If you would like to be listed on this page, please contact Jerry Proc, e-mail: jerry.proc@sympatico.ca and supply any information, comments or a story about your years of service aboard Huron.In addition, Records of Service can be obtained from Library and Archives Canada at the following address:
Personnel Records Unit
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N3All the necessary instructions are listed on the web page.
Toll free 1-866-578-7777 (Canada and U.S.A)
Fax: (613) 947-8456For further details, visit the Library and Archives Canada web page:
Application Form For Record of Service
Bishop, Donald H. LSRN3
I joined the RCN in January 1949 and was part of the first new entry training in Halifax. My service number therefore ended in H. After basic training I entered an electrical couse graduating as an OSEM and was drafted to the weather ship HMCS St. Stephen. She was also known as HMCS Appendicitis and on my third trip to station Baker, I developed symptoms so another emergency run was necessary into St. Johns, NFLD. I left the ship there and I was flown back to HMCS Stadacona.I joined the Huron in March 1950. I can remember us "swinging the compass" in Bedford Basin, and performing sea trials out of Halifax and a trip or two to Bermuda before departing on a goodwill trip to Europe. This trip was comprised of HMCS Magnificent, HMCS Iroquois and Huron. We visited Edinburgh, Scotland - Londonderry, N. Ireland - Oslo, Norway - Goteborg, Sweden - Copenhagen, Denmark, - Cherbourg, France - Lisbon, Portugal - Gibralter and returned to Halifax. I think our first port of call was in England. I missed one of our ports Amsterdam, Holland. I can never forget the reception we received there. When our Canada shoulder badges were seen, everyone was buying us drinks. A Dutch gin, straight with a little sugar stirred in with a very small tin spoon. After our return from this trip I can remember another trip to Bermuda and then going up the Mississippi river to New Orleans. I was promoted to AB before these trips and became a radar buff, tuning the 293 and calibrating PPI's etc. but the short range Sperry was exceptional in detail. You could see lobster trap floats at Chester N.S. and ducks flying down the Mississippi.
There was much celebration aboard ship when we learned we were going to Korea. On our way south to the Panama canal, we stopped in New York City and HMCS Iroqouis who was with us part way bumped us pretty hard berthing, being the senior ship we were alongside the jetty. We developed an under water leak as a result and this required several attempts to repair at Longbeach, CA, Hawaii and Guam on our way to the UN base in Sasebo, Japan. Our sea duties in Korea were primarily "plane guard" for carriers in the controlled waters called the cigarette run off the west coast of Korea. These waters were so named because on the charts these mine cleared waters were the shape of a cigarette. I remember one time we sailed up the east coast of Korea and were met by a US navy patrol boat and an officer came on board and directed us to the targets that he wanted taken out. This was an exciting change from the routine of plane guard. The ship went into dry dock in Kure, Japan were the below water line damage was properly repaired and the Japanese shipyard workers also chipped all paint on the hull and superstructure and Huron got a fresh coat of paint.
I left the ship in Sasebo to return to Stadacona for a radar course via a train to Tokyo and Canadian Airlines to Vancouver with a fuel stop in the Aleutians on the island of Shemya. This was a terrifying experience in thick fog and two attempts at landing. The plane was a North Star. One little bit of information that I learned from the HMCS Huron web site, is that the ship's X gun turret is now at RMC Kingston and the picture includes Gord Edwards with whom we went on shore leave together many times and was a mess mate. Also this was the gun that accidently fired with barrels in their lowest position and destroyed a Carley float on the port side. I happened to be walking aft on the upper deck when this happened and incurred permanent hearing damage to my left ear. These recollections are now over 57 years ago so they may contain some inaccuracies. After my five years of service, my working career was in the diagnostic imaging field in service, sales, service and sales management and retired as General Manager of Toshiba of Canada's Medical Systems Division. I now regret not changing my plans and going to the reunion in Kingston.
Respectfully submitted Donald H. Bishop
E-mail: <donandgrace5(at)sympatico.ca>Gauthier, Robert
Served as stoker aboard Huron 1953-54. Ran aground in Korea and came home via the Suez Canal. Pitched for ball team in Japan. Coach was P1 Lutzak. Had messmates Rosey Flowersmith, Moe Campeau, Harry Muttersback, Dave Parent, Glen Wilberforce, Nick Koharski and many others. Caught polio on second
trip, left ship in Hawa. I got out of the Navy in 1956 after five years. Joined the police department the same year and retired from Montreal Police in 1994.Robert(Guts)Gauthier
E mail <nogard1137(at)videotron.ca>Goodwill, Neil CERA , CD
I joined the navy in 1947 as an OSWT (Ordinary Seaman Wireless Operator) then transferred to OSEM in 1948 (Ordinary Seaman for Engineer Mechanic)
In 3 years I was LSEM (Leading Seaman EM)
In 6 years I was a Petty Officer 2nd Class 1953 (in Huron in Korea)
In 9 years I was a Petty Officer 1st Class (square rig)As P1, I was Senior Instructor NBCD School (Nuclear/Biological Chemical Defence plus Fire Fighting)
At that time, I had served in 4 ships then went on to a total of 12 ships in my 25 years with the navy.As CERA 1966, I had the Minesweeper Squadron as Chief of the four ships - Thunder, Chaleur, Fundy and
Chignecto - OIC of four Petty Officers and crew - one P/O to each of my ships. This policy relieved an Engineering L/Cdr in lieu of a Chief.I retired in 1972 as CERA supervisor of a naval stores (all branches, committed to inputting the entire naval ships
allowance list to (then new) computer tape. I had civilian staff of two keypunchers and eight civil servants under my wing with two Petty Officers in DMCR4-3, CFB RockcliffeNeil Goodwill
Port Dover, Ontario
E-mail: nmgoodwill@sympatico.caGrenon, Don ABVS1
I served aboard Huron when she was recommissioned in 1958 for 17 months. I was surprised to see the photos as I have them in my photo album. Pictures were taken by PO2 Drabey. 33 years later he was the Commanding Officer for the sea cadet camp at HMCS Quadra, Comox B.C. After all that time I didn't recognize him
One day my brain was in gear, so I brought my photo album to the camp to show him. We sure had lots of
memories. Worked close to him for 2 years . At that time I was custodian for the Camp. Also, I was a Victualating Storesman on the Huron. Was in 23 Mess by the tiller flatE-mail:salishhollow <salishhollow@shaw.ca>
Hopkins GGA,
Stoker from 15 Sept 1959 to 1 May 1963. My first ship will always be a great memory. To think back to the really odd assortment of characters is really a treat. Stories that could be told number in the hundreds.
