Stories
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Through hell and high water
The Canadian Press Published on June 6, 2017 Norman Crewe, 95, who served with the Merchant Navy throughout the Battle of the Atlantic, checks his uniform in the mirror in his home in Halifax on Thursday, May 4, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Norman Crewe still hears the sound of men […]
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The Tragic Voyage of Eli Knudsen
In late May 1940, the Norwegian tanker Eli Knudsen departed from Aruba, carrying a crucial cargo of 1,300 tons of diesel and fuel oil. The vessel’s destination was the United Kingdom, a journey fraught with danger during the peak of World War II. After a stop in Bermuda for convoy assembly, Eli Knudsen joined the […]
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The Tragic Fate of the SS Western Prince: A Tale of Heroism and Loss
On December 14, 1940, the SS Western Prince, a cargo and passenger ship, met a tragic end during the early years of World War II. The ship was en route from the United Kingdom when it was torpedoed by the infamous German U-boat U-96, around 400 miles from Cape Wrath. The torpedo struck the forward […]
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The Last Stand of HMS Jervis Bay
On November 5, 1940, as the autumn sun began to dip below the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean, the Royal Navy’s HMS Jervis Bay found itself facing a battle that would go down in history as a tale of unmatched bravery and sacrifice. The ship was escorting Convoy HX.84, a group of 37 merchant vessels […]
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The Heroic Battle of HMCS Assiniboine
HMCS Assiniboine’s encounter with German U-210 during World War II remains a stirring example of naval courage and persistence. On July 31, 1942, Convoy SC-94 left Sydney, Nova Scotia, for Europe with Assiniboine serving as one of its escorts. As part of their perilous journey, the convoy was shadowed by German U-boats. Five days into […]
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The Harrowing Journey of the Høegh Silverdawn
On June 10, 1943, the Norwegian merchant ship Høegh Silverdawn departed Fremantle, Australia, bound for Basra, Iraq. Carrying 9,000 tons of general cargo, including frozen meat, war materials like shells, tractors, guns, and aviation fuel, the ship was on an essential mission during the tumultuous days of World War II. However, this seemingly routine voyage […]
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Halifax Remembers WWII Bravery
This month, the maritime community in Halifax in Canada, continue a tradition designed to keep the city’s stories of historic bravery alive. The Bamse Cup, a youth regatta to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, August 19 – 20, and the Convoy Cup Regatta, to be held on Friday to Sunday, September 11 – 13, […]
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A Storied History as Canada’s Fightingest Ship
HMCS Haida is a revered symbol of Canadian naval history, celebrated as the sole surviving Tribal-class destroyer among the 27 built for the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Australian Navy between 1937 and 1945. Moored today in Hamilton, Ontario, as a National Historic Site, Haida’s service history is a testament to Canada’s naval […]
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The Resilient Frigate of the Royal Navy
World War II’s brutal sea battles left countless vessels scarred or sunk, but HMS Loch Lomond (K 437) was among the fortunate few to endure and continue serving for nearly 25 years. Aptly carrying the motto “Si je puis” (French for “If I can”), the Loch-class frigate embodied resilience and adaptability throughout her long service. […]