Canada Remembers
Canadian Memorial Oostende
29th Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla
"THEY DIED FOR THE FREEDOM OF BELGIUM AND MANKIND"
This memorial remembers a tragic accident which occurred on the afternoon of
February 14th, 1945, which has been relatively unknown for nearly five decades.
Two photographs showing the destruction in Oostende harbour
the day after the disaster.
The veterans of the Thunder Bay Naval Association, with help
from the Royal Canadian Naval Association and other coastal forces raised funds, $25,000, for this monument of
Canadian granite to be erected at the site of the explosion in Oostende.
CANADA REMEMBERS THE 29th MTB FLOTILLA February 14th 1945 On this date an accidental fire and explosions decimated the
29th Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla while docked in Oostende, Belgium harbour. 26 sailors of the R.C.N.V.R. were killed and 5 boats destroyed.
Below is listed the names of those men killed or missing.
NAME
RANK
STATUS
M.T.B.
Bahleda. Bond. N.A. Brown. W.L. Brush. J.C. Byrne. J. (M.I.D.) Cathcart. N. Crang. W. Cross. A. Dick. B. Gauthier. R. Hale. W.F. (M.I.D.) Harper. M.R. Hunter. I.W. Kenney. J. Long. C. Long. G.P. Macrae. R.R. Motley. D. Naydo. M.H. Newbigging. W.J. Park. W.R. Purdy. G.F. Routh. J. Watt. J. Wellington. W.E. Wright. J.A. (D.S.M.)
Telegraphist. Able Seaman Able Seaman Telegraphist Able Seaman Able Seaman Able Seaman Able Seaman Able Seaman Able Seaman Lieutenant Telegraphist Petty Officer Able Seaman Stoker Ordinary Seaman Leading Seaman Able Seaman Able Seaman Unknown Able Seaman Stoker 1st Class Petty Officer Petty Officer Petty Officer Able Seaman
Missing Missing Killed Killed Killed Killed Missing Killed Killed Killed Missing Killed Missing Killed Missing Missing Killed Killed Killed Missing Killed Killed Killed Killed Killed Killed
465 29th 29th 465 462 29th 29th 465 485 459 466 29th 461 29th 461 29th 461 462 465 461 465 462 29th 29th 29th 466
Many of the above are interred at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery,
Adegem, Belgium.
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IN MEMORY OF THE R.C.N.V.R. OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 29TH CANADIAN MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT FLOTILLA WHOSE NAMES ARE ENTERED
HERE.
A FEW LIE IN MARKED GRAVES, THE MAJORITY KNOWN UNTO GOD. ALL ARE HONOURED HERE, IN THE HARBOUR OF OOSTENDE, WHERE
THEY PAID THE SUPREME SACRIFICE.
WE PROUDLY SALUTE THE MEMORY OF SHIPMATES OF THE ROYAL NAVY, - 35 WERE KILLED WITH THE LOSS OF 7 BOATS IN THIS
DISASTER.
WE REMEMBER L.S.JOSEPH VASEY R.N. KILLED WHILE SERVING IN M.T.B. 465 OF THE 29TH FLOTILLA.
ERECTED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVAL ASSOCIATION, THE CANADIAN COASTAL FORCES VETERANS ASSOCIATION, SYMPATHETIC
FRIENDS, AND THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF OOSTENDE.
MAY 8th 2003.
Berthed in "The Crique", a narrow passage in Oostende harbour with other flotillas, the 29th was scheduled
for a night patrol, men who were not on watch were either resting below decks or had taken the afternoon off and
gone ashore.
A fire started igniting highly volatile fuel which had been spilled onto the water after defuelling earlier in
the day, spreading quickly amongst the tightly packed British and Canadian patrol boats. Both above and below the
waterline many of the boats were ablaze with crew members trapped on board. Men on the decks dived overboard into
the water and swam below the surface to safety. Many were killed by flying debris as torpedoes and ammunition exploded
as they emerged from the hatches.
Window panes over a mile away were broken, so powerful were the explosions even the ground shook several miles
away and so loud it was heard in England.
After two hours the high cost of this incident was realised, 28 Canadian and 35 British sailors were killed or
listed as missing. The 29th Flotilla ceased to exist, five of the original boats had been destroyed, also seven
British boats.
Unveiled on May 8th, 2003, both Canadian and British veterans, with hundreds of Belgian people gathered for the
dedication ceremony of the memorial honouring the victims of the torpedo boat disaster.
Also present were reserve, cadet and veteran units of the Belgian Navy.
A presentation of the Canadian flag and the White Ensign was made to the Mayor of Oostende, Jean Vandecasteele.