HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

C - Class Destroyer (RN)

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

Built by the Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth, UK, she was commissioned on 02 Jun 1932 as HMS COMET. She was purchased at the same time as Ottawa and commissioned as RESTIGOUCHE at Chatham, U.K., on 15 Jun 1938. Like her sister, she arrived at Esquimalt 07 Nov 1938, and left for Halifax 15 Nov 1939. She performed local escort duties from that port until 24 May 1940, when she left for Plymouth, Upon arriving there on 31 May 1940 RESTIGOUCHE was assigned to Western Approaches Command. On 11 Jun 1940, RESTIGOUCHE took part in the evacuation of St. Valery and came under shore fire. While assisting in the evacuation of the French ports she rescued survivors of Fraser. She left Liverpool at the end of August for a brief refit at Halifax, returning to the U.K. in Jan 1941. In Jun 1941, "Rustyguts" was allocated to Newfoundland Command, and in Apr 1943, became a member of EG C-4, in the interval toiling ceaselessly as a mid-ocean escort. On 13 Dec 1941, she suffered storm damage en route to join convoy ON.44, and extensive repairs were carried out at Greenock. From 12 Aug 1943 to 17 Dec 1943, she underwent refit at Jarrow-on-Tyne, England. She was allocated to EG 12 in May 1944, for invasion duties, including D-Day, and afterward carried out Channel and Biscay patrols from her base at Plymouth. HMCS RESTIGOUCHE participated in operation "Dredger" against German escort vessels at the U-boat meeting points off Brest and southward. During the night of 5/6 Jul the 12th EG, comprising of QU'APPELLE, SASKATCHEWAN, SKEENA and RESTIGOUCHE, attacked 3 patrol boats off Brest: V715 was sunk but not before hitting QU'APPELLE and SASKATCHEWAN many times with small calibre gunfire. She returned to Canada in Sep 1944, for a major refit at Saint John, N.B. and Halifax, and upon completion proceeded to Bermuda for working up. Returning to Halifax on 14 Feb 1945, she performed various local duties, and after VE-Day was employed for three months bringing home military personnel from Newfoundland. Paid off on 05 Oct 1945, she was sold for scrap in 1945 to Foundation Maritime and was broken up in Halifax the next year.

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

Commanding Officers

Captain for the day

Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.

AB Anthony Bianco - Dec 1942

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

W

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(RGH000) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00, date unknown  //  Courtesy of John Hawley

(RGH001) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 with HMCS Ottawa H60 ahead, in the lower chamber, Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, 18 Apr 1938  //  Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum  Photo # 2002.31.8

(RGH002) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 in the lower chamber, Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, 18 Apr 1938  // From the collection of Robert Webster, PO, RCNVR

(RGH003) Unidentified naval ratings painting the destroyer HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 1940  //   Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-104265  //  Note: The sailor on the left has been identified as Cecil E. Reeves.

(RGH004) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Plymouth, 1940

(RGH005) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Malta

(RGH006) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Hamilton, Bermuda  //  From the collection of James Edward Lowe, RCN  //  Courtesy of Kathleen Lowe

(RGH007) HMCS NEW WATERFORD envelope addressed to LS D.A. Hartman, Mess 4, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE  //  Postmarked 02 Nov 1943, New Waterford, NS  //  Courtesy of Michael Erwin

(RGH008) Don on watch on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1942  //  From the collection of Larry Hartman  //  Courtesy of Ray Hartman

(RGH009) Don on watch on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1943  //  From the collection of Larry Hartman  //  Courtesy of Ray Hartman

(RGH010) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00  //  From the collection of Eric Baird  //  Courtesy of Roger Clarke

(RGH011) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - 11 Aug 1940  //  Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum  //  Photo Catalogue #VR1994.38.15

(RGH012) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00, Halifax, 1941  //  Photo taken from HMCS BADDECK  //  From the collection of Kenneth Medford, DSM  //  Courtesy of Gary Medford

(RGH013) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00  //  From the collection of Jim Silvester  //  Courtesy of Jim Silvester

(RGH014) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 // From the collection of William Holland McNally // Courtesy of Greg McNally

(RGH015) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - date unknown // "Later than June 1940, before "Repairs at Greenock lasted until 9 March 1942 and her director-control tower and rangefinder above the bridge had been removed by this time in exchange for a Type 271 target indication radar." // Courtesy of Erling Baldorf

