HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

Bangor Class Minesweeper

Built at Sorel and commissioned there on 12 Aug 1942, she arrived at Halifax on 29 Aug 1942 and, after working up at Pictou, was assigned to WLEF. In Nov 1942, she was transferred to the Newfoundland Force, serving until the Command was disbanded in Jun 1945. She was under repair at Dalhousie, N.B., Halifax and Saint John between Oct 1943 and Jan 1944.

On 20 Jun 1944, HMCS WALLACEBURG, exiting Halifax Harbour at a speed of 10 knots in heavy fog, rammed HMCS TROIS RIVIERS in a head on collision putting both ships out of action for several weeks for repairs.

WALLACEBURG had a major refit at Lunenburg from Feb to May 1945, followed by workups in Bermuda. TROIS-RIVIÈRES was paid off on 31 Jul 1945, and handed over later that year to serve the RCMP as MACBRIEN MP 92. She was sold for scrap in 1960.

Photos and Documents           Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell

Board of Inquiry report into the collision between HMCS WALLACEBURG and HMCS TROIS RIVIERES on 20 Jun 1944

Commanding Officers

Captain for the day

Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.

William (Bill) Connor, RCNVR - Dec 1944

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

(SC1) = Ship's company photo from Don Birdsell collection

(SC2) = Ship's company photo from John Cartmill collection

Photos and Documents

(TRV001) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 at Lunenburg, NS

(TRV002) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES' mascots - Labrador Huskies - Newfie, John and Screech  //  From the collection of John (Scotty) Cartmill  //  Courtesy of Paul Cartmill

(TRV003) Alan L. Ballard on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269  //  From the collection of Alan Ballard  //  Courtesy of Scott Ballard

(TRV004) Sailors on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269  //  Back Row: Roach, Charles (Benny), Wt (E);  Abbott, Bob, Coder;  Findlay, Ian, SBA;  Birdsell, Don, Stoker;  Hall, A.D., Cox'n;  Harper, Frank, Sto Joyce, William, Tel;  Gervais, Gaston, Coder;  Hampson, Maurice, Tel  //  Click here to see the names on the back of the photo  //  From the collection of W.T. Joyce  //  Courtesy of Mike Joyce

Unknown crew members of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES

From the collection of John (Scotty) Cartmill

Courtesy of Paul Cartmill

(WBC028) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 postcard

(WBC029) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES jacket patch

(WBC030) Catch of the Day on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC031) Hampson out on the yardarm on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES

(WBC032) Sailors on fo'c's'le of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES

(WBC033) Dean, Morrison, Luft and Ballard on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC034) Sailors on the Quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC035) Red Luft on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC036) Sailors on the Quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269  //  Cooper and Seeley in the photo

(WBC037) Unknown sailor by the ship's bell of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC038) Unknown sailor by the ship's bell of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC039) Christmas Card from William Connor to his parents - Dec 1943

(WBC040) Two "officers" on the jetty by HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, Christmas, Dec 1944.  The "officer" on the right is seen in another photo as a Chief Petty Officer

(WBC041) Unknown sailor on the Quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Christmas Dec 1944

(WBC042) Unknown officer (wearing a port and starboard cap) standing on the jetty by HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 - Christmas Dec 1944

(WBC043) William Connor was Commanding Officer for the day on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, Christmas, Dec 1944  //  Photo 1 - William Connor, CO for the day

(WBC044) Commanding Officer of the Day Christmas Defaulters.

(WBC045)  Officers or perhaps temporary officers on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 - Christmas day 1944

(WBC046) "Christmas of 1944 one great party" Ratings on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 wearing officer's uniforms Christmas day 1944  // Brian Mulvihill, J. McCallum, Red Luft (standing 1st on left), W J. Connor (standing 1st on right), Al Ashmore  //  Click here to view the names on the back of the photo

(WBC047) Two officers on the fo'c's'le of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269  //  webmaster's note: these may be officers or newly appointed "Christmas Day Officers"

(WBC048) Unknown sailor on the Quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 at St. John's, Newfoundland - Christmas, Dec 1944

(WBC049) Two unknown sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, at St. John's, Newfoundland

(WBC050 - WBC052) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269 dropping depth charges  //  William Connor called them "Pop Bottles"

(WBC053) Unknown sailor by after gun mount on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC054) Stern view of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC055) Unknown sailor working by the depth charge chute on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC056) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, refit in Lunenburg, Feb-May 1945

(WBC057) HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, refit in Lunenburg Feb-May 1945

(WBC058) Unknown sailor on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, refit in Lunenburg Feb-May 1945

(WBC059) Unknown sailor (as Quartermaster) on the Quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES, refit in Lunenburg Feb-May 1945

(WBC060) Quartermaster "shooting" another sailor on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES  //  Webmaster's note: The "victim " has to work on his acting as he is smiling.  The Quartermaster in this photos appears to be the same person as in photo WBC059

(WBC061 - WBC062) Sailors on the Quarterdeck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, Feb 1945, refit in Lunenburg  //  Back, L-R: Redmond, Arthur Hall (Cox'n), unknown  //  Front, L-R: Maurice (Whitey) Hamspon, William (Blondie) Connor

(WBC063) Unknown sailor just aft the funnel on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC064) William Connor just aft of the funnel on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC065) Unknown sailor on the boat deck of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC066) William Connor (left) and shipmate by forward gun on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC067) Three unknown sailors by the forward gun on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC068) Unknown sailor just forward the bridge on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC069) Ernie Hill on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC070) Unknown sailor on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC071) Unknown sailor, Quartermaster on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC072) Unknown sailors by the port depth charge thrower on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC073) Unknown sailor by the forward gun on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC074) Unknown sailors by the forward gun on HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269

(WBC075 - WBC076) Celebration on the fo'c's'le of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES - reason for the celebration unknown

(WBC077) Unknown sailors HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Bermuda circa May/Jun 1945  //  "My grandma told me my Grandpas ship was sent to Bermuda in 1945 for some R&R. My Grandpa told me a story about painting the ship during this time, and the water was so beautiful and they weren't allowed to swim - so he came up with the idea of "accidentally" dropping his paintbrush in the water and diving to retrieve it. The captain caught on after he had dropped it the third time and he caught trouble for that. He also said they had to wear those knee high wool socks and they were torture. Grandpa told me that a coca-cola was far more expensive than a glass of rum and a local pastor took them around Bermuda on a bicycle tour while they were there."  //  Webmaster's note: After her refit from Feb to May 1945, HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES was sent to Bermuda for Work-ups. From a sailors perspective, after convoy escort in the North Atlantic, that would seem like R&R.

(WBC078) Unknown sailors on the fo'c's'le of HMCS TROIS-RIVIÈRES J269, Bermuda circa may/Jun 1945

(WBC079) Flyer by Maurice Hampson to organize a TROIS-RIVIÈRES reunion in 1990

(WBC080) Letter from Maurice Hampson to William Connor as they work on organizing a reunion

(WBC081) Contact list of former crew members put together in the lead up to the 1990 reunion

(WBC082) List of deceased crew members put together in the lead up to the 1990 reunion

From the collection of William Connor, RCNVR

Courtesy of Jason Salter