Allied Warships
HMCS Columbia (I 49)
Destroyer of the Town class
Photograph taken by Charles James Sadler, RCNVR. First Class Stoker, Official number V-4963.
| Navy | The Royal Canadian Navy |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Class | Town |
| Pennant | I 49 |
| Built by | Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. (Newport News, Virginia, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 30 Mar 1918 |
| Launched | 4 Jul 1918 |
| Commissioned | 24 Sep 1940 |
| End service | 17 Mar 1944 |
| Loss position | |
| History | Refitted in 1941 at Devonport and then assigned to the 4th Escort Group. HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr Robert Aubern Stuart MacNeil, OBE, RCNR) was heavily damaged when owing to faulty radar & heavy fog, she rammed a cliff without grounding in Motion
Bay, Newfoundland on 25 February 1944, not repaired and decommissioned 17 March 1944. Commanding Officers: A/Lt.Cdr. George Hay Stephen, RCNR Lt.Cdr. Bernard Dodds Leitch Johnson, RCNR Lt.Cdr. Robert Aubern Stuart MacNeil, OBE, RCNR |
| Former name | USS Haraden (DD 183) |
Commands listed for HMCS Columbia (I 49)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | S. W. Davis, RCN | 20 Sep 1940 | 13 May 1942 |
| 2 | George Hay Stephen, RCNR | 14 May 1942 | 17 Mar 1943 |
| 3 | Lt.Cdr. Bernard Dodds Leitch Johnson, RCNR | 18 Mar 1943 | 23 Nov 1943 |
| 4 | Robert Aubern Stuart MacNeil, OBE, RCNR | 24 Nov 1943 | 30 Mar 1944 |
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Noteable events involving Columbia include:
The following photographs were taken during the war by Charles James Sadler, RCNVR, first class stoker, official number V-4963, serving aboard HMCS Columbia.
Lewis Anti-Aircraft gun
Depth charging a 'u-boat contact'.
Blue watch.
Red watch.
White watch.
1942 Christmas card.
1943 Christmas card.
1 Feb 1943
HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Stephen, RCNR) started a refit at St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.
Photographs taken by Charles James Sadler RCNVR, Stoker, Service NO. V-4963 HMCS Columbia / HMCS Avalon / HMCS Joliette
25 Feb 1944
HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr R.A.S. MacNeil, OBE, RCNR) was heavily damaged when owing to faulty radar & heavy fog, she rammed a cliff without grounding in Motion Bay, Newfoundland on 25 February 1944, not repaired and decommissioned 17 March 1944.
Photographs taken by Charles James Sadler RCNVR, Stoker, Service NO. V-4963 HMCS Columbia / HMCS Avalon / HMCS Joliette