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HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
River Class Frigate
RUNNYMEDE was commissioned on 14 June 1944 at Montreal and arrived in Bermuda for workups toward the end of Jul 1944. On 21 Aug 1944 she returned to Halifax to become Senior Officer's ship of EG C-5, and was to wear its barber pole stripes the rest of her wartime career. She left Londonderry toward the end of May 1945, and made her passage home as escort to convoy ON.305. She left Halifax on 20 Jun 1945 for Esquimalt, arriving 18 Jul 1945 and early in Aug 1945 commenced tropicalization refit at North Vancouver. Work was soon suspended and she sailed for Esquimalt 20 Jun 1945 to be placed in reserve, though not paid off until 19 Jan 1946. Sold in 1947, she is reported to have been expended as part of a breakwater at Kelsey Bay, B.C., in 1948.
RCN Memories: Wartime Memories of Larry Costello
Photo and Documents The Ship's Bell Ship's Company Photos
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(KW01) Christening of HMCS RUNNYMEDE at Montreal, Quebec (KW02) Christening of HMCS RUNNYMEDE at Montreal, Quebec (KW03) Carrying out a sweep for a sub (KW04) Bow of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in foreground (KW05) Waiting for survivors
(KW06) Preparing the seaboat (KW07) Away seaboat! (KW08) 4-inch guns of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW09) Hedgehogs on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW10) 12-pounder gun on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(KW11) Rocket launcher on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW12) Ted and Scotty on the bridge of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW13) White Watch - Harvey?, Taylor, McDowell, Danny?, Costello, Noolivin, Boyce, Mike, Bobbet (KW14) Sprague and Milhoff on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW15) Boyce on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(KW16) Bolton, Smith and Fitzgibbons (KW17) C.N. Taylor (KW18) Doug - De-ammunitioning (KW19) Ken Marsland (KW20) Bridge of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(KW21) Depth charge exploding (KW22) Sailors off HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 - Place and date unknown (KW23-KW25) Rescuing survivors off the Isle of Mann
(KW26) Kirk Wipper on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW27) Unknown frigate (KW28) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 approaching a carrier (KW29) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in slips at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland (KW30) HMCS RUNNYMEDE at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland
(KW31) Convoy Rescue ship (KW32) 4-inch guns of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW33) 4-inch gun breech on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW34) Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde (KW35) Forbes and Gertie
(KW36-KW37) A tattered ensign and its replacement on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW38) Airing Hammocks on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW39) Canadian Convoy Group Five - The Barber Pole Squardon (KW40) Knobly Hall
(KW41) Forbes (KW42) Wyman, Chapman, Bolton and Costello "murdering chickens" (KW43) Sprague and Young (KW44) Knobly Hall (KW45) Massue, Forbes, Hall - Holy Stoning Bridge Boards
(KW46) Siguer (Irish) (KW47) Chief Stoker McNeil (KW48) Santa Henderson at sea in 1944 (KW49) Peltier (KW50) Yarchuck
(KW51) Thompson (KW52) Sellars (KW53) Sellars, Yarchuck, Johnson (KW54) Burial at Sea (KW55) HMCS Runnymede in Dartmouth
(W56) Surrendered U-boats at Londonderry (KW57) Looking astern from HMCS RUNNYMEDE entering St. John's Harbour (KW58) Ensign of HMCS RUNNYMEDE (KW59) Allan Sevanny (KW60) (L-R) Allan Sevanny, Kirk Wipper
(KW61) Looking aft from the fo'c's'le of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (KW62) Taylor on the gangway (KW63) "Entering Halifax harbour" - Gate vessels open the anti-submarine barriers as HMCS RUNNYMEDE enters Halifax Harbour
(KW64-KW67) Surrendered U-190 in St. John's Nfld
(KW68-KW72) Surrendered U-190 in St. John's Nfld
From the collection of Kirk Wipper
(JH01) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld (JH02) Looking up at the bow of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 while she is in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld (JH03) An Atlantic Convoy - photo taken from HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JH04) Three unknown sailors off HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JH05) Anti-Aircraft gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
Courtesy of James Hussey
(JM29) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 ship's badge. The following is an excerpt from the book "Designs of Distinction" by David Freeman: "RUNNYMEDE was the name used to honour the township of York, ON. King John signed the Magna Carta on the field at RUNNYMEDE, England in 1215. In his memo to Capt (D), the CO, A/LCdr R.C. Chenowith, RCNVR, O-13420, stated the badge design came "from the official seal of the Urban District of Egham, Surrey . . . wherein Runnymede is located." He noted the township had no insignia and had suggest the use of the above design instead. Where the ship employed this insignia is not known." (JM30) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 jacket patch (JM31) The Launching of RUNNYMEDE at the Canadian Vickers Ltd Shipyard, Montreal, QC on 27 Nov 1943 (JM32) HMCS RUNNYMEDE in Montreal prior to her commissioning in Jun 1944 (JM33) "Do I Worry?? Yes!! - Poem about HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(JM34-JM35) HMCS RUNNYMEDE - photos taken by Therese Murphy, John's wife, from the dock at Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC as the RUNNYMEDE made its 1st run to sea from the Vickers Yard in Montreal where she was built. John had called ahead to tell his wife that the ship would be passing by.
