Records of Service can be obtained from Library and Archives Canada at the following address:
Personnel Records Unit
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N3All the necessary instructions are listed on the web page.
Toll free 1-866-578-7777 (Canada and U.S.A)
Fax: (613) 947-8456For further details, visit the Library and Archives Canada web page:
Application Form For Record of Service
Allen, Kenneth(deceased) - My mother's father, Kenneth Allen, originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario served as AB Seaman in HMCS Algonquin from February 1, 1944 until the end of the war. He was a part of the Murmansk run from Scapa Flow to Russia until June when he was involved in D-Day.
This photo was taken while Seaman Allen, 19 years old,was training in H.M.C.S Cornwallis in Deep Brock, Nova Scotia. Prior to his enlistment in the RCN, he worked for the Welland Chemical Plant. In later years, Kenneth was one of the main officers of the Niagara Falls Navy Club.
If anyone out there has any pictures, stories, articles, or memories that you may have of Kenneth Allen, we would appreciate hearing from you.
Jon Barillari and Janet (Allen) Barillari
E-mail: Jon Barillari <jonbarillari@yahoo.com>Anderson, Bill
403--15466 North Bluff Rd.
White Rock B.C.
V4B 3G1
604) 531-5056
E-Mail: Wanderson154@home.com ( home.com is now obsolete)I served on the Algonquin as an 18-19 yr. old A/B--AA3 from Feb. 1944 until Dec. 1945. I stayed in the after Seamen's mess. Jack Misener was a member of same mess I believe. There were two Andersons in this mess, both of us from Winnipeg. I was called "Little Andy" ( I'm 6' 3" ) so you can imagine how tall "Big Andy" was.
I wonder if Captain Piers remembers teaching the ship's company the words to the song "Mares Eat Oats" one day over the Intercom. After refit in spring we left for the Pacific Theatre. Unfortunately I only got as far as Malta where I got severely injured while trying to sneak into a dance hall. I spent two months in Malta on the hospital ship HMS Maine. After the end of Pacific war, the Algonquin was ordered back to Esquimalt from Alexandria, and much to my delight they stopped at Malta and picked me up.
Atkinson, Roy
After serving on one of the oldest destroyers, H.M.C.S. Niagara, I picked up one of the newest destroyers, H.M.C.S. Algonquin. Served 1942-45.
The best to everyone,
Roy#10 106 Aldersmith Place
Victoria BC
V9A 7M8E-mail: royatkin(at)telus.net
Brown, Clifford
Would like to congatulate you on your excellent Web site. I joined the RCN (regular force) 4 Sept, l939.While serving in Algonquin, I was promoted to Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer. In 1949 I was promoted to Warrant Rank and I retired from the RCN in 1968 as a Lieut. Commander Medical Administration. I received my training at Royal Victoria Hospital. in Montreal. Following retirement, I worked as a Hospital Administrator at Royal Jubilee Hospital here in Victoria for 11years. On 9 Sept of this year 2002, I will be 85 years old. My wife died in 1991 so I still live alone in our house.I am still active in Rotary and some other organizations.
My address is: 3035 Henderson Road, Victoria, B.C., V8R5M6.
e-mail c/o: wcoady@shaw.ca
[Cliff Brown crossed the bar Dec 22/05]Beausoleil, J.P. ABVS2
I served aboard Algonquin during her final cruise from Halifax in 1967. I joined her in the Black Squadron at Shearwater and stayed with her until she paid off in Esquimalt in May, 1967.
Regards, Phil
e-mail <swmpsngr(at)videotron.ca>
Buller, Jack R.
31 A Street
Galt, CA 95632
USA
Served 1944-45
E-mail: <jackbuller07(at)gmail.com>Byway, Joe
A 144 page tribute was comissioned by Joe Byway's family based on his diary. Joe was aboard Algonquin on D-Day.
Select this link to view the tribute Submitted by Judy McLaughlin <smclaughlin(at)cogeco.ca>
Case, Norman
I was a stoker in the Algonquin. Stood by her in Glasgow in 1944. My address is #337 444 South Higley Road.
Mesa, AZ USA 85206. Am now 82 years old (2007) .Play a lot of pool and golf twice a week. Would like to chat with some of my former shipmates.Cheers,
Norm
E-mail: <necasejr(at)icloud.com>
Clayton, J. Lloyd
Anaheim, Calif., USA
jlccmc@earthlink.net
Radar3C
Feb,1944-Feb,1945Conway, Phil
760 Fox Point, R.R.#2,
Hubbards N.S., B0J 1T0
AB Gunner 1944-45Cotter,L.K.(Lofty) (Deceased)
10361 Maple Glen Cres.
Calgary Alta.