Hammocks were really great to sleep in at sea, in harbour they somehow were difficult to manage after a night ashore!e-mail: hopsub(at)eastlink.ca
King, Ken
Drafted on Huron in 1959 as OSLM from Shearwater. First trip on board was Queen's escort during opening of seaway in '59. Never got to go up the St Lawrence with the Queen but met her in Shediac. NB and escorted her to Halifax for her trip back to England. Done many trips to Bermuda on board and sailed Huron up to Lauzon PQ for a major refit in '59. Lived in the forward lower mess with old shipmates such as Del Ostertag, Tom Fullerton, and many that their names escape me now. When I was on board I worked for P1ET Lauzon maintaining all electrical equipment. Left Huron in '63 for the Bonnie, but sure enjoyed my stay on board. I got out of the navy in 1969 and have visited HMCS Haida a few times and sure brought back old memories.
Sincerely,
Ken King,
Kincardine, Ontario
E-mail: "Kings" <keking@bmts.com>Sampson, Leo L/SQM2
Served on second Korea trip. Looking for any old shipmates - Julian /Laberge/Richardson/ Pinson. and any others who are looking to spin a yarn.
E-mail: leosampson.ns@ns.sympatico.ca
Sanders , Lynn OSEM
I arrived on board the Huron in the fall 1958 straight out of boot camp (Cornwallis). We sailed a couple of days later for the Med. Arrived in the Azores first, then Malta, Italy, France. We were playing war games off Toulon France with a darkened ship. At 0200 we hit a French destroyer at 25 knots but not one person was hurt. The Huron had its bow pushed back 50 to 70 feet. The French built a new bow, floated it up a river, lifted it into the drydock, welded it and sent us on our way. We arrived home Christmas Day. What a way to break into the Navy.
OSEM Lynn Sanders
unclebuk(at)vaxxine.comSproule, Hugh LSPT2 J. P. - - (16479-H).
Served in HMCS Huron from June 1954 until December 1955 as the ship's PTI I left the RCN in 1959 to pursue a degree in Physical Education. While doing so I worked for the YMCA for close to 18 years. Shortly after leaving the RCN I joined the Naval Reserve. However, the reserves did not have a PTI classification, so I
became a Bos'n. In 1977, I left the YMCA and went on full time active duty as a reserve. I took my commission and remained very close to training of Naval Reservist personnel until I reached mandatory retirement age in 1990.
There are very few days that go by that I don't think of HMCS Huron, the crew and many of the crazy things we did . The circumnavigation of the world was a highlight, that is cherished still today, - - 'West About.'Keep up the great work.
Yours aye,
HughJ. P. Hugh SPROULE, Lt(N) Ret'd
Port Alberni,BC
(250) 724-6677
old-coach(at)shaw.caSteele, John
I served on Huron as OSEM/ABEM from Jan. 1963 until she paid off.. M yself, Ron Geddies and Chief Dick Tracy did the last engine room shut down. Retired from the navy in 1986.
Regards,
John
e-mail: joho1@nbnet.nb.caSturges, James M. L/S MN QR3 V27529
I was one of the many lucky seaman to sail onboard the Huron G24 during WWII and was part of her comissioning crew.
Address: #411-5 Rowntree Rd., Etobicoke, Ontario M9V 5G9 ; (416) 746-O895
e-mail: "DANIEL STURGES" <rod(at)bell.blackberry.net>
Former HURON crew who attended the CTDA Reunion, August 2003. Front Row (L-R) Neil Goodwill, Jim Colman, Ross Smith. Back Row (L-R) Bud Flanagan, Bill Black, George "Pat" O'Hara. (Photo by Jerry Proc)
HURON's 'X' gun as seen on the grounds of the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario in October 2003. For some unknown reason the gun is fitted on a 4.7 inch mount. This gun saw service aboard HURON in both WWII and Korea. HURON set sail for her first tour of duty in Korea on February 15, 1951. The ship did not receive her modernization to a destroyer escort until late 1952 with sea trials completed by April 1953. Kingston was the locale for the 2003 Huron Association Reunion. From (L-R): Huron President 'Wee' Sandy MacLachlan, Gord Edwards and "Big" George
MacDonald, one of the organizers of the Reunion. (Photo by Neil Goodwill)
Korean-era Huron stokers gather to reminisce in the CPO's mess, Windsor Park, Halifax on July 4th 2004. This meeting coincided with the Reunion of CPO's in Halifax but was not part of that event, just an impromptu get together. Left to right: Neil Goodwill, Bill Skeffington, Nick Koharski, and Bernard "Barney" Haggerty. All became Chief and Petty Officers before retiring. These Huron stokers messed together in Korea. After 50 years, there were many tales to tell... from 1953 to 2004. All these shipmates share the common experience of running aground in Korea and spending hours in damage control keeping the ship afloat. (Photo courtesy of Neil Goodwill)
Dec 22/06
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