- Type
- Commemorative Ceremony
- Date
- -
- Time
- -
- Details
Three weeks before the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, the German U-Boat, U-190 sank HMCS Esquimalt, on April 16 in the approaches to Halifax Harbour 80 years ago. It was the last Canadian warship to be lost during the Second World War.
The Township of Esquimalt and CFB Esquimalt will commemorate HMCS Esquimalt on Wednesday, April 16th at 2 p.m. at Esquimalt Memorial Park. The event will be attended by Her Worship Mayor Barbara Desjardin of Esquimalt and Captain(N) Keven Whiteside, Base Commander along with Veterans and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
While on anti-submarine patrol in the approaches to Halifax Harbour on April 16, 1945, HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed and sunk just five miles off Chebucto Head, with the loss of 44 of the ship’s company. On May 11, 1945, U-190 surrendered to HMCS Victoriaville three days after VE Day. The boat was taken to Halifax where it was commissioned in the RCN for testing and evaluation. After doing a St. Lawrence River tour in 1946 and training missions, it was scuttled on Trafalgar Day 1947 with live fire at the same position HMCS Esquimalt went down.
That HMCS Esquimalt went down within view of Halifax reminds us that the Second World War did not just happen "over there." Of the 24 RCN ships lost, 11 went down in Canadian national waters some in the St. Lawrence River, a few hours drive from Quebec City.
Some 96,000 men and women served in Canada’s Second World War Navy. Of these, 78,000 were members of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve enlisting for the duration of the war. At 97 years of age or older, few remain.
Victory in Europe and the longest battle of the Second World War, the Battle of the Atlantic, will be commemorated at the BC Legislature grounds on Sunday, May 4, the 115th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy.
- Location
- Esquimalt Memorial Park
- Address
- 1230 Esquimalt Road
- City
- Victoria, British Columbia
Contact
Gerald Pash
gwpash@shaw.ca
2506586509