T2J 1X1
Stoker 1st Class, 1944-45Curry, Don {LSRP2}
Joined the RCN Nov. 1952. Took training on the old portage -it was quite an experience. Then on to Stad. for a radar course. Drafted to the Algonquin in Jan 1954. I was aboard for the Mediterranean cruise and also the collision with the Buckingham off Bermuda that caused us to go to Luzon P.Q. for refit and repairs. Then back to Stad for my second course in radar in Sept.1955. Drafted to HMCS Toronto Feb. 1956. Canada turned her over to the Norwegian Navy April 1956. From there, the ships company went to Point Edward, Cape Breton to pick up the newly commissioned ship HMCS Fort Erie. Stayed with her from April 1956 until Sept 1957. Released with Honorable discharge Nov.1957. A few bad times but more good times and that is all we remember. Woulld like to hear from a few of my old ship mates.
Don Curry
E-mail: currys@nbnet.nb.caDeguire, Real J. 1944
1048 King Louis Street
PUCE, ON
N0R 1A0
Phone: (519) 727 - 5142
I can also be contacted through my daughter Joanne Masse <jtbm(at)hotmail.ca>Ellis, John ABNS1, RCN(R)
I served in HMCS Algonquin as a naval storesman from Sept 1954 to Jan 1955. It was not for very long but long enough to have many fond memories. I was RCN(R) and after New Broom the navy sent me back to HMCS Malahat in Victoria BC.
I recall one incident in Venice where I was given a rifle and told to stand guard on the quarterdeck. I must have been griping about something and was overheard by Capt. Hennessy. He came over to me and discussed very calmly and civilly why I was there. I must say that I had even greater respect for him after that as he could just as easily have reamed me out. He was truly an officer and gentleman.
Would like to hear from former shipmates.
John Ellis <elrobin(at)prodigy.net.mx>Garrett, Ken (Deceased)
Served in Algonquin March 1944-1945
Gaudet, George
I was posted to the Algonquin from 1 Aug 1955 until 3 Feb 1957. From the Algonquin I went to Albro Lake Dartmouth. I remember very well my two skippers captain (Spike) Hennesey and Desmond Piers. Captain Hennesy made one feel very comfortable. Often he came down to Radio One for a chat with on duty radio/sig operators. Sure would like to contact some of my old comm mates.
LSCR1 George (Spud) Gaudet
E-mail: <geogaudet(at)sympatico.ca>Gauthier, Larry
1395 Montreal St.
Kingston Ont.
K7K 3L7
Radar
Jan 1952 - Jan 1953Gibson, R. (Bob)
1204 6th Ave East,
Drumheller AB
T0J 0Y5
Stoker
1944-1945Harper, Dave
944 Danforth Ave.,
Burlington Ont. L7T 158
1944-1945Irwin, Andrew A. (Andy)
55 Oakwood Avenue South
Mississauga, ON
L5G 3L4
(905) 274 - 0429Andy passed away on May 31/17
Jenson, L.B.
Commander
R.R.#2
Hubbards N.S.
