News and Events
Summer 2010

Centennial Images - Celebrating 100 Years of Service

As a personal contribution to the Canadian Naval Centennial, Museum volunteer John Webber has devoted countless hours to producing a series of graphic images of Canadian naval vessels.

With the artist's permission, these images, shown below, are intended for the use of anyone who shares an interest in the history and development of Canada's Navy. If you require the images in a larger format, contact museum staff member Clare Sharpe at webmaster@navalandmilitarymuseum.org

HMCS CALGARY

HMCS FRASER

HMCS ESQUIMALT-

Gone...but not forgotten

Recent donations to this museum of objects connected to the history of HMCS Esquimalt are powerful reminders of the tragedy of loss and anguish experienced by her crew.

U-190 photo courtesy of the Naval Museum of Alberta.

HMCS Esquimalt was the last Canadian warship sunk by enemy action during the Second World War. In the early morning of 16 April, 1945, just weeks before the war's end, the Bangor class minesweeper was on anti-submarine patrol off the harbour approaches to Halifax, NS when it was torpedoed by German submarine U-190.

Able Seaman Albert Bruce Campbell of B.C. was the second-last survivor of the Esquimalt sinking. When he died on June 22 this year, age 94, the museum received his medals and naval uniform, including the seaman's cap he had on when the ship went down, the same cap AB Campbell wore for six hours in the icy waters of the Atlantic while waiting and hoping to be rescued. He is credited with saving several lives in those dreadful hours, keeping spirits buoyed up with his cheerfulness and cool, collected attitude, attributes that later earned him a citation for gallantry.

Albert Bruce Campbell was one of the last survivors of the sinking of HMCS Esquimalt. To learn more of the ship's fate, see
Within Sight of Shore -
The Sinking of HMCS Esquimalt
by historian Robert C. Fisher.

Another important artifact recently donated to this museum is a ship's pennant for HMCS Esquimalt that belonged to the late Frank Smith, one of 26 crewmembers to survive the sinking.

The pennant was signed by HMCS Esquimalt crew members and dated July 16, 1944, just nine months before the ship went down.The signing took place during a period when the vessel was in for repair or refit, and many of those who added their names to this souvenir may have gone on to other ships.

Some of the names have virtually disappeared from the pennant over time, or can't be deciphered. But there are several names on the pennant of men who went down with the ship, or died in the water during the agonizing hours that followed. It is sobering to see the handwriting of these men who, in a few short months, would have their names added to the list of Canada's war dead from the Second World War: Stoker Olaf Elmer Berge of Vancouver, BC; Stoker Anthony Gallagher of Vancouver; Leading Sick Berth Attendant Arnold Douglas Hedstrom, Calgary, Alberta; Stoker Carlton Joseph Jacques, Windsor, Ontario; Leading Seaman Herbert Russel Knight, Leamington, Ontario; Able Seaman John Martin Monaghan, Toronto, Ontario; Chief Motor Mechanic John Clifford Porter, London, Ontario; Able Seaman Ralph Zbarsky, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.