Stories

The Battle took place on August 6,1942.  My dad seldom spoke of the war but there are a few things that are unforgettable parts of that day that I have seared into my brain from childhood. He was born and raised in Winnipeg Manitoba, the eldest son of Mary and William Portree of East Kildonan. He trained as an iron molder at the Vulcan Iron Works. When the depression hit there was no work to be had and he rode the rails East to Hamilton Ontario – a day here and there at the steel plants in Hamilton and Dundas.…

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 crying out from the dark waves of the North Atlantic for help that wouldn’t come in time. “It stays with you for the rest of your life,” he said. “You’d never forget it if you lived to be 100.” Crewe, who is 95 now, was…

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 Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 49, departing on June 8th. The convoy represented a collective push to deliver vital supplies to Britain while navigating perilous waters teeming with enemy submarines. The Dispersal of Convoy HX 49 For nearly two weeks, Convoy HX 49 made its…

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 section of the ship, causing it to settle by the bow and come to a stop. As the Western Prince lingered, the U-boat submerged to reload its torpedo tubes, waiting for the crew to abandon ship. In a tense, life-threatening situation, the crew members were…

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 bound for the United Kingdom from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Among them, the Jervis Bay was the sole defense against the oncoming threat of Admiral Scheer, a formidable German pocket battleship with orders to destroy as many Allied freighters as possible. Originally built as an Australian…

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 the mission, one freighter was torpedoed, exposing their position and drawing the attention of 18 additional U-boats. The pivotal clash began at 11:25 a.m. on August 6, when Assiniboine spotted U-210. Through rough seas and dense fog, the Canadian destroyer increased speed to engage. U-210…

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 would soon turn into a nightmare for its crew and passengers. Just five days into the journey, on June 15, the ship was attacked without warning by the German auxiliary cruiser Michel. In a sudden, violent strike, the Høegh Silverdawn was sunk at position 25°40’S…

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, will commemorate the history, stories and memory of the sailors, airmen, and merchant mariners whose bravery during World War II ensured Europe had a lifeline to North America. The Convoy Cup Foundation, working with its sister foundation in Risør of Norway, is dedicated to making…

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 prowess and resilience during times of conflict. A Storied World War II Career In 1944, Haida joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla out of Plymouth, England, embarking on a series of daring missions in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. With a reputation as…