Category: Royal Canadian Navy

Covers both World Wars. For WWII, looks at the careers of the 24 Canadian submariners who served with the RN.

Articles about the RCN, in support of Navy Week.

He joined up in 1940 and after training joined Prince Robert in 1941. He soon moved to Trail and Atlantic convoys followed by a training post ashore at Cornwallis. This was followed by a spell as Executive Officer on Courbet, before moving to Restigouche in time for D-Day and operations in the Bay. He then returned to Canada to a training post.

An abridgement for younger readers of his official history.

The excellent but brief official history of the RCN in the war. Reprinted by Stoddart in 1987 (ISBN: 0870212036).

Born in 1910, the author had an adventurous career as a youth and toured the world. In 1941 he joined the RCN and the last 50 pages of the book describe the lighter moments of his service in the Battle of the Atlantic first on the corvette Ville de Quebec and then on the Algerine Fort Frances.

A bilingual work to mark the 55th anniversary of the U-boat attacks on Canada.

A detailed account of a still controversial incident.

Pugsley was a journalist and junior officer who chose to serve as an ordinary seaman in order to describe life on the lower deck. He uses this experience and those of the men he served with to describe the RCN at war. He spent two years as a rating, serving in Saguenay in the Atlantic, then in Sioux, Duke of York, the minesweeper Georgian from which he saw D-Day, with the Canadian MTBs and finally in Haida.

A photo-essay which attempts to evoke a rather sanitised and rose-tinted view of wartime service in the RCN.

Interesting reminiscences collected long after the event in an effort to record a little-known aspect of the war.

He recalls his naval career from signing on in a former neighbourhood police station across the street from the Calgary Fair Grounds, to his discharge as a petty officer telegraphist at war's end. During the war, he was crewman in two auxiliary vessels, a Fairmile and four corvettes. Focuses on lower deck life.

Another Navy Week booklet.

Nine Canadians tell their stories of action and excitement.

Some 150 Canadians were sent to train in the UK at HMS Raleigh. They proved a brave and distinguished group.

Anecdotes recalled, vividly capturing life at sea.

A popular account of the role of Canadians in Coastal Forces and, more fully, the exploits of the two Canadian flotillas in the Channel and the Canadian-commanded flotilla in the Mediterranean. There is a full account of the tragic fire at Ostend in February 1945 which killed 73 and in which a dozen MTBs were lost.

An early work of analysis by the noted Canadian historian

A satisfyingly rich account of the development of the RCN. A second edition was published in 2010 (ISBN: 0802096042).

A well written account of the power struggle between the regular navy men and reservists which led to Admiral Nelles removal as head of the RCN in 1944.

He joined the RCN as a cadet in 1934. By 1939 he was serving on Restigouche but in summer 1940 joined Ottawa, which soon transferred to the UK. He was appointed to the 1941 Long Course at Excellent. After a period as Gunnery Officer at Halifax he was appointed First of the new Tribal Iroquois, which commissioned in November 1942. She was not a happy ship and famously mutinied in July 1943. After a busy time, in April 1944 he transferred to Ontario as Gunnery Officer, although she did not complete until 1945, when he was quickly recalled to Ottawa. An enjoyable and engaging account with some interesting perspectives.

A general history of the RCN which is profusely illustrated with contemporary art and photographs.

An illustrated guide to the semi-official and quite unofficial artwork of the RCN.

In 1993 a one-day conference was held in Halifax to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. The recollections were all from the lower deck and there are some overview papers. This unvarnished oral history is arranged by ship type.

How admirals, scientists, and politicians impeded the development of high technology in Canada's wartime Navy.

READ, Charles Herbert. Memoirs of the Flight Surgeon of HMS Nabob. [vi], 173p. Coaldale, Alberta: Lammi Publishing, 2018. ISBN: 9780995006089.

The memoirs of a young Canadian who joined the RCN straight from medical school in 1944. He served on Nabob during her brief career. An excellent description of training, monotony, adventure and action until her near sinking off Norway during an attack on the Tirpitz.

COLLINS, Paul W. The Newfyjohn Solution: St. John’s, Newfoundland as a Case Study of Second World War Allied Naval Base Development During the Battle of the Atlantic. 222p., bibliog., illus., index. Calgary, Alberta: WriteAdvice, 2014. ISBN: 9780987891860.

A detailed study in the form of a narrative history showing how St John’s developed from a small and poorly defended port in 1939 to the RCN’s main Atlantic escort base named HMCS Avalon.

BRUHN, David D. & HOOLE, Rob. Enemy Waters: Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy, U.S. Navy, and Other Allied Mine Forces Battling the Germans and Italians in World War II. 434p., illus. Berwyn Heights, MD: Heritage Books, 2019. ISBN:  9780788458729.