B0J 1T0
Executive Officer of Algonquin 1944-45OBIT
Friday, December 31, 2004 The Halifax Herald Limited
JENSON, Latham B. "Yogi", Cmdr. RCN (Ret'd), CMJENSON, Latham B. "Yogi", Cmdr. RCN (Ret'd), CM - Born in Calgary in 1921 to the late Ernest and Sarah (Holgate) Jenson, he is survived by his wife, Alma (Doupe); daughter, Sarah (Carlyle); sons, Lynn (Helen), Middle Musquodoboit; Tom, Sydney; grandchildren, Sam, Luke, Jessie Lee, and Molly. He was predeceased
by grandson, Ben; sister, Margaret; brother, Gerald.In 1938, he joined the RCN and trained with the RN until 1941. He served in HMS Renown, searching for Graf Spee in the South Atlantic and engaging battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during which he lost all his possessions; HMS Matabele and Hood, leaving that ship just before she was sunk with all hands in
battle with the Bismarck; HMCS Ottawa on convoy duty - year later she was sunk with great loss of life in battle with German submarines; HMCS Niagara as XO. In 1943 he briefly commanded the corvette Long Branch; destroyer Algonquin as XO taking part in raids on German ships, including the Tirpitz, and being one
of the first ships to open fire in the invasion of Normandy. Algonquin completed the war raiding German ships and escorting Allied convoys to Murmansk. After the war, he attended Naval College, Royal Road, HMCS Stadacona, and NATO Defence College in Paris. He served in naval intelligence, HMCS Cayuga; commanded Crusader, Micmac and Fort Erie, and the 7th Escort Squadron.Cmdr. Jenson settled in Nova Scotia and illustrated a number of much-loved books, including, "Vanishing Halifax", "Nova Scotia Sketchbook", "Last of the Tall Schooners". "Saga of the Great Fishing Schooners", and wrote his autobiography, "Tin Hat's, Oilskins & Seaboots". As president of the Heritage Trust he took part in the campaign to stop the demolition of historic waterfront buildings in Halifax and prepared conceptual drawings of the restored waterfront. He was a member of the board of governors of the first Schooner Bluenose
foundation and served more than 22 years on the board of the Nova Scotia Museum and as chairman of the advisory council of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. In this capacity, he instigated the acquisition of HMCS Sackville, the last corvette remaining from the Second World War, and its restoration to its wartime
configuration as a memorial to those who fought and won the Battle of the Atlantic. Earlier this year, he was made a member of the Order of Canada for his heritage work.Lavallee, Roland J. (Deceased)
3002 Colquitz ave
Victoria BC
V9A 2M3(250) 388-6179
StokerMacdonell F. William (Bill)
As I served in Algonquin as an A/B radar operator fron March 1944 to February 1945. Would like to hear from former shipmates.
Cheers,
Bill77 Stapleton Drive
Etobicoke, ON M9R 2Z8
E-mail: fwmacd(at)hotmail.comMackechnie, Don
(Vancouver Naval Veterans Association)
201-4567 Lougheed HWY,
Burnaby B.C.
V5C 6J5
Coder, 1944Mackintosh, Frank
Joined Algonquin 224 the day after she was commissioned in Esquimalt. Served on board for two years plus. My brother Russell also served at same time. Released in 1970.
E-mail: frank.mackintosh@ns.sympatico.caMagwood, Peter LSBN
Dartmouth, NS
(902)462-2669Merritt, Don
14 Greentrail Rd.
Mount Hope, Ont.
L0R 1W0LSEM1 from Feb 25 1953 to Sept 3 1954
e-mail: rcn5055@aol.comMisener, Jack (Deceased)
322 Paisley Rd.,
Guelph Ont.
N1H 2P9
AB Gunner/Torpedoman
1944-1945Moffatt, William E. LSCV1 RCN 1950-1955
787 Main Street
Blacks Harbour, NB E5H 1E5
email: bmoff(at)iname.comServed Sept.2, 1954 to December 12, 1954
Morton, Herbert H (Mort) ; LSEM2 10902H; Sept 1950 to Sept 55.
Was drafted to HMCS Algonquin Sept 53 after 2nd commissioning and served in her till Sept 1955. During her time with the 1st Canadian Escort Squadron,. Captain "SPIKE" Hennessy was the old man. Did cruises in Mediterranean, New Broom 2, Caribbean etc. Was below in boiler room with PO Gilroy the the night HMCS Buckingham was in collision with us. Went to Lauzon Que for repairs. There I was released in Sept. 1955. Had some great shipmates and lots of wonderful times on Algonquin. Hoping to hear from some of you.
Herb Morton, Cambridge Ont.
e-mail: oldcdog(at)rogers.comOwen, Albert. E. , TELTO (1944-45)
48 Charlemont Crescent
Agincourt, Ontario M1T 1M4
(416) 493-7759.Piers, Desmond (Deceased)
Rear-Admiral
Captain twice: 1944-45, 1956-56Revie, Albert
Joined the ship at age 18 and served as AB Radar operator and ships messenger - Feb.1944-45
Address: 2285 Courtice Ave., Ottawa. K1H 7G7Sigrist, Gerry
I served on Algonquin from commissioning day Feb. 25th 1953, until Dec. 1954 when I went to NRS Albro Lake. I was also back on her for a few months in 1958 when I volunteered and left for submarines. I served under both CDR P.F.X. Russell and Capt. Ralph Hennessey, Chief Tel was Len Murray, later Scotty Mcglaughlin, The likes of Norm Jeremy, Don Deveau, Al Goodwin, Larry Blackhall, Ray Harvie, Bruno Turcotte, Don Potts, Frank MiCallef and myself made up the radio team. I have a number of good pictures of that era. Some have gone to sparkers heaven and some are still around but we are all getting older. I retired in 1982 as a C1RM and am living quietly on a lake near Bridgewater NS. Am also quite busy with a RCNA branch here in Bridgewater called the South Shore Naval Association.
