Battle of the Atlantic: Assiniboine vs U 210 - entire short film ( 

Thanks, Rob for your excellent video showing the story of HMCS Assiniboine and U-210. Vice-Admiral Ralph Hennessy and Hellmut Liebold are welcomed contributors for sharing their history, and Mrs. Diana Hennessy and Mark Wunderlich are to be congratulated for helping to make this complete. This story is one I am familiar with. The deceased 18 year old sailor OS Kenneth Watson was a shipmate and friend of my then 19 years old father OS Jim Hart RCNVR (seen on the left in the foreground as part of Ken’s burial at sea honour guard). Dad went on, after a five year hiatus following the war and re-enlisting in 1950, to be buffer of HMCS Ontario, Cox’n of other vessels, sailing on the Cordova, Beacon Hill, CPO of Restigouche training division at Cornwallis, and much more, and then having married one of the earliest group of Wrens (WRCNS began Oct.1942) who also saw duty in Halifax (where they met) during WWII, later supporting two boys (my having gone to school named after John Stubbs), my brother and me in sea cadets, and seeing myself in the RCNR (‘64 - ‘71) with HMCS Swansea, HMCS Crescent, HMCS Oriole, tug HMCS St. Charles, and other ships. We both ended our careers on HMCS Mackenzie with my dad being Chief Warrant Officer, and myself Leading Seaman/Corporal. The Assiniboine was a cherished lady in our home, and were it not for the success of the ship and her crew I would not be here to add to your story. Thanks, again Rob. Well done.

Thank you so much for your film. My father was a sailor on the Assiniboine during this battle and told me the story as a child. I have passed this on to my children and grandchildren who are excited to see it.

thank you very much for keeping these stories alive, brave men, fighting each other one minute saving each other the next war eh.

Great video! My father used to live in east point P.E.I, and told me about how when the tide was low, you could see parts of the ship sticking out of the water, it’s believed a bench from the mess hall was used in his old school house!

My father ABS John H "Jack" Wietersen was an RCNVR and served aboard the HMCS Assiniboine I18 during World War 2. I've always been so very proud of him! I thank God he made it through all of that. He was the best Dad anyone could ever wish for. He passed away in 1996 and I miss him every single day. Love you Dad.

Thank you for making this available.

Excellent piece of history from a personal prospective. Thank you.

There is another piece of history not covered in this video that needs to be told. CPO Max Bernays was in the wheelhouse beneath the bridge conning the ship at the time of the engagement. He ordered everyone out of the wheelhouse when the fire broke out and stayed behind to man the telegraph, engine order indicators and Helm. In the 35 minutes the battle raged, he answered more than130 orders from the bridge by himself. It is normally a three man job, but Max handled them all and should have won the VC for his refusal to abandon his post in spite of the threat to his life. He survived the war and died after a long career as a naval reservist on March 30th, 1974 a the age of 64.

Excellent work, thank you.

Great to hear comments from 2 survivors 1 from the ship and 1 from the submarine a great insight into their views a bit off history to be appriciated by all

Thank you

Thank you for this video! It’s very important to have an account of our proud naval history and traditions. Note: I-18 HMCS Assiniboine (WW2) was a River Class Destroyer, not a Destroyer Escort. Again ,thank you very much for this important video!!

I believe the HMCS Assiniboine was being towed by a surplus Corvette from Quebec to the US for scrap in November 1945 when she broke loose of her tow and ended up off East Point PEI. PEI shipwreck maps actually list and illustrate her as a wreck.

A side note 1956-88 / DDH 234, (HMCS Assiniboine), was the first ship delivered post-war to the Royal Canadian Navy. She was first major class of warship designed and built in Canada . Bernays went on to command HMCS Assiniboine in 1978. "In honour of a true Canadian naval hero who exhibited outstanding leadership and heroism in the face of danger, the third of the RCN’s new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships will be named after Max Bernays." RCN

What a great example of putting it all on the line for freedom.

I think the the sub captain automatically reacted like a destroyer sailor would.

Hellmut Liebold, ein deutscher Held, mein bester Freund und treuester Kamerad ist am 28.10.2015 gestorben. Es ist der traurigste Tag in meinem bisherigen Leben. Hellmut wird in meinem Herzen unvergessen bleiben! Ich grüße Dich ein letztes mal von deutscher Brücke! Dein Freund R.

My grandfather was on the ship and in the photo where the sailor is being buried at sea

August 6, 1942.