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Brian Mackie

@brianmackie.bsky.social

660 followers 250 following 210 posts

WW2 Clyde history. HMCS Niobe / Royal Canadian Navy. Greenock Morton / In the Community. Slava Ukraini!

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Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Dec 8

Gourock and the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Two pictures, taken 80 years apart. Viewpoint: Lyle Hill, Greenock. During WW2, 150+ ships were visible on the Clyde, almost every day. #navalhistory #maritimehistory #coastalhistory

From Lyle Hill looking north over the Firth of Clyde, in 1945. A convoy of ships waits to leave, just off the town of Gourock, which appears to stick out into the waters of the Clyde. Clouds, and the hills of Argyle and Bute, loom beyond. Picture is black and white.

From Lyle Hill looking north over the Firth of Clyde, in 2024. No ships are visible. The landscape is the same as the 1945 picture. The town of Gourock appears to stick out into the waters of the Clyde. Clouds, and the hills of Argyle and Bute, loom beyond. Picture is in colour.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · 4d

My grandfather Sid must have commissioned the repair work on behalf of the Sea Transport Organisation, but no specifically- related stories survive that I am aware of. He never spoke about his wartime work, sadly.

Reposted by Brian Mackie

Dave Annal Lifelines Research @davelifelines.bsky.social · 16d

Essential reading for genealogists, whether you have Scottish ancestry or not…

scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2025/09/ance...

Ancestry and the NRS - when the corporate genealogy world turns ugly

From Scotland, a daily news blog about genealogy, family history and personal heritage.

scottishgenes.blogspot.com

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · 24d

Very cool! If you come across the surname(s) Montagu Archdeacon from the early 1800s, let me know - my gt x3 grandfather was born in Fitzroy Square in 1821.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Sep 13

My grandfather oversaw the conversion of one of the decks for a "floating Government" on the trip over. Had to be both serviceable and secure as there were also German prisoners down below.

Reposted by Brian Mackie

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Podcast @shipwreckspod.bsky.social · Sep 3

3 Sept is Merchant Navy Day in the UK, to honor all the brave men and women who serve in the merchant Navy, both past and present. The Red Ensign is flown to recognize their sacrifices, both past and present.

#merchantnavy #redensign #UK

Reposted by Brian Mackie

Inverclyde History from Cartsburn Publishing @inverclydehistory.bsky.social · Sep 2

#OTD #LocalHistory #Inverclyde #Greenock

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Sep 3

Wow, and that just in the first few months. Must have been many more until the lights went back on in 1945?

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Sep 1

Well written, observant, relevant, and to the point. Also of its time, which has real value when read in that context. Thank you for taking the time and effort to write it. I am very much looking forward to reading your second book.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Or here.. www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/HMCS_EY...

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

That would be amazing, thanks so much Katie! Not sure if he is mentioned on this page? www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/HMCS_BI...

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Absolutely! Those sailors went through a huge amount, especially in winter and on the Arctic runs. Many had barely been to sea before. Am researching experiences of Canadian Naval personnel - would love to see those pictures! K182 - I think that is HMCS Bittersweet?

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Both well worth visiting, Steve! So much also in Halifax - Naval Museum, Maritime Museum, Shearwater Naval Aviation Museum also :-)

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Thanks so much Dave - am fairly new at this, so means a lot coming from someone as knowledgeable as yourself! A real privilege to be able to visit HMCS Sackville. The level of preservation and detail on the ship was far beyond what I was expecting. The Trust that oversees it do an amazing job.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Thanks @hush-ndb.bsky.social - it felt like a real privilege to be there, so very glad to be able to share for the many unable to make the long journey to Halifax.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

The Sackville Place monument, on the Halifax waterfront, that together with the ship acts as a memorial to the 96,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy that served during WW2. Over 2,000 Canadian sailors did not return home.

20/End.

A statue of a Canadian sailor on the way to his ship, during WW2. It is sited on the waterfront in Halifax, immediately next to HMCS Sackville's mooring. The statue is larger than life size, mounted on a low platform. The sailor is carrying a large kit bag in his left hand and has his hammock slung over his right shoulder. He is wearing a naval hat with the letters "HMCS". (HIs Majesty's Canadian Ship). He is wearing a naval uniform, with wide-bottom trouser/pants and a sailor's top and shirt. He is looking into the distance, seemingly anticipating the future.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Left: HMCS Sackville’s badge: the ship was named after port towns in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Right: Life belt. HMCS Sackville was restored in the early 1980s and recommissioned in 1985 as Canada's Naval Memorial.

19/20

HMCS Sackville's official badge, showing the word "Sackville" above a diamond shape that is coloured in multiple red, yellow, blue and white sections, and surrounded by a yellow rope. Above the word Sackville is a crown with two sails embedded within it. The badge is mounted on a wooden background.

An HMCS Sackville lifebelt, with the name of the ship visible in block capitals on the white sections at tope and bottom, and Canadian maple leafs painted in red in the centre of two blue sections on the left and right.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Left: HMCS Sackville’s bell
Right: Gunplate art. As on US ‘Flying Fortress” bombers, Canadian WW2 ships featured art unique to each ship. In this case, a ‘Sackfull’ of U-Boats is pictured.

18/20

HMCS Sackville's bell, with the ship's name engraved in black letters on a brass-coloured bell. A woven white rope is suspended around the clapper beneath.