E-mail: ssna.sigrist@ns.sympatico.ca
Snowdon, Cam
I served aboard HMCS Algonquin from Dec '53 to Sep '55 as a member of the Ordinance Party under Chief Schimp and P.O. Eric Still. My first C.O. was Cdr. Russell then Capt. Hennessey.
Like my shipmates of that era, I also remember the incident with HMCS Buckingham. That evening, I was
reading in my bunk on the port side of the electrician's mess when the collision occurred. My first thoughts were: damn, we've run over the sub. I also remember "barrelling" out of Palma, Majorca for the overnight run to Algiers.Another thing that stands out in memory is the afternoon swim, in mid-Atlantic, shortly after leaving the Azores, on route back to Halifax after New Broom II and the Mediterranean Cruise.
Campbell (Cam) Snowdon
205 - 10 Lisa Street
Brampton, ON L6T 4N4
E-mail: cam_snowdon(at)yahoo.caSteele, R.M. (DSC CD)
Lieut. Navigator 1944-45
R.R.#2
Mahone Bay N.S.
BOJ 2EOWhyte, Jim (Tanglefoot)
I sailed in HMCS Algonquin and came on board in 1953 in Esquimalt after I finished my stokers
course. It was my home for three and a half years. At the time, Ii was an eighteen year old sailor, full of
B.S and vinegar and I downed enough of the fruit of the vine during those years.We left Esquimalt bound for exercises in the San Diego area for about a month. Next, our ship proceeded to sail to the Panama Canal on our way to Halifax which was to become our home port. Somewhere off the west coast of Mexico, we got oil in our boiler water and we had to pull into Manzinillo to open the boilers and remove the oil from the boiler drum surface. This proved to be the hottest job I ever performed in my entire life. It was so hot that ship mates who were keeping water hoses on us while we wire scrubbed the boiler surface passed out on the
catwalk. Stokers who were standing in the air lock carried out those who passed out and replaced their positions on the water hoses. I must say that I made more trips into that boiler then any other stoker until the job was
done.We sailed into Halifax a much relieved crew and happy to be out of the humid weather. This is where I first met Ralph L Hennessy, probably the finest officer I ever sailed under. In 1952 I believe he was the Jimmy under another great officer in the RCN (Paddy Budge) and if you ever worked under Captain Budge you had to be a great officer.
Was reading about some of our trips in Captain Hennessy's story but the one that comes to mind above all is the time we sailed out Majorica. I swear we out through that breakwall full speed ahead. Don't know what his hurry was but we had to go astern just to let the pilot boat catch up to us.
I remember well all the places we visited which Captain Hennessy described in his story but most of all I will always remember and respect the Captain and all my ship mates (especially Frank Mackintosh who is still my best friend for life). Some of my friends told me about a reunion in Ottawa where Captain Hennessy was the host. How I wished I could have attended that reunion as I would have like to have met him again to tell him how sorry I was for being his biggest headache. Well, I guess those good days are behind us all now and only the memories are left.
Thanks for the opportunity to express some of my times on board a vessel that was to be my way of life and set a way for me for my entire life. One thing the good Captain forgot to mention was "That if we kept the ship neat and tidy we could have Make and Mends every day in port (we could go ashore at noon.)
Jim (Tanglefoot) Whyte
Trenton, Ontario
E-mail: <james.whyte(at)sympatico.ca>
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FORMER CREW: Out of ALGONQUIN'S 247 original crew members, 8 appear in this photo at the 1997 reunion in Burlington Ontario. The rest are post-war crew. Approximately three-quarters of the wartime crew have now passed away as of the year 2000.1 - Ken Garrett; 2 - Andy Irwin; 3 - Jack Misener; 4 - Unidentified; 5 - Dave Harper; 6 - Charlie Foote; 7 -Gil Hutton ; 8 - Don Mackechnie; 9 - Rev. Stephen M. Oliver ;10 - Jack Buller ;11 - Undentified 12 - Unidentified; 13 - Rear Adm Piers; 14 - Herb Morton 15 - Unidentified.
Any assistance in identification would be appreciated.
