Canadian Sea Stories from WWII

Here are 74 stories by a Canadian Press reporter from Halifax, London, and on the North Atlantic during World War II: stories of heroism, tragedy, daring, perseverance, and hope. These were the stories that appeared in daily newspapers all across Canada. They were one of the only means of news and information for anxious Canadians back home.

The stories include:

All in a writer's day: Sweeping mines in the North Atlantic

War from the wheelhouse of his ship

German submarine captured off Iceland

Canadian writes new war song

Bomb rips through man's legs

Catholic week-long mission announced

Calgary man dodges enemy shells at Dieppe

Canadian sailors brave heavy shelling in English Channel

Men awarded for towing ashore enemy mines

First aid in peacetime becomes wartime job

Danish officer joins Canadian Navy

Close call in the South Atlantic

Train busting only one job of Canadian navy gunnery officer from Montreal

Even war doesn't stop baseball

Intense navy fire stops German mines, outnumbers E-boats, takes prisoners

Canadians sink German midget submarine

"Old salt" back in the fight after 30 years

Mine disposal off Canada's eastern coast: perilous and heroic missions

Chief Stoker Robillard has seen lots of action

In all kinds of weather and conditions, signalmen lead the way

International survivors rescued by Canadian crew

In the groove: jiving on the jetty

Quebec man returns to Royal Canadian Navy after fighting in the Mediterranean

Harrowing rescue saves 102 men, brings damaged MTB safely to port

Canadians take over MGB flotilla to fight with British "Mosquito Navy" ships

Sailors return home from icy patrol

Canadians drive off German E-boats

A bit of minesweeping humor

Canadians recover live enemy mine

Catholic mission to end with naval parade

Canadian-built warship Nootka to be launched by Halifax woman

Navy graduates hope for commissions

Canadian Officer describes horrifying boiler room scene in a sinking ship

Westmount navy man returns to fight

Montreal youth joins Fighting French Forces

Quebec officer and crew help sink the Bismarck

Canadian corvette sinks Italian submarine

Survivors rescued in blizzard from torpedo hit

What to get your Navy man for Christmas

Biscay Blockade: Revenge with a vengeance

Canadian sailors hold wartime Christmas party for 120 British children

The trusty corvette: Doing a tough, thankless job in the Battle of the North Atlantic

Enemy torpedo almost killed him76

Senior officer praises MTBs and MGBs for speed and fast manoeuverability

Navy man flies Hurricanes and Spitfires

No time for sleep at action stations

Marine engineer tracks German submarines

Toronto man returns to continue the fight

R.C.N. announces Well Baby Health Service for navy children and families

The sinking of HMCS LOUISBOURG

Many owe their lives to Canadian heroism in the sinking of HMCS Louisbourg

Saskatoon captain drowns trying to save the crew86

"...down, down, down..." and finally safe

Survivor swam in sea for half an hour

"No time to dodge" the torpedo

They sang songs in the face of death

Beloved mascots lost at sea

Ontario seamen tell tales of survival

"Pieces of steel were flying everywhere"

Western seamen talk about Louisbourg sinking

A shrapnel mat saved him

Another Louisbourg will prowl the seas

Sinking of huge oil tanker averted

Canadians train French resistance fighters