Some 150 illustrations are used to give a comprehensive account of the first conversions of merchant ships to minelayers in 1939, through to the role of minesweepers in assault landings. Follows an earlier volume covering WW1.

LAMB, James B. On the Triangle Run. xv, 237p., bibliog., illus. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1986. ISBN: 0771597460.

  Another varied and enthralling set of memories from an accomplished storyteller. A second edition was published by Stoddart in 2000, ISBN: 0773732551.

GIMBLETT, Richard H. & HADLEY, Michael L. (eds.) Citizen Sailors: Chronicles of Canada’s Naval Reserve 1910-2010. xx, 249p., bibliog., illus., index. Toronto: Dundurn, 2010. ISBN: 9781554888672.

A chronologically arranged series of commemorative essays. WW2 is well if briefly covered with an interesting overview and some emphasis on the role of the WRCNS.

CLARK, Joseph A.P. HMCS Loch Achanalt: A Memoir. 69, (7)p., illus. [Ontario?]; Highwoods Prospect Publishers, 1995.

Built by Henry Robb in Leith, the frigate was lent to the RCN after being launched in 1944. She served in the Western Approaches and Channel and was laid up in 1945 before transfer to the RNZN. This is the collected reminiscences of fifteen of the crew, including the author.

WELLS, Herb. Under the White Ensign. 2 vols., St. John's, Nfld.: Robinson Blackmore, 1981-85.

A history of Newfoundland naval seamen in WWII. The second volume also covers the Korean War. They consist of a whole series of short anecdotes covering all theatres and ship types. It may have been self-published in 1977 and then reissued in two volumes in 1981-85.

DOUGLAS, W. A. B. ed. The RCN in Transition 1910–1985. 411p., illus. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1988. ISBN: 0774803126

A series of essays which looks at the development of the RCN from an Imperial relict to an ocean-going national force.

FERGUSON, Julie H. Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Service. 375p., bibliog., illus., index. Toronto: Dundurn, 1995. ISBN: 1550022172.

Canadian submariners served with distinction in all theatres and in all types of operation.

LONGSTAFF, F.V. Esquimalt Naval Base: A History of Its work and Its Defences. 189p., [12p. of plates]. Victoria, B.C.: Victoria Book and Stationery Company, 1942.

Although largely concerned with the Victorian period and the early twentieth century, this gives good background on an important naval base. The cover is dated 1941, but the copyright statement is given as 1942.

ESSEX, James W. Victory in the St. Lawrence: Canada’s Unknown War. 160p., bibliog., illus. Erin, Ont.: Boston Mills, 1984. ISBN: 0919783341.

Some 28 ships were torpedoed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and this describes how local naval defence activity was organised.      

This volume consists of 27 of the 31 Niobe Newsletters published by the Navy Office of Canada in London between June 1942 and December 1944.

A folksy account of Zarn's service on Prince Robert and potted biographies and tall tales of assorted country boys serving on the lower deck.

An account of Montgomery's service on the eastern Canadian seaboard in the summer of 1942.

The rather bland memoirs of a Canadian pharmacist, who joined up as an officer in 1939 and served in the Battle of the Atlantic and in a number of training posts, ending the war as a Lt Commander. Post-war he had a distinguished professional career.

The Proceedings of the Sixth Maritime Command Historical Conference, held in 2002. The papers describe the careers of each of the ten Chiefs of the Naval Service of the RCN and there are autobiographical pieces from six contemporary commanders.

A personal memoir. He joined up in 1940 and as an asdic specialist on HMT Preston North End. He then moved to Achates from where he watched the sinking of Hood and picked up the survivors. After she was mined on the Russian convoy route he joined St Croix on Atlantic convoy work. He then took command of an LST serving at D-Day and in Malaya. An enjoyable tale.

The story of an astonishing life. By 1939 Bishop Wells had already fought in the Boer War and served as a chaplain in WWI. He set up the Canadian Army Chaplaincy in World War II, was retired on age grounds in 1943 and promptly became Chaplain of the Fleet! Sheds light on an unusual area.

Volume 1 covers the pre-war years while volume 2 covers the activities on shore during WWII, ranging from ship procurement to personnel training, the naval bases, etc.

The RCN as seen by naval wives – a quite different perspective.

A booklet describing the ships of the RCN and Merchant Navy in support of Navy Week 1942.

The final Navy Week booklet, published just after the defeat of Germany.

The author's career and tall tales, mainly drawn from his war service in the RCN as a gunner's mate.

A photographic scrapbook of happy wartime days as a Wren cook.