(RGH016) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE postcard from Harry Swanson to his parents  //  From the collection Harry Swanson  //  Courtesy of Jason Belanger

(ES006) Petty Officer Cook Hugh Shields, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES007) Three crewmembers from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00. Centre - Ordnance Artificer Svend Solberg Sorensen - lost at sea 28 Nov 1942

(ES008) A few crew on the stern of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES009) Unknown aircraft carrier seen from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES010) Unknown vessel with landing craft on deck as seen from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES011) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES012) Corvettes alongside - date and place unknown.  HMS POLYANTHUS K47 is 2nd from left

(ES013) Torpedoes away

(ES014) Unknown sailor believed to be on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES015) Unknown sailor believed to be on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES016) Landing Party from an unknown ship, possibly HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES017) Officers on what is believed to be HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(ES018) Unknown sailors - date and place unknown

(ES019) Maritime Crew Members of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

Front Row (L-R) - S.N. Ross, L.J. Allen, E.A. Rigby, PO Hugh Shields, O. Myatt, W. Harrison, A. Kelly

Second Row (L-R) - R. Christianson, W. Martin, A.M. MacKinnon, C. Perry, F. McKay, L. Lowe, E. Howard, W. Dicks

Back Row (L-R) - C. O`Leary, R. Livingston, Eldred Morton Smith, D. Reinger, D. Blair, H. MacInnis

From the collection of Eldred Smith

Courtesy of Paul Smith

(WP01) Single Oerlikon on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(WP02) Looking after on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 from the crow's nest

(WP03) Easter Sunday Church service on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
(WP04) Ray and Stan on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(WP05) Gun crew on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 circa 1943

(WP06) William (Bill) Parkin on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 circa 1943

On the Farm

(1-2) Bill Parkin

(3) Sailors off HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00. Note: Second sailor from the right has been identified as Herbert G. Higgs, AB, RCNVR

The 'On the Farm' photos were taken in Hexham, England - the ship was in for repairs and some of the crew spent time working on local farms.

From the collection of William (Bill) Parkin, LS, RCNVR

Courtesy of John Parkin

Herbert Higgs 3rd from left in newspaper article photo

From the collection of Herbert Higgs, LS, RCNVR

Courtesy of Bob Higgs.

Submitted by Bob Higgs - My father, Herbert Higgs, told me that he volunteered to help with the harvest when his ship was in for repairs. They worked alongside Italian P.O.W.s. One of my father's friends was Tony (Antonio Bianco) White. The Canadians were told not to fraternize with the P.O.W.s, but being young men the would leave them packs of cigarettes and Tony would tell my father things to tell the Italians. Once they were reminded not to talk with the Italians, and somebody said he was trying to get information off them.

A longstanding naval tradition is that on Christmas Day the CO of the ship trades places with the youngest sailor on the ship.  In the above two photos, OS Anthony Bianco trades places with LCdr Desmond Piers, CO of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - and became LCdr Bianco for the day and LCdr Piers became Ordinary Seaman Piers for the day - Christmas 1942.

Photo (JB02) of SA Burchell, LCdr Bianco and OS Piers is from the collection of SA John Burchell, RCNVR

(RC18) Lt Georges Marcil, RCNVR. Lt Marcil was appointed to RESTIGOUCHE on 27 Nov 1944

(RC19) Lt John Harris MacLean, NavO, RCNVR. Lt MacLean was appointed to RESTIGOUCHE on 11 Feb 1944

(RC20) Lt William Francis Potter, Lt, Torpedo Officer, RCNVR. Lt Potter was appointed to RESTIGOUCHE on 04 Dec 1944

(RC21) Unknown sailor on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. Note the ship's badge above the ship's tally plate

(RC22) Ringer, Skinner and Robinson on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC23) Petty Officers Skinner and Robb on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC24) Badge, name tally plate and kisby ring of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC25) Starboard side of the quarterdeck on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC26) Rigby, Coxswain on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC27) Looking forward, port side, from after gun deck of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC28) Melrose and Seager on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC29) Melrose and Seager (with hat) on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC30) Stokers Melrose, unknown and Seager on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC31) Isbister as Quartermaster on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC32) PO Murray Robb on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

