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HMCS DOMINION / HMCS NIOBE
Greenock, Scotland
HMCS DOMINION / HMCS NIOBE (2nd) - By late 1940 nearly all RCN destroyers were based in Britain on loan to the Royal Navy, and the RCN corvettes were expected in Britain a few months later. But there was no RCN manning depot in Britain, so relief personnel for RCN ships had to come from the RN.
After the sinking of HMCS FRASER, it became quite apparent especially when they needed to post the survivors either to another ship or to a Depot Ship that something needed to be done. On October 1st, 1940 HMCS DOMINION was commissioned. They had a hard time finding a permanent location for DOMINION and it moved around, first it had rooms at the Stoke Dameral School and later moved to a private house at 6 Havelock Terrace also in Devonport. It finally landed at the Royal United Services Orphan Home for Girls at 1 Albert Road. This establishment combined the new manning pool and the RCN pay offices already in Britain.
By March 1941, the name DOMINION was proving to be something of a problem as it was being confused with the cable address of the High Commissioner, "Dominion London." DOMINION was paid off and re-commissioned as HMCS NIOBE.
By June of 1941, however, the effective range of German U-boats extended across the North Atlantic. Most of the RCN's destroyers and corvettes were needed back in Canada to protect vital shipping. It was felt that the manning depot was no longer needed in Britain and NIOBE was paid off.
Due to the large number of sailors in the UK awaiting new ships, or waiting for ships to come out of refit, or becoming part of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force, the need to re-open an shore establishment in the UK was realized. Because Canadian ships typically used Greenock or Gourock as a berthing place, the search for a site in Scotland began. After some time negotiations for the Smithston Institute, which was the local poor house and insane asylum, a deal was struck and HMCS NIOBE was commissioned again on December 15th 1941. HMCS NIOBE would serve as a parent ship to all HMC Ships in UK waters. It functioned as an accounting base, manning pool and hospitalization centre for all RCN personnel in England. HMCS NIOBE (Greenock) was paid off on 9 February 1946.
HMCS NIOBE - Staff photo - date unknown
(BL13) HMCS NIOBE - Feb 1944 (BL14) Magazine article/photo - Time out for a brisk game of volleyball at HMCS NIOBE on a sunny summer day during the Second World War (BL15) Magazine article/photo - HMCS NIOBE
From the collection of Cdr Bernard Summers Lake, RCN
Courtesy of Barry Lake
Two unknown course photos at HMCS NIOBE Left photo, the officer in the front row, 3rd from the left is Capt Harry DeWolf Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
