Commemorative Ceremony for HMCS Esquimalt to be Held in Esquimalt -- TODAY

I think I'm going to this.

Well, I went.. got some pics if anyone interested.

Has to be said, pretty shameful turnout. Couldnt have been more than 30 civies there.

Post them!

Thanks.

Please. I was stuck home babysitting a sick kid.

Wasn't much...


The Ship, a minesweeper:






The Story:

On the evening of 15 April 1945, the Esquimalt sailed from Halifax to go on an anti submarine patrol in the harbour approaches and then to rendezvous with HMCS Sarnia. In the early morning of 16 April she was fired upon by U-190, a German U Boat that had been operating around Halifax since early April. U-190's torpedo struck the Esquimalt's starboard side with the explosion knocking out the onboard power instantly, preventing any distress signal being sent. She started to list heavily to starboard pushing the lifeboat under water, but the crew managed to get four Carley floats clear of the ship. The Esquimalt sank in less than five minutes. Because of the lack of distress calls or signals from the Esquimalt, and the unfortunate timing of the attack itself, any rescue effort was substantially delayed which resulted in many men losing their lives to exposure. The crew was adrift on the carley floats in frigid waters with only light clothing for about six hours. Forty four men died as a result of the attack and the exposure that followed.


HMCS Esquimalt was the last RCN ship lost in WWII.

3 weeks before VE day.





The Last Survivor:

Above the water, with his eyes and ears glued to the ASDIC (Sonar; underwater sound detection), Seaman Joe Wilson was shocked to hear the impact of a torpedo into his ship’s hull. In fact, the ASDIC had failed to detect the nearby U-Boat. As Wilson recalls, “I didn’t hear no echo or anything like that from a submarine.” The torpedo punctured the starboard side of the engine room; the ship sank in four minutes, too fast to send out a distress signal. Twenty-eight men went down with the ship, the remaining forty three scrambled to the Carley floats (the lifeboat, attached to the ships starboard side.)

Joe Wilson died earlier this year, he was the last survivor of Esquimalt.
Some of his ashes were scattered in the harbour this morning.

His family was present today.












List of the Lost:









The band:




Wreathes:




RIP to a brave crew.

Thanks. Wish I had made it.

Thanks for sharing it with us. I am happy that you went.

Thanks for posting.