HMSC Sackville's gunplate art. Shown is a large arm holding a brown sack, with multiple U-Boats trying and failing to escape from the sack.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Left: A rather cramped galley, serving over 100 men.
Right: The most important ration: throughout WW2 (and indeed until 1972), RCN sailors received a daily rum ration at the noon hour of 71 ml of rum, roughly a large shot glass full.

17/20

The ship's galley, a kitchen with roughly a 15-foot counter, drawers below, shelves above and a large stove. A large vent is suspended above the stove. A 1940s glamour calendar hangs from the far wall. Canned food items are on display.

A large (1500 ml) bottle of rum, with "Royal Canadian Navy RUM" clearly noted on the label. The label goes on to say that the run is blended and bottled expressly for the Royal Canadian Navy by Captain Morgan Rum Distillers limited of Waterloo, Ontario. The bottle is full and is unopened, with a cork stopper and clear glass.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Left: Ship’s Carpentry shop. Right: Sick Bay.
For a small ship, a lot was packed in, allowing for basic services.

16/20

Ship's carpentry shop, located in a small room on the main deck. A range of metal and woodworking tools are on display, allowing for minor repairs when required.

Ship's Sick Bay, with multiple shelves of medicines in racks, a small desk with medical instruments, a sink and various books, posters and notices. An officer's jacket hangs from a peg. Typically, corvette's were small enough that it was not practical to have a fully-trained medical officer on board, so a junior officer with some medical training would typically fulfill the role.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

HMCS Sackville's auxiliary steering, located immediately above the rudder. With this, it would be possible to steer the ship, if other parts of the ship were damaged.

15/20

A small claustrophobic room located above the rudder, surrounded by the ship's metallic hull. A large steering wheel is visible, as is a large gear, that directly controls the ship's rudder and therefore steering. This room could be used to steer the ship in an emergency.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

View from above of the Engine room. A suspension device allows access to several valves above the boilers, that are not accessible otherwise. Just above the sailor’s head is a metal canopy with portholes, allowing in light from the deck.

14/20

Engine room from above. Grey-painted boilers line the centre of the engine room, with valves above them only accessible from a sailor suspended from a metal rail above. Walking rails are visible on either side of the boilers. Large pipes are visible, trailing in every direction. Steps at the rear of the room allow for an exit. The roof is a simple metal canopy, with port holes allowing in a surprisingly large amount of light.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

View from stern – the QF (quick-firing) 2-pounder 'pom-pom' anti-aircraft gun is visible at centre. The funnel is decorated with a Barber pole stripe, showing that HMCS Sackville had been a member of Mid-Ocean Escort group C3, on Atlantic convoy duty.

13/20

HMCS Sackville viewed from the stern (while sailing past on a small boat). The pennant number K 181 is visible, pained on the very rear, between the holes where rear depth charges would be rolled out. The painted funnel is prominent, with the barber-pole stripe clearly in view. Carley floats, stacked on top of each other, are visible on both sides of the deck. The anti-aircraft pom-pom gun is visible on a raised platform above the Carley floats, with a full 360-degree turning potential.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

Left: Depth charge setting chart, with depths from 50 to 500 feet.
Right: Noise-maker, cast off and suspended from the stern to attract acoustic homing torpedoes away from the ship. These torpedoes, called GNATs by the allies, were used by U-Boats from September 1943 onwards.

12/20

A Blackboard showing depth charge depth settings, as follows:
A -50 feet; B - 100 feet; C - 50 feet; D - 100 feet; E - 150 feet; F 250 feet; G - 350 feet; H - 500 feet; J - 500 feet. This is displayed immediately next to the stern depth charge rails.

An anti-acoustic torpedo noisemaker. The GNAT (German Navy Acoustic Torpedo) homed in on engine noise and was devastating when first used in September 1943. However a simple solution was quickly developed - the device on the left, a collection of metal bars loosely attached to each other, was suspended from a long rope through the pulley, also displayed. This would be reeled out a couple of hundred feet to the stern of the ship, drawing torpedoes toward the clanking noise and away from the ship.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

At the stern of the ship, two rails of depth charges, with seven depth charges in each, await a target. HMCS Sackville damaged two U-Boats during her wartime service.

11/20

At the very stern of the ship, two rails of depth charges are suspended in a metal rack at chest height. There are seven depth charges in each rail, ready to be rolled out through the stern of the ship. Ropes and brakes ensure that the depth charges are not released too soon. Above the rails is a flag pole bearing the White Ensign, used by the Royal Canadian Navy throughout WW2. This is a Royal Navy flag showing the red cross of St George with the Union flag in the top left section.

Brian Mackie @brianmackie.bsky.social · Aug 31

The starboard deck / gangway, with every space used. Immediately ahead, a depth charge launcher. Spare depth charges are stored on the deck. Suspended above are two Carley floats, in case of sinking. For rescue, scramble nets are immediately to hand, stored in a rack at head height.

10/20

View looking aft along the starboard deck. A depth charge launcher sticks out diagonally across 2/3 of the deck gangway. Spare depth charges are stored on the deck with surrounding wedges to ensure they do not roll away. Suspended high above on a metal rack are two Carley floats, used to rescue men in an emergency / if the ship sinks. In the foreground on the right is the name "SACKVILLE" in brass letters mounted on a wooden background plate. Immediately next to the name is a metal rack attached to the deck wall at head height, holding an 8-10 foot wide scrambling ladder, that would be suspended over the ship's side to rescue men stranded in the water.