NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN NAVAL MEMORIAL TRUST
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In 1939 Europe was at war and by 1940 continental Europe from France to Norway had been occupied by German forces. Britain stood alone and the sea lanes across the Atlantic were her only lifeline.
Supplying that critical lifeline were convoys of merchant ships bringing vital food, fuel and war materiel from North America. The role of the Royal Canadian Navy escorts including the tireless Flower Class corvettes like HMCS Guelph (K687) was to protect the merchant ships against enemy submarine attacks and ensure the “safe and timely arrival of the convoy at its destination.” The escorts played a crucial role in ensuring Allied victory at sea during the pivotal Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1945.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic as well as the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
More than 100 of the corvettes including Guelph, named after Guelph, proudly bore the names of Canadian cities, towns and communities from coast to coast while recognizing the people who built the 205-foot, 950-ton ships in Maritime, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia shipyards.
Built at Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood in 1943-44, HMCS Guelph was commissioned at Toronto in May 1944. Following arrival in Halifax in early June, Guelph was tasked to escort two Royal Navy submarines (P.553 and P.554) to Philadelphia. The ship then proceeded to Bermuda for operational readiness training.
In August 1944 Guelph joined Escort Group W-3 in New York as a local escort. In late September the ship was transferred to Escort Group W-8 which, although forming in Londonderry “Derry”, Northern Ireland, was to be based at St. John’s, NF. Guelph then made passage eastward as escort to the 56-ship convoy HX 310 (New York to Liverpool, UK.).
On Guelph’s final transatlantic escort, the ship left Belfast, Northern Ireland in early 1945 and was based at Halifax until paid off in late June at Sorel, QC. In October Guelph was sold, retaining the ship’s name under Panamanian flag. The ship’s last listing in Lloyd’s Register for 1964-1965 showed the name Burfin.
HMCS Guelph was awarded the battle honour Atlantic 1944-1945.
Of the 123 corvettes to serve in the RCN during the war only HMCS Sackville remains, named after the Town of Sackville, N.B. and commissioned in Saint John, NB in 1941. The ‘The Last Corvette,’’ –restored to its 1944 configuration, is a National Historic Site and was designated Canada’s Naval Memorial in 1985.
Owned, maintained and operated by the volunteer Canadian Naval Memorial Trust Sackville is a popular visitor attraction on the historic Halifax waterfront during the summer months. During the winter the ship is berthed in HMC Dockyard. HMCS Sackville protected us in war, served faithfully in peace and continues, as Canada’s Naval Memorial, to honour all those who served. For more information on how to support ‘The Last Corvette’ visit cnmt.ca or call (902) 492 -1424. Individual, unit or corporate support is most welcome and appreciated.
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Source documents:
Canada.ca/en/navy/services/history/ships-histories
The Ships of Canada’s Naval Forces, 1910-2002, 3rd ed. (Vanwell Publishing) 2002. Ken Macpherson & John Barrie www.convoyweb.org.uk
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