A chiefly photographic history of the RCN with WWII well-represented.

Ten popularised tales of personal heroism in some well known naval incidents.

An autobiography. He joined up in 1940 and after training joined Prince David as an Ordinary Seaman, serving first in the Caribbean and then the Aleutians. When she went for conversion to a landing ship, he was drafted to Glasgow as a Leading Seaman at the very end of 1943. He stayed with her until after D-Day then crossed to Canada with Sheffield, before joining Uganda for service in the Pacific before returning home for discharge at war's end.

Intended as a supplement to Tucker's Official History, this exemplary work benefits from modern research, the use of declassified records and a team of excellent historians.

Intended as a supplement to Tucker's Official History, this exemplary work benefits from modern research, the use of declassified records and a team of excellent historians. It is in two volumes, the second listed below.

An excellent chronological account divided into 65 chapters describing the major incidents involving RCN vessels. The authors' names are reversed on the dustjacket.

Curry volunteered in 1939 and after training as an Asdic operator joined the corvette Kamsack on the North Atlantic convoys. After retraining he joined in 1943 the Bangor Class Caraquet based at Devonport for pre-invasion duties. He served with her until 1945.

A reconstruction of his father's war service. He joined the RCN in 1939 and his travels are reconstructed from ships' logs. A dry account which disguises service on over 60 convoys, seven of which were attacked, and the perils of submarines, air attacks, and collisions.

A truly esoteric interest. Naval Base maps and information; a list of all Canadian warships with commissioning and decommissioning dates, updates of censor stamp numbers, cancellations, black-out cancels, registered & miscellaneous covers and labels.

While still at school he joined the RCNVR as a midshipman and at the start of the war immediately went to sea on St Laurent. In August 1940 he went to Dartmouth as a special entry cadet and after graduating went to Mauritius which soon headed for the Indian Ocean. Early in 1942 he joined Liddesdale for his small ship time on East Coast convoys. He joined Anson briefly for his qualifying exams and in May 1943 joined Skeena on North Atlantic convoy work as a sublieutenant. She then took part in D-Day but that October ran aground in a storm and was lost off Iceland. In December 1944 he joined the new corvette Seacliff. Early in March 1945 he joined Gatineau but almost immediately switched to Ottawa for the final months of the war. A rather factual unemotional account.

Commander German provides a solid general history with over one-third directed at WWII.

After training as a radio operator she learned Katakana and served as an interceptor operator. After the war she spent four years on Norwegian vessels.

Murray was responsible for directing the Canadian Atlantic war, but this book is mainly concerned with the VE Day riots in Halifax, for which he was made the scapegoat.

Memoirs of one of Canada's most distinguished naval officers from 1939 to the end of the Korean War. It traces his wartime career from the RCNVR to transfer to England in 1940, appointment as First Lieutenant of the trawler Berkshire then quickly to his own command of the trawler Kirkella, based in the Bristol Channel. In April 1941 he moved to the corvette Ranunculus, then building on the Clyde, but when she was handed over to the Free French he was given Stonecrop, which joined 37EG on the Gibraltar run. This was followed by command of Bazely, building in the US then fighting with 4EG in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Promotion in 1944 brought command of 6EGC and a continuation of the Atlantic War, until he commanded the last eastbound convoy. He finished the war ashore in Canada. The second volume, subtitled The Thunder and the Sunshine covers his post-war career.

Nineteen papers presented at a conference. Papers relevant to WWII range from the experiences of a midshipman serving on Prince of Wales up to the time of her sinking, an engineer's view of the RCN construction programme, a history of the three Princes used as AMCs, the RCN's quest for autonomy in the North West Atlantic, a review of the RCN role in the critical Atlantic battles of early 1943, an analysis of the role of the Royal Navy's Submarine Tracking Room, and the effect of intelligence on the battles around convoys SC42, SC107, and ONS5.

A chronologically arranged set of old tales and anecdotes well-told, from WWI to Korea.

An autobiography. After training as a radio technician in Canada he joined the RCNVR in 1942, then had a variety of local roles he joined Assiniboine in January 1943. After a year of Atlantic duties he trained further in radar operation and joined a Fairmile. Late in 1944 he was selected for officer training in Canada and early in 1945 joined the frigate Royalmount as torpedo officer.

A proud, patriotic, and censored account of the rise of the RCN as an Atlantic power.

An illustrated guide to unit badges and the history of the units themselves. Includes a section on maritime air squadrons.

The centennial history of the Coast Guard. The section on WWII is small and largely concerned with the transfer of the icebreaker Montcalm to Russia.

A propaganda pamphlet praising the work of the RCN.

