The Battle of the Atlantic

 On the 3rd of September 1939, the British passenger liner Athenia was sunk off the coast of Ireland.
From that day until the last of the German U-Boats surrendered after VE-Day, in May
1945, the Allied navies and air forces could not for a moment relax their vigilance.
Battle of the Atlantic Sunday commemorates the sacrifices of the Canadian sailors, merchant seamen, Air Force and
Army personnel who gave their lives in the North Atlantic. The elements were often as vicious as the foe, with raging storms, pack ice, bitter cold, fog, and the dense blackness of the North Atlantic nights.
Through the end of the war, thirty-three ships of the RCN would be lost with a further five damaged so badly that they did
not return to sea; 1,990 sailors and Wrens were fatalities, 319 were wounded and 95 had become prisoners of war.
The RCN and the Merchant Navy made nearly 26,000 safe crossings, carrying over 180 million tons of supplies to Great Britain. With victory in the Atlantic secured, victory in Europe was assured. The freedom of all Canadians was then, is now, and shall forever be the legacy of that courageous band of comrades.

 Each year on the first Sunday in May, Canada’s naval community commemorates those lost at sea during the Second World War. They uphold the legacy of the Battle of the Atlantic by pledging themselves “Ready, Aye Ready” to face today’s security challenges with pride and professionalism.

 Sacrifice at Sea

The Battle of the Atlantic serves as the focal point for this commemoration, but sacrifice at sea was and is not limited to
the Atlantic Ocean or indeed the Second World War. Sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy have given their lives in service to the nation since the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914 when Midshipmen Malcolm Cann, John Hathaway, William Palmer and Arthur Silver went down with HMS Good Hope. Through both world wars and the Cold War and the violent peace that has followed, some 3,200 sailors, soldiers and aircrew died or were killed on naval duty. Most recently, Petty Officer Craig Blake, killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on the eve of the Navy’s Centennial on 3 May 2010. It being impossible to list all our fallen comrades in the space available, and to recognize also the special relation sailors have with their ships, we focus our commemoration through the vessels lost to the violence of the enemy and the dangers of the sea.

 Thus we remember...

HMCS Ypres Lost with no lives on 12 May 1940

HMCS Fraser Lost with 47 lives on 25 June 1940

HMCS Bras d'Or Lost with 30 lives on 19 October 1940

HMCS Margaree Lost with 142 lives on 22 October 1940

HMCS Otter Lost with 19 lives on 26 March 1941

HMCS Levis Lost with 18 lives on 19 September 1941

HMCS Windflower Lost with 23 lives on 7 December 1941

HMCS Adversus Lost with no lives on 20 December 1941

HMCS Spikenard Lost with 57 lives on 10 February 1942

HMCS Raccoon Lost with 37 lives on 7 September 1942

HMCS Charlottetown Lost with 10 lives on 11 September 1942

HMCS Ottawa Lost with 113 lives on 13 September 1942

HMCS Louisburg Lost with 37 lives on 6 February 1943

HMCS Weyburn Lost with 8 lives on 22 February 1943

HMCS St. Croix Lost with 147 lives on 20 September 1943

HMCS Chedabucto Lost with 1 life on 21 October 1943

HMCS Athabaskan Lost with 128 lives on 29 April 1944

HMCS Valleyfield Lost with 123 lives on 6 May 1944

MTB 460 Lost with 11 lives on 2 July 1944

MTB 463 Lost with no lives on 8 July 1944

HMCS Regina Lost with 30 lives on 8 August 1944

HMCS Alberni Lost with 59 lives on 21 August 1944

HMCS Skeena Lost with 15 lives on 25 October 1944

HMCS Shawinigan Lost with 91 lives on 24 November 1944

HMCS Clayoquot Lost with 8 lives on 24 December 1944

MTBs 459, 461, 462, 465 & 466 Lost with 26 lives on 14 February 1945

HMCS Trentonian Lost with 6 lives on 22 February 1945

HMCS Guysborough Lost with 51 lives on 17 March 1945

HMCS Esquimalt Lost with 44 lives on 16 April 1945

 

Since the Second World War the RCN has been fortunate not to have lost any ships. Still, our service has suffered several incidents with significant loss of life.

