14
Letter written by Lt. Commander Gough page 21944
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada
15
The HMCS Transcona looked to the town for moral support as well and in 1943, Lieutenant Commander A. E. Gough asked the town to come up with a humorous logo for the ship. The three finalists were Leonard Klingbell, Robert MacKay, and Miss N. Francis.16
The crew of the H.M.C.S Transcona1941
Climo, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
17
A sailor hat1941
141 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
18
The logo adopted for the H.M.C.S Transcona1941
141 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
19
The final entries reflected the railway roots and working class heritage of the community. Leonard Klingbell's entry depicted a locomotive in the act of administering the 'coup de grace' to a German U-boat. Robert MacKay's entry was a picture of a big sledge smashing into the hull of the sea raider. It was Miss N. Francis who sent in the winning entry: a logo that featured a locomotive smashing through a swastika.20
A reproduction of the H.M.C.S Transcona Kisby Ring2004
141 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
21
On Christmas Eve 1944, the H.M.C.S. Transcona had one encounter with the enemy when a German submarine fired an attack on the convoy. As three ships were sweeping in line abreast, a torpedo struck one of the ships. A merchant vessel signaled that a submarine was in sight and an intensive hunt ensued. When no trace of the submarine could be found, the hunt was abandoned on 0100 hours 26 December 1944.Though the H.M.C.S. Transcona was only in direct contact with the enemy on one occasion, no one knows how many times her presence in a convoy averted an attack. The fact that she was engaged in an encounter on only one occasion is a testament to her ability to ensure the "safe and timely arrival of the convoy."
22
A painting of the H.M.C.S Transcona done by a local Transcona artist, Gino Mazzei1995
141 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
23
The H.M.C.S Transcona exhibit14 September 2004
141 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
24
The original ship's wheel and replica bell and kisby ring can be seen at the Transcona Historical Museum. |
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