Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee delivered a speech at the keel-laying event for Canada’s inaugural River-class destroyer in Halifax, emphasizing the historical significance of the Canadian navy’s destroyer fleet. The original HMCS Fraser played a pivotal role in evacuating British and Allied troops from France just before it was sunk in 1940, marking the first Royal Canadian Navy vessel lost in World War II.
During the 1930s, amid economic challenges of the Great Depression and limited naval resources, Canada gradually acquired new and used ships, including the HMS Crescent from the Royal Navy, which was rechristened as HMCS Fraser in 1936. The vessel was initially stationed on the West Coast but was later relocated to Halifax after the outbreak of the war.
In June 1940, as France faced imminent occupation by German forces, HMCS Fraser, along with other ships, participated in the evacuation efforts along the French coast. While aiding in the rescue mission near Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, HMCS Fraser, HMCS Restigouche, and HMS Calcutta had to navigate through a challenging situation, resulting in a collision that led to the partial sinking of the Fraser.
Tragically, 47 crew members lost their lives in the incident. Survivors were rescued, with some being transferred to another ship, HMCS Margaree, which later met a similar fate in a collision at sea in October 1940. The experience had lasting impacts on the crew members, as recounted by Frank Crossley, whose father served on HMCS Fraser.
Despite the loss of the original HMCS Fraser, a second vessel bearing the same name served Canada for several decades before being repurposed as a floating museum and eventually dismantled. The legacy of the HMCS Fraser continues to be honored, with a symbolic coin welded onto the keel of the new River-class destroyer during the recent ceremony in Halifax, signifying the naval tradition of passing on ship names to future generations.