 And thus we remember…

 HMCS Micmac 10 lives lost on 16 July 1947

HMCS Iroquois 3 lives lost on 2 October 1952

HMCS Nipigon 3 lives lost on 18 October 1965

HMCS Kootenay 9 lives lost on 23 October 1969

HMCS Bonaventure 4 lives lost on 3 December 1969

HMCS Chicoutimi 1 life lost on 5 October 2004

 

Merchant ship losses

 

SS   A.D. HUFF - 1941.02.22  -  2,   N. Atlantic

SS   ALBERT C. FIELD - 1944.06.18  -  4,    English Channel

SV  ANGELUS * - 1943.05.19  -  8,   W. Atlantic

SS   AVONDALE PARK - 1945.05.7  -  2,   North Sea

SS   BIC ISLAND * - 1942.10.28  -  36,   N. Atlantic

MV CALGAROLITE - 1942.05.9  -  0,   Caribbean

SS   CANADIAN CRUISER - 1941.02.21  -  0,  Indian Ocean

MV CANADOLITE - 1941.05.25  -  0,  Mid-Atlantic

SS   CARIBOU (N) - 1942.10.14 -  31 (+106 passengers),   Cabot Strait

SS   CAROLUS * - 1942.10.9  -  11,  St. Lawrence River

SS   CHRISTIAN J. KAMPMANN * - 1942.11.3   - 19,  Caribbean

SS   COLLINGDOC - 1940.07.13  -  2,  Thames River

SS   CORNWALLIS - 1944.12.3  -  44,  Gulf of Maine

SS   DONALD STEWART - 1942.09.3  -  3,   Strait  of Belle Isle, NFLD

SS   EMPRESS OF ASIA - 1942.02.5  -  1 (+15 & 1 as POW),  Off Singapore             

SS   ERIK BOYE * - 1940.06.15  -  0,   E. Atlantic

SS   ESMOND (N) - 1941.05.9  -  0,   Mid-Atlantic

MV EUROPA * - 1941.05.4  -  0,   In Liverpool

SS   FRANK B. BAIRD - 1942.05.22  -  0,  N. Atlantic

SS   GERALDINE MARY (N)- 1940.08.4  -  2 (+1),   E. Atlantic

SS   GEORGE L. TORIAN - 1942.02.22  -  13 (+2),   Caribbean

SV  HELEN FORSEY (N) - 1942.09.6  -  2,  N. Atlantic

SS   HUMBER ARM (N) - 1940.07.8 -  0,   E. Atlantic

SV  JAMES E NEWSOM  - 1942.05.1  -  0,   N. Atlantic

SS   JASPER PARK - 1943.07.6  -  4,   Indian Ocean

SS   J.B. WHITE - 1941.03.17  -  2,   NE Atlantic

SS   JOHN A HOLLOWAY - 1942.09.6  -  1,   Caribbean

SS   KENORDOCK - 1940.09.15  -  7,   N. Atlantic

SS   KITTY’S BROOK (N) - 1942.05.10  -  9,   Off Nova Scotia

SS.  LADY DRAKE - 1942.05.5  -  6 (+ 6),  N. Atlantic

SS   LADY HAWKINS - 1942.01.19  -  92 (+ c.158),   N. Atlantic

SS   LENNOX  -  1942.02.23  -  2  Off  NE South America

SS   LIVERPOOL PACKET - 1942.05.30  -  2,   Off Nova Scotia

S S   LIVINGSTON (N) - 1944.09.5  -  14,   Cabot Strait

SS   LORD STRATHCONA - 1942.09.5  -  0,   In Conception Bay, Nfld.

