Canada, Commonwealth. A Depth Charge Thrower Model with Letter

Item #C5135

$121

Canada, Commonwealth. A Depth Charge Thrower Model with Letter

The entire model is in brass, depth charge itself is cylindrical and fabricated from a pom-pom casing, the simulated detonator mechanism is a .303 shell, stamped "DAC 1940 VII" at one end and "DAC 1942 VII" at the other, both ends incorporating a loop, one of which houses a ring, the depth charge rests upon a curved frame which is upturned in all four corners and rests upon a post that inserts into the holder, the holder for the depth charge manufactured from an oerlikon shell and swivels upon its 115 mm wide x 132 mm long base, the unit measuring 140 mm in height, extremely fine. Accompanied by a Letter from W.M. McKenzie, HMCS Digby (inscribed in handwritten blue ink "Depth Charge Thrower / The model depth charge thrower was constructed by the Leading Torpedoman on HMCS DIGBY, the vessel on which I served during WWII. / The depth charge itself is made from a pom-pom shell casing; we had a simple pom-pom mounted on the superstructure overlooking the stern. The simulated detonator mechanism is made from a 303 shell and the main "holder" is an oerlikon shell. / Surprisingly the model actually works. We tried it out with a piece of cordite and it blew the charge high enough to hit the deck head - as witness the edge mark on the end of the charge itself! / W.M. McKenzie", on a white paper stock, measuring 216 mm (w) x 278 mm (h), fold marks).


Footnote: HMCS Digby was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the St. Lawrence. Digby was ordered as part of the 1940-41 building programme. The minesweeper's keel was laid down on March 20, 1941 by Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Ltd. at Lauzon, Quebec and the ship was launched on June 5, 1942. She was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on July 26, 1942 at Quebec City. After working up at Pictou, HMCS Digby joined the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF). In January 1943, the WLEF organized escort groups, with HMCS Digby assigned to 24.18.1 alongside the corvettes HMCS Arrowhead and HMCS Chicoutimi. In June 1943, when the WLEF reorganized their escort groups, she was assigned to escort group W-5. She remained with the group until April 1944 when a refit was required, to be performed at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The refit was completed at Halifax, Nova Scotia and upon returning from workups in Bermuda, she was assigned to Sydney Force. In February 1945, HMCS Digby was assigned to Newfoundland Force until returning to Canada and being paid off on July 31, 1945. She was placed in reserve at Shelburne, Nova Scotia. After the war, HMCS Digby was offered for transfer to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Marine Section, to be renamed Perry. However, the takeover did not take place. The vessel was taken to Sorel, Quebec, to lay in strategic reserve until 1951, when she was reacquired by the Royal Canadian Navy. She was refitted for training duties and served until 1956.