Note: for photos RC28, RC29 and RC30 with Stokers Melrose and Seager, it is possible that the names might be reversed

(RC32) L-R: PO Murray Robb, Ron Critchley and unknown sailor on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC33) Sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. Ron Critchley, standing 1st on left

(RC34) Off Watch relaxing on the upper deck on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC35) Ron Critchley sitting on gun barrel on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC36) PO.ER Murray Robb by secondary gun on bridge wing of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC37) Sailors between the depth charge rails on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE: Back: Edmonds, Bremner, Soper, Teeple; Middle: Bowes, Robinson; Front: Wilson (cook)

(RC38) Sailors between the depth charge rails on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Back: Soper, Teeple;  Middle: Edmonds, Bremner, Bowes, Robinson; Front: Wilson (cook)

(RC39) Sailors between the depth charge rails on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Back: L-R: Edmonds, Bremner, Robinson, Bowes, Soper, Robb; Front: Ron Critchley (laying down) other two unknown

(RC40) Cooks Lovelace, Wilson and Morris on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC41) U-boat survivor on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(RC42) Unknown destroyer in Drydock at HMS Malabar, Bermuda. Believed to be HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(RC43) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(RC44-RC45) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 in dry dock, Liverpool

(RC46-RC47) V.E.-Day in Halifax - HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

V.E.-Day in Halifax - HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(27) Back: Ringer, Hart, Davies, Broski, Metcalf, Baker; Front: MacKinnon, Kimberley. Note: MacKinnon is front left, not known which of the other two is Kimberley on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(29) Broski, Shaver, Moose on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(30) Chief Cook Saunders, Teeple and Ron Critchley on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

From the collection of Ron Critchley

Courtesy of Diane Brown

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Christmas 1942, Belfast, Ireland

(OM02) LCdr Desmond Piers, CO (right)

(OM03) The ship's cooks with Christmas dinner.  Cook Joseph (Pop) Brousseau in front.

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Christmas 1942, Belfast, Ireland

(OM04) event on the quarter deck - possibly tot time

(OM05) CO for the day - "LCdr" Anthony Bianco, youngest sailor on the ship - HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Christmas 1942

(OM06) "OS" Desmond Piers, "LCdr" Anthony Bianco, and Chief Bissky (who is wearing an OS or AB's uniform) - HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Christmas 1942

(OM07) Two unknown sailors on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

March 1943 - convoy from Liverpool to Algiers

(OM08) Sailors exercising on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

(OMN09-OM10) Convoy seen from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

March 1943 - convoy from Liverpool to Algiers

(OM11-OM13) Algiers "We were the first Canadian destroyer to enter the Mediterranean. Algiers was a very nice looking place from the harbour, but rather dirty when ashore"

(OM14) Cruiser HMS Dido tied up at Algiers while we (HMCS RESTIGOUCHE) were there

(OM15-OM18) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 picking up survivors from the SS Blitar that had been sunk on 05 Apr 194

(OM19-OM21) Farm that farm that some of the crew from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 worked on for a couple of months while waiting for the ship. Farm was at Cranleigh, Surrey, England.

(OM22-OM23) Christmas 1943 at Tobermory - Christmas of 1943 was spent at Tobermory, Scotland and also New Year's. Christmas was very quiet. Not like the last one. After refit we came here for our work up trials, which you do after a refit"

From the collection of Orent Myatt

Courtesy of Lynda D'Amour

Newspaper articles on operation "Dredger" against German escort vessels at the U-boat meeting points off Brest and southward. During the night of 5/6 Jul the 12th EG, comprising of QU'APPELLE, SASKATCHEWAN, SKEENA and RESTIGOUCHE, attacked 3 patrol boats off Brest.

(IN01) Night Insane As RCN Mangled German Ships - Toronto Star 18 Jul 1944  (IN02) Canadian Sink 3 Ships As Star Shells Light Sky - Toronto Star 11 Aug 1944  (IN03) 6 Supply Ships Sunk By Allies Off France - undated newspaper article  (IN04) Naval Forces Fight in Channel - undated newspaper article

From the collection of Innes Neil van Nostrand

Courtesy of Hugh van Nostrand

DC01

From undated newspaper - Account of the action that took place during Operation Dredger

From the collection of AB Dave Christison, RCNVR

Courtesy of Thomas Christison