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| Rear Admiral Desmond Piers as he appeared in 1963. |
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| Latham B."Yogi" Jensen as he appeared when he was the Executive Officer in HMCS ALGONQUIN. |
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| Later, in his naval career, Latham Jenson became the Commanding Officer of HMCS Micmac. Afterwards, he became a noted Nova Scotia author and artist. His biography appears in the Stories section of this web page. |
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| Lt. R.M. Steele RCNVR - Navigator - Rothsay N.B.Fixing the ship's position during a voyage to Russia in 1944. |
Lt. Steele was Algonquin's navigator. This officer was one of a kind - never seeking credit for his good work. He was outstanding in his ability to manoeuvre the ship out of danger in enemy actions and through his professionalism he was able to avert many situations which could have proven fatal to the ship. Later he became the captain of his own ship and was awarded the D.S.C.C.D. for bravery during the war.Dick Steel's Obit
By John BrettFamily man, horticulturalist, navy veteran, aesthete. Born Sept. 22, 1915, in Rothesay, N.B. Died March 14, 2010 in Bridgewater, N.S., of multiple causes, aged 94.
At his beloved plant farm, surrounded by rhododendrons in full bloom, Captain Richard (Dick) Steele would chuckle and say, “I used to be one of my country’s hired assassins, but I’ve always thought of myself as a pacifist. That’s what I’m doing here, in my own way.”
Dick believed that beautiful plants and gardens made people more virtuous and the world a more peaceful place. To many, he was “Captain Rhododendron,” a tongue-in-cheek homage to a visionary who opened up new possibilities for ornamental horticulture in Atlantic Canada and beyond. That was the other side of the man who was commander of the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Nootka, a veteran of the Second World War and Korea, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.
Dick’s life as the first of eight children of Ralph and Ethel Steele wasn’t easy. He suffered from polio and his father died of lung cancer when Dick was 15. Early vocations included fur trapper, sports reporter and bank clerk. In 1940, he headed to Halifax for officer training in the Royal Canadian Navy. He married Nancy MacDonald in 1941; three children followed, Dick Jr., Sally and Diana.
Even in the midst of the Battle of the Atlantic, Dick’s aesthetic sensitivity was apparent. The interior of HMCS Rimouski was, in his words, “grey and cramped and bad for morale. I told the men to pick a colour scheme out of one of the lady’s magazines and repaint her. I figured that way we couldn’t go too far wrong.”
As commander of Cornwallis naval base in Nova Scotia in 1961, he banished such naval icons as painted rocks and anchors, replacing them with flowering shrubs grown from his own seeds and cuttings. Later, while Canadian naval adviser to NATO in Norfolk, Va., he often travelled to Europe, squeezing in plant research on the side.
After retiring from the navy in 1969 he started York River Nursery in Virginia. Dick returned to Nova Scotia and set up Bayport Plant Farm in 1973. Diana managed the business, and he focused on crossbreeding rhododendron species and hybrids to produce tough plants for the Atlantic climate. Nancy was in firm command on the domestic front. In 1998, Dick was awarded the gold medal of the American Rhododendron Society. In 2004, he became a member of the Order of Canada.
In the navy, Dick had a reputation for being a no-nonsense, pragmatic sea officer, impatient of formalities and bureaucracy. Yet as a mentor to several generations of plant lovers, he showed great kindness and generosity of spirit. Dick leaves behind friends, colleagues and admirers that span the globe, and a legacy of rhododendrons for generations to come.
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| (L to R) Don Mackechnie, R-Adm Piers and Jack Misener at the 1997 Burlington reunion. |
Bill Anderson as seen aboard the USS Missouri when the ship visited Vancouver.
When this extra edition of The Review was published on Sept. 3, 1939, Ken Allen (left) was a carrier boy. He was roused out of bed to deliver this edition. Ken, who subsequently served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the war recalled old times with two ex-Navy buddies, Wally Regan and Bill Anderson, at Legion 51 where an Open House was held. (Clipping courtesy Jon Barillari)
I am trying to locate a man that served as a crewman aboard HMCS Algonquin in the early fifties. All I know is that his name was Ernie and he was from my home town of Woodstock Ont. The picture is of myself (the small guy) and Ernie who was a friend of my father. Any data please let me know.
Many thanks
Peter Boliszczuk
e-mail: "Peter Boliszczuk" <pboliszczuk@telus.net>
Vancouver
Dick Steele (L) and Andy Irwin (R) attend the funeral of Desmond Piers in November 2005. (Photo by Tony Goode)
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| W.J. (Bill) Brooks (L) and Jack Buller (R) at the Burlingtom Reunion in 1997. Photo from the collection of Jack Buller) |
If you would like to be listed on this page, please contact Jerry Proc, e-mail: jerry.proc@sympatico.ca and supply the information as shown in the top section. Casual comments or a story about your years of service is most welcome.
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