A BRIEF HISTORY OF
Among the earlier class of new escort vessels, built in 1942 was the frigate H.M.C.S. MONTREAL, laid in the Yard of Canadian Vickers Company, Ltd., Montreal, on October, 1, 1942. Ruggedly built, she was launched on June 12, 1943, and commission exactly five months later.
MONTREAL sailed for Halifax on November 21, and after fitting out with the latest in anti-submarine and radar equipment she carried out working up trials. Joining a convoy group under the “Flag Officer Newfoundland Force”, she sailed, until the early part of January, with SWANSEA, COLUMBIA, NIAGARA, and ST. LAURENT. She later joined escort group C-4 on mid-ocean duty. While on the “Newfie-Derry” run the group had a number of undetermined submarine contacts. It was during one of these crossings that MONTREAL carried out a prompt and efficient rescue at sea that resulted in the saving of three lives. Aircraft from the Merchant Aircraft Carrier Adula had come to trouble when a dense fog swept down on them and the pilot found he could not contact his ship. MONTREAL, carrying out a search for the victims swept the area and found the “ditched” aircraft, rescuing all members of the plane’s crew.
In September, 1944, she was transferred to a striking force and while with this group she took part in numerous hunts for submarines. She attacked a target in November in company with the frigate JONQUIERE, and next day engaged in a hunt with the rest of the group for U-boats off Malin Head. She accompanied H.M.S. Appollo on a mine laying expedition in the Western Approaches and then spent considerable time patrolling the Minches. On December 17, she investigated a report that a submarine had washed up on Wolfs Rock and found that, in fact, it had. It proved to be U-1209 that had fouled the rock and later slid off and foundered in the near vicinity. MONTREAL picked up 36 survivors, and took them to Plymouth, leaving JONQUIERE, BEACON HILL and NEW GLASGOW on patrol.
From then until she was finally ordered to refit on March 31, 1945, she was engaged in patrolling in the English Channel and carried out a number of U-boat hunts.
When the war in Europe ended MONTREAL was tropicalized and made ready for the Pacific, but with the surrender of the Japanese she was tentatively proposed for the post war fleet. Allocated to the reserve Fleet in February 1946, she was later declared surplus to requirements and taken to Sydney, Nova Scotia for destoring.
Her career with the Royal Canadian Navy came to an end on April 16, 1946, when War Assets Corporation accepted her for disposal.