The club in St. John's where escort officers took their ease.

A collection of reminiscences from 250 men who served in 50 corvettes. Loosely arranged into chapters covering different time periods or aspects of life at sea.

More transcribed oral history. This volume includes material on Fraser and Assiniboine, on Barham in 1939–40, on the sinking of Margaree, on life aboard Annapolis and Columbia, on MTBs in the Mediterranean, on Victorious in the later part of the war and a long section on merchant and naval prisoners of war.

This volume covers the same broad span of corvettes, destroyers, and AMCs; memories of the fall of France and the Dunkirk evacuation; Berwick in 1939–40; RCAF/RCN cooperation; naval intelligence, the WRCNS, and an LCI at Normandy. Very enjoyable.

A series of transcripts of reminiscences taped in the mess and covering all aspects of the sea war. A lovely dip with everything from essays to jokes. It covers Atlantic corvettes like Rimouski, training at King Alfred, patrols in Sealion and P 556, Spiteful in the Far East, DEMS, radar officer on Prince of Wales in the Bismarck chase and her own sinking in the Far East, Fairmiles off Halifax, minesweeping off Tobruk, the sinking of Coventry, MTBs in the North Sea and Mediterranean, the Fleet Air Arm on Unicorn, Striker, and Khedive.

Littler qualified as a Master Mariner in 1937 and his merchant career occupies the first half of this memoir. In 1940 he joined the RCNVR and in mid-1941 took command of the new corvette Brandon. After two arduous years in the Atlantic he moved to the sea training base at Pictou. In April 1944 he joined Belfast for D-Day then went as Navigating Officer to Uganda where he saw out the war before continuing a distinguished career in the RCN ending in 1962.

Layard was a complex character who led an RCN escort group although an RN officer. The diary is eloquent in its own right and is lightly edited and has good introductory essays. The diary covers the period 1943-45 when his group was active in the inshore waters of the UK.

Describes a distinguished career of 40 years in the RCN. In September 1939 he was in Halifax preparing the port for war, but by Christmas had been given command of Restigouche. In 1940 she was largely based in the UK and covered everything from anti-invasion duties to East Coast and Atlantic convoys, finishing up back in Halifax. After a refit it was back to the UK and more escort until in June 1941 he was appointed Director of the Operations Division in Ottawa. In October 1943 he took over as CO of Nabob and was with her until her near-fatal sinking 12 months later. Various staff appointments followed until the end of the war.

The author's usual very readable mix of history, anecdote and personal recollection looking principally at the Canadian contribution to Coastal Forces in the Channel and the Mediterranean.

An informal history of the RCN, with a ragbag of memories, facts and tall tales.

The war memoirs of a volunteer who became a career officer. He served in the Atlantic on Alaunia; on Oakville and Moosejaw in the North and South Atlantic and finally on Sioux. The story is well-told and rich with anecdote.

A newspaperman who served in corvettes uses a mixture of fact and personal recollection to describe life in the wartime RCN. A second edition was published by Stoddart in 2000.

Gives good detail of the operational history of Nabob and Puncher in a wider work.

The first volume is an essay by Stephen Leacock on Canada and the sea, while the second, by Leslie Roberts, reviews the RCN at war with additional chapters on the merchant marine and the shipyards.

More oral history covering a fascinating range from covert operations in the Far East to the corvette St. Thomas sinking U 877.

Another mixed set of reminiscences from WRCNS to destroyer command aged 25.

This volume continues the series first edited by Lynch (below) and contains the usual wide mix of stories from Japanese POW tales to the raid on Spitzbergen, corvette service, and D-Day.

One of Canada's favourite artists, he joined the RCN as an officer cadet in 1939. He spent two years training with the RN on Renown, Matabele, and Hood, seeing action from the South Atlantic to Norway. In 1941 he joined Ottawa and after her sinking moved to Niagara as Executive Officer. In 1943 he briefly commanded the corvette Long Branch before taking over as executive officer on Algonquin, where he spent the rest of the war on very active service. The book is beautifully illustrated with his line drawings.

Really an illustrated scrapbook.

A collection of essays by leading historians from the Second Fleet Historical Conference in Halifax. Covers a huge range of topics from A/S warfare to the WRNS.

A brief autobiographical essay on two legendary British Colombian seamen. Both were actively engaged in the war. The father mainly had administrative roles while the son served in the Atlantic.

A memoir of war in the WRCNS from 1943 to 1945.

Full of personal accounts, this is a popular history to restore the memory of "a forgotten fighting service".

Trapped in an unwelcome marriage he virtually ran away to sea and went down in the tragic sinking of the destroyer.