SV   LUCILLE M.  - 1942.07.25  -  0,   Off  Nova Scotia

SS   MAGOG - 1940.07.5  -  0,   N. Atlantic

SS   MAPLECOURT - 1941.02.6  -  38,   N. Atlantic

SV  MILDRED PAULINE  - 1942.05.01  -  7,  W. Atlantic

SV  MONA MARIE  - 1942.06.28  -  0,   Caribbean

SS   MONT LOUIS - 1942.05.8  -  13,   Off NE South America

MV  MONTROLITE - 1942.02.4  -  28,   N . Atlantic

SS   NEREUS (61 lost) Foundered in heavy seas - Carribean

SS   NIPIWAN PARK - 1945.01.4  -  2,   Halifax approaches

SS   NORFOLK - 1942.09.18  -  6,   Off  NE South America

SS   OAKTON - 1942.09.7  -  0,   St. Lawrence River  

SS   POINT PLEASANT PARK - 1945.02.23 -  9,  S. Atlantic

SS   PORTADOC - 1941.04.7  -  2(as POWs),    Mid-Atlantic

SS   PRESCODOC - 1942.07.29  -  16.   Off  NE South America 

SS   PRINCESS MARGUERITE - 1942.08.17  -  0 (+ c.55 soldiers),  E. Mediterranean

MV PROTEUS (58 Lost) Foundered in heavy seas - Carribean

SV  ROBERT  MAX (N) - 1941.08.4  -  0,   N. Atlantic

SS   ROBERT W. POMEROY - 1942.04.1  -  1,    North Sea

SS   ROSE CASTLE - 1942.11.2  -  3,  In Conception Bay,  NFLD.

SS   ROTHERMERE (N) - 1941.05.20  -  21 (+1),   Mid-Atlantic

SS   ST MALO * - 1940.10.12  -  28,   N. Atlantic

SS   SARNIADOC - 1942.03.14  -  21,   Caribbean

SS   SHINAI - 1941.12.24 - 2 (1as POW),  Borneo

SS   TABER PARK - 1945.03.13 -  32,   North Sea

SS   THOROLD - 1940.08.22  -  9,   St. George’s Channel, Wales

SS   TORONDOC - 1942.05.21  -  23,  Caribbean

SS   TREVISA - 1940.10.16  -  7,   NE Atlantic

SS   TROISDOC - 1942.05.21  -  0,   Caribbean

SS   VANCOUVER ISLAND * - 1941.10.15  -  65 (+c.40),  N. Atlantic

MV  VICTOLITE - 1942.02.10  -  47,   N. Atlantic

SS   VINELAND - 1942.04.20  -  1,  Atlantic/Caribbean

SS   WATERLOO - 1940.07.10  -  0,  North Sea

SS   WATERTON (N)- 1942.10.11  -  0,   Cabot Strait

SS   WATUKA - 1944.03.22  -  1,  Off Nova Scotia

They will not be forgotten.

The Naval Prayer

 Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; who has compassed the
waters with bounds until day and night come to an end; be pleased to receive into thy almighty and most gracious
protection the persons of us thy servants and the Fleet in which we serve.

Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious
Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and her Dominions, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions;
that the inhabitants of our Commonwealth may in peace and quietness serve thee our God; and that we may return in safety
to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and
glorify thy holy Name.

Amen.

Psalm 107 (Verses 23-31)

Those who go down to the sea in ships, those who ply their trade on great waters,
they have seen your works, O God. 
At your command the stormy wind arose, and lifted up the waves. 
Carried up to the sky, and down to the depths,
their courage melted in the face of danger; reeling and staggering as if drunken,
their seafaring skill was to no avail. 
Then they cried to you, God, in their trouble; you rescued them from their distress. 
You made the storm be still; you hushed the roaring of the waves. 
They rejoiced with the calm; you brought them to the harbour for which they longed. 
Let them thank you, God, for your steadfast love, for the wonders that you do for us. 
Let them extol you when the people gather, and praise you when the elders take counsel.