(JM36) Headline from the Toronto Daily Star on HMCS RUNNYMEDE'S readiness for sea - 30 May 1944
Individual photos from the above Toronto Daily Star headline article (JM37) Shipwright B. Pattier check the ship's lifeboats (JM38) Two survivors of HMCS WEYBURN, sunk in the Mediterranean, LT Pat Milsom, former Toronto Star reporter (right) and Stoker John MacNeil of Halifax on HMCS RUNNYMEDE (JM39) CPO Charlie Lane is shown checking the Sperry gyro compass (JM40) Leading Cook J. C. Peerzan of Halifax carries a pair of lime jugs used for storing water (JM41) One of the officers Lt Don Taylor of Arlington Ave., Toronto. He went RUNNYMEDE collegiate, things that's a sign of good luck
Individual photos from the above Toronto Daily Star headline article (JM42) Bigger, more heavily armed, faster than a Corvette, this is the RUNNYMEDE (JM43) Depth charges boil up on her trail run
During work-ups in Bermuda (JM44) Bermuda (JM45-J 46) St. George's Harbour, Bermuda. Note the children on the cliff watching the ship (JM47) Sea boat from HMCS RUNNYMEDE (JM48) "Good-bye Bermuda" - HMCS RUNNYMEDE departing Bermuda. She arrived in Halifax 21 Aug 1944.
During work-ups in Bermuda
(JM49-JM50) L-R: John Murphy, Joe Missler, Ross Gordon and John McNeil on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in Bermuda
(JM51) Fish wharf at St. John's, Newfoundland (JM52-JM55) Convoy to England
(JM56) Corvettes astern of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM57) Corvette HMCS BELLEVILLE K332 (JM58) Frigate HMCS ST STEPHEN K454 (JM59) British trawler, sunk the following night (JM60) Passenger ship with war brides
(JM61) Liberty ship with locomotives and rail cars secured to deck (JM62) Iceberg in the North Atlantic with a Frigate off to the right (JM63) Iceberg in the North Atlantic (JM64) unknown Bangor Class Minesweeper (JM65) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 conducting a stern fueling at sea
(JM66-JM70) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in heavy seas
(JM71-JM74) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in heavy seas
HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in refit (JM75) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld (JM76) John Kervin and Ross Gordon by HMCS RUNNYMEDE while in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld (JM77) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in the slips at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, Nfld (JM78) Unknown sailor beside the port screw of HMCS RUNNYMEDE while in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld (JM79) Joe Marshall beside the port screw of HMCS RUNNYMEDE while in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld
(JM80) Bert Hazelwood and Curley Doyle on a barge alongside HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM81) Dusty Miller on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM82) Unknown sailor in the port gun tub on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM83) John Murphy (left) and Merill Sheffield on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM84) Unknown sailor on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(JM85) John Murphy and Al Cormack on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM86) L-R: Johnny Cummins, Al Cormack and Norm Swan on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM87) L-R: Bill Duncan, Chips Pottier, Merill Sheffield, Fred Sandever, Doug Park, Ross Gordon and Leo Burns (JM88) L-R: Johnny Kervin, Tiny Faloona, Al Hebert and Herb Robb on the quarterdeck on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM89) Standing, L-R; John Murphy, Tiny Faloona, with unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(JM90) Frank Dowman on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM91) Arch Chambers and John Murphy by the after gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM92) Back row L-R: Bob Vreeland, George Crobar, Tiny Faloona, Sandy Sandever, Curly Doyle, Chips Pottier, Bill Fisher, George Wells - Front row L-R: Jerry Bowers, Frank Carey, Norm Swan, Jim Bullis (Shocks), Dick Hayward, Bert Hazelwood, Bill Olmstead on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM93) Tiny Faloona (left) and unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM94) L-R: Tiny Faloona, John Murphy, with unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(JM95) L-R: Johnny McDowell, Bill Evans, Bob Bacon, John Cummins, John Murphy, Joe LeBlond and Norm Swan on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM96) John Murphy (2nd from left) with unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM97) Curley Astle on the ladder heading up to the after gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM98) Two unknown sailors on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 posing for the camera (JM99) Dick Hayward (left) and Curley Doyle on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(JM100) Back L-RL: Tiny Faloona, John Murphy, unknown, Herb Robb, John Kervin, Curly Astle, Joe Marshall, Norm Swan. Front L-R: Chips McKinley, Al Hebert
(JM101) Leaning against the bulkhead on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 - L-R: Frank Carey, Al Cormack and Dick Hayward. Sailor with his back to the camera unknown (JM102) L-R: Al Cormack, Joe Marshall and Bob Bacon on the boat deck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM103) On the boatdeck, leaning against the funnel on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 - L-R: Freddy Orton, Frank Carey, John MacNeil and Bob Vreeland (JM104) Arch Chambers, Royal Navy, by the after gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 (JM105) John Murphy (right) with unknown shipmate on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678
(JM106) John Murphy on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 by the ladder heading up to the after gun mount
(JM107) Ireland (JM108) The approaches to Lough Foyle (JM109) Moville, Ireland (JM110) The shores of Lough Foyle (JM111) The banks of the Foyle River
(JM112-JM113) The Foyle River view from Northern Ireland looking towards Ireland (JM114) Postcard of Londonderry, Northern Ireland (JM115) Business card for the "Select Bar" and the "Classic Bar", Londonderry, Northern Ireland (JM116) Bus ticket from Londonderry, Northern Ireland
(JM117) Street view in Londonderry, Northern Ireland (JM118) Ross Gordon on Strand Road, Londonderry, Northern Ireland (JM119) Unknown sailors ashore in Northern Ireland (JM120) Unknown sailor ashore in Northern Ireland (JM121) Postcard of the Cannon "Roaring Meg", Londonderry, Northern Ireland
(JM122) Londonderry, Northern Ireland (JM123) Somewhere in Northern Ireland
(JM124) Headline from the Toronto Daily Star 07 May 1945
(JM125-JM126) Surrendered U-boats in Lisahally, Northern Ireland
(JM127-JM129) Surrendered German U-boat U-190 at St. John's, Newfoundland
From the collection of John Murphy, ERA 4c, RCNVR
Courtesy of Thomas Murphy
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
