HMCS LEVIS
Report of the Board of Enquiry
into Loss of HMCS LEVIS, September, 1941.
CR. REF.: CONVOY SC-44 8280 OPS NORTH ATLANTIC CONVOY 1650-239/15
LIST OF WITNESSES
Lieutenant Charles Walter Gilding, R.C.N.R.
Sub-Lieutenant Raymond Gardener Hatrick, R.C.N.V.R.
Leading Seaman Walter Thomas Lockhart, Official No. 2738
Telegraphist Rex Arnold Frederick Keatinge, Official No. V.9925
Acting Leading Signalman Wilfred MacNeill, Official No. V.5620
Acting Lieutenant-Commander George Hay Stephen, R.C.N.V.R.
Lieutenant Donald Horatio McKay, R.C.N.V.R.
Lieutenant Jackson George Fraser, R.C.N.V.R.
Chief Skipper Manuel Roberts, R.C.N.R.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Coleman Rogers, Official No. A.2380
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Daniel Lamont, Official No. V.6599
Stoker Petty Officer Malcolm MacLeod, Official No. V.25239.
Sir,
We have the honour to report that we have this day completed a full and careful investigation into
the circumstances attending the loss of H.M.C.S. LEVIS on 19th September, 1941.
We find:-
(1) That H.M.C.S. LEVIS was struck by a torpedo about ten feet from the stem on the port side at
0205 on 19th September, 1941. That as a result of the explosion all but two of the ratings on
the Stokers' Mess Deck were killed; that the compartments up to No.2 Bulkhead were immediately
flooded; that No.2 Bulkhead was buckled and no longer watertight and that as a result the ship
sank at 1710 on 19th September,1941. The total casualties being eighteen.
(2) That the order to abandon ship was given by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant C.W.Gilding,
R.C.N.R., as soon as he arrived on deck, two boats and two Carley floats were lowered and the
ship was abandoned except for about ten officers and men. There is some conflict of evidence
as to who remained behind, but it appears certain that Lieutenant J.G. Fraser, R.C.N.V.R.
and Sub-Lieutenant R.G. Hatrick, R.C.N.V.R. and about ten ratings remained on board until a
boat arrived from H.M.C.S. AGASSIZ.
(3) That the ship was abandoned before any attempt was made to ascertain the full extent
of the damage, or any systematic search made for possible survivors.
(4) That after LEVIS had been reboarded by volunteers, no effective measures were taken to
reduce flooding or to shore up Bulkheads, there being no damage control organization or equipment.
(5) Whilst making all allowance for the severity of the shock consequent upon so small a
ship being torpedoed, we consider it deplorable that such attempts at salvage as were made in
LEVIS were left in the hands of comparatively inexperienced R.C.N.V.R. officers.
The responsibility for this must rest upon the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant C.W. Gilding, R.C.N.R.
(6) It is considered that H.M.C.S. MAYFLOWER (Lieutenant-Commander G.H. Stephen, R.C.N.R.)
performed a good feat of seamanship in twice getting H.M.C.S. LEVIS in tow and towing her for
twelve hours in all and that the general conduct of Lieutenant J.G. Fraser, R.C.N.V.R.
and Sub-Lieutenant Hatrick, R.C.N.V.R. is worthy of commendation.
(7) Finally the Board recommend that immediate steps should be taken to provide all
corvettes with adequate equipment for shoring up bulkheads, and that detailed instruction
in damage control should be given before corvettes are brought into service.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
ACTING COMMANDER, R.C.N.
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (E), R.N.
CAPTAIN, R.N.
(All three signatures are indecipherable)
(stamped)
Commodore Commanding
Oct 15 1941
Ref. No. 2180/96
Newfoundland