture Me

 

 

       

 

Five pages from "The Journal of Canadian Medical Service - November 1945" which are from the diary of Surgeon Lieutenant  G.A. Gould, RCNVR who was on HMCS REGINA K234 at the time of her sinking. Its titled "THIRTY WERE MISSING"

Courtesy of John Hawley

 

 

 

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