Construction has officially begun on Canada’s new River-class destroyer, named HMCS Fraser, following a keel-laying ceremony in Halifax this past Friday. Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee noted the vessel’s namesake honors a history of “small ships capable of doing big things,” referencing the first HMCS Fraser, which became the first Royal Canadian Navy vessel lost during the Second World War after a 1940 collision.
How the first HMCS Fraser was lost
The original HMCS Fraser was lost on June 25, 1940, in the Gironde River estuary, according to Canadian War Museum historian Jeff Noakes. The ship was maneuvering alongside the HMS Calcutta and HMCS Restigouche during the evacuation of Allied forces from France when the vessels collided. Noakes stated that the Calcutta struck the forward section of the Fraser, causing it to break off and sink. The accident resulted in 47 deaths, though some crew members were able to step from the wreckage directly onto the Calcutta.
Did You Know? The first HMCS Fraser was originally a British vessel named HMS Crescent before being sold to Canada in 1936. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, the ship transitioned from coastal patrols in Canada to augmenting defenses in the United Kingdom.
The impact of the legacy
The decision to reuse the name Fraser is part of a naval tradition intended to provide sailors with a sense of continuity and pride, according to freelance naval historian Roger Litwiller. By carrying the name forward, the navy connects current crews to the history of the Royal Canadian Navy. However, the history of the name also includes the trauma experienced by veterans like Sid Crossley, who served on the first Fraser. His son, Frank Crossley, noted that his father likely suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, compounded by the fact that many of his surviving shipmates were later lost when their replacement ship, HMCS Margaree, sank in a separate collision in October 1940.
Expert Insight: The naming of the new River-class destroyer serves as a bridge between Canada’s rearmament efforts during the 1930s—a period marked by the Great Depression and limited resources—and the modern procurement of the River-class fleet. While the first Fraser’s loss was an operational accident rather than enemy action, its role in the evacuation of France remains a significant chapter in Canadian maritime history that the current program aims to commemorate.
What happens next
With the keel now laid, the Irving Shipyard will continue the construction process for the new destroyer. The traditional welding of a coin onto the keel is expected to serve as a symbolic gesture of good luck for the future ship and its crew. As the River-class project moves forward, the vessel will likely undergo years of assembly and sea trials before entering service. The ship is expected to eventually carry on the Fraser name as a successor to both the original destroyer and a second vessel of that name that served until 1997.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the first HMCS Fraser in France?
According to historian Jeff Noakes, the ship was sent to the U.K. to help augment defenses and was later involved in evacuating British and Allied troops from the French coast as German forces overran the country in June 1940.
How many people died in the sinking of the first HMCS Fraser?
Jeff Noakes reports that 47 people died in the 1940 collision between the HMCS Fraser and the HMS Calcutta.
What was the fate of the second HMCS Fraser?
The second vessel to bear the name served for roughly four decades until 1997, when it became a floating museum in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, before eventually being reacquired by the military and scrapped.
How does the historical legacy of a ship’s name influence the morale and identity of the sailors serving on it today?
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