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HMCS MEON K269
River Class Frigate
Named after an English river, HMS MEON was commissioned on 31 Dec 1943 at Glasgow and sailed on 16 Jan 1944, with convoy ON.220 for Canada. Transferred to the RCN, she was commissioned in the RCN at Halifax on 07 Feb 1944, and in Apr 1944 worked up in St. Margaret's Bay. In May 1944 she was assigned to EG 9 and sailed with convoy HXM.289 to join EG 9 in Londonderry. For the next five months she was employed in U.K. coastal waters, and was present on D-Day. She was then transferred to the EG 27, Halifax, as Senior Officer's ship, arriving there on 19 Oct 1944. Employed locally until 31 Mar 1945, she then left Halifax to join convoy HX.347 on passage to Britain, and was returned to the RN at Southampton on 23 Apr 1945.
In 1946 HMS MEON joined the reserve fleet and remained at Harwich until 1952. She then saw active service in the Suez campaign of 1956, and with the Amphibious Warfare Squadron in the Persian Gulf, before being paid off in 1965. On 14 May 1966 HMS MEON (L369) arrived at Hughes Bolckow, Blyth for breaking up.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos Battle for Convoy BX-141
Commanding Officers
A/Cdr St. Clair Balfour, RCNVR - 07 Feb 1944 - 26 Mar 1945
Lt Nelson William Adams, RCNVR - 27 Mar 1945 - 23 Apr 1945
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(WC10) William Cummings by the aft gun on HMCS MEON (WC11) William Cummings on HMCS MEON (WC12) HMCS MEON making smoke and dropping depth charge (WC13) William Cummings, looking aft, sitting just forward of the after gun mount on HMCS MEON
(WC15) William Cummings on HMCS MEON (WC16) William Cummings, on duty as Quartermaster, standing behind the Hedgehog launcher on HMCS MEON From the collection of AB William Cummings, RCNVR Courtesy of Rob Cummings
(RSR076) HMCS MEON'S pendant number (RSR077) Unidentified sailor sitting at one of HMCS MEON'S AA guns (RSR078) Unidentified sailors standing on the starboard side of HMCS MEON'S after gun deck (RSR080) Unidentified on HMCS MEON between the after gun deck and the funnel. Based on the structure on the right, it appears that MEON is in the slips for repairs - location unknown. (RSR080) HMS MEON in the slips for repairs. Three unknown crew members standing in front of her rudder. Location unknown
(RSR081) Escort group following in line astern of HMCS MEON. Photo taken from the port side of MEON'S after gun deck (RSR082 - RSR084) Unidentified sailors on the port side of the after gun deck on HMCS MEON (RSR085) Quarterdeck of HMCS MEON - note the rough seas in the back ground
(RSR086 - RSR087) Depth charge crews prepare to release / launch depth charges from HMCS MEON (RSR088) Depth charge thrown from HMCS MEON. Its is not known if this was taken during the same time frame as RSR086 and RSR087 or at a different time
(RSR090) Four unidentified sailors by the gun on the aft gun deck on HMCS MEON (RSR091 - RSR092) Large group of unidentified sailors on the aft gun deck on HMCS MEON. Both photos are of the same group, taken a few seconds apart.
(RSR093 - RSR094) A burial at sea on HMCS MEON
(RSR097 - RSR100) Unknown frigate or frigates near HMCS MEON
(RSR101) Unknown frigate with mine or torpedo damage (RSR102) Unknown Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) (RSR103) Unknown Escort Carriers (RSR104) HMCS HALIFAX K237 (RSR105) HMCS OUTREMONT K322
(RSR106 - RSR107) Escort Group manoeuvring into Line Ahead formation for entering harbour - photos taken from HMCS MEON
These 3 photos seem to show the recovery of the 2 bodies at sea by HMCS MEON (RSR109) The life vest on the casualty in this first photo appears to be a Luftwaffe Kapok life vest. (RSR110) This photo shows the recovery of a body grappling hook and Shepard's hook. The life vest is different from the one in photo RSR109. (RSR110) This photo shows what appears to be a casualty on the deck of HMCS MEON.
(RSR112) HMCS ESQUIMALT J272 (RSR113) HMS SEAWOLF N47 (RSR114) HMCS PORT COLBORNE K326 (RSR115) HMCS CAMROSE K154 with an unknown Town Class destroyer in the background (RSR116) HMCS AGASSIZ K129
(RSR117) HMCS AGASSIZ K129 (RSR118) Unknown River Class destroyer (RSR119) Unknown minesweeper (RSR120) HMS RODNEY (RSR121) Unknown frigates
(RSR121) Unknown frigates (RSR122) Escort group laying a smoke screen. HMCS MEON in the foreground also making smoke. (RSR123) Merchant ship in unknown port (RSR124) Unknown corvette heading out to sea from Halifax. Georges Island off the to left of the photo (RSR125) Fishing schooner in an unknown port
(RSR126) Merchant ship in unknown port (RSR127) Merchant ship at Halifax (RSR128) Merchant ship in unknown port (RSR129) Landing craft in convoy (RSR130) Unknown troopship in unknown port
(RSR131) Merchant ship in unknown port (RSR132) Small fishing vessel off the starboard quarter of HMCS MEON
(RSR133) Diamond War Memorial, Londonderry, Northern Ireland (RSR134) Castle somewhere in Northern Ireland (RSR135) Londonderry and the River Foyle From the collection of Ronald S. Richards, Stoker, RCNVR Courtesy of Jamie Cane
Post Second World War
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
