Jun 27

Q103

Posted on Sunday, June 27, 2010 in ---Q100 to Q109

Origin unknown

Builder:

Mac-Craft Limited

Sarnia, Ont.

Commissioned:

November 18,1942

Launched:

November 7, 1942

Disposal:

July 7, 1945

Career:

On December 19, 1942, she was assigned to the 78th Motor Launch Flotilla under the orders of HMCS Provider in the Sydney Escort Force.

During the 1943 navigation season, was employed in the Gulf, patrolling and escorting. Based at Gaspe and Sept-Iles, Quebec.

Was sent to Bermuda during winter 1944 along with the 70th flotilla for exercises of ships sent there for training.

Was based with the 78 th Flotilla at Gaspé, Red Bay on Belle Isle Strait and Corner Brook , Newfoundland, during the summer 1944.

July 4, 1945, paid off at Quebec. Was towed to Sorel on the 7th, with Q098 and 100.

Sold November 19, 1945 by WAC to Cecil W.Weegar (wife of Peter LePage, see Q065 and 88), Penetanguishene, Ontario.

Registered in 1946 at Midland, Ontario and renamed One-O-Three (# 173650).

Owner 1951-60: Edgar Taylor, Owen Sound, Ontario.

Eng. : 2 Hall-Scott 12 cylinders petrol engines.

Owner 1962: Paul E. Noel, Montreal, Quebec and renamed Lady Simone. Registred in Owen Soun then in 1969 in Montreal and St-Antoine de Tilly, Quebec.

Owner 1969: Robert Houde, St-Antoine de Tilly, for parts. Scrapped and burned on the shore of St-Antoine (Autumn 1969)

Author’s comments:

During the summer 1969, I was working aboard the sightseeing boat Duc d’Orleans (ex-Q105) that belonged to my family. In July, after hitting a tire (my guess), one of the props shaft was bent and needed to be replaced. My father bought from Roger Houde of St-Antoine de Tilly a used shaft that has been removed from the Lady Simone that was moored at the wharf of St-Antoine. I went aboard for a short perilous visit. During the night, we had the tough job of pulling out the old shaft from the boat. I remember that we had to dig a deep ditch in the mud with showels in order to pull out the shaft. I still have warm memories of that night.