HMCS THUNDER Badge

HMCS THUNDER Badge

Blazon

Gules, a pile vert edged or, charged with a representation of the head of Thor, God of thunderstorms, affrontée, wearing a Nordic open crown composed of a circlet with eight arches all plain and meeting together in a point at the pinnacle, his beard formed into nine radiating coils each tapering to a point with a small spearhead at the end.
(Glossary of Heraldic Terms)

Significance

Named after Thunder Bay in Lake Superior Northern Ontario, this badge design carries the V­shaped section that has been associated with RCN ships bearing the names of bays. As this bay is in Ontario it is appropriate to use the colours of this Province, green and gold, from the provincial arms. The red field or background refers to existing evidence that at a very early time copper was found and mined in this region. The thin gold line between the green and red parts is a heraldic requirement, for two adjacent colours should be separated by a metal. In using the head of Thor, God of Thunderstorms in Nordic legends, it not only introduces one of the better known dieties and one appropriate to the name of this ship, but it also suggests that the early miners of copper in this area might have been Vikings. There is of course no clear proof of this but coupling Thor and the Vikings together seems to fit the name Thunder and the adventurous nature and courage of both present day and ancient sea-faring warriors of the North.

Remarks

Thunder (I) was a Bangor class minesweeper. She was commissioned in October 1941, and wore pennant 1156 until she was paid off in October 1945. Thunder (II) was a member of the Bay class of minesweepers. She was commissioned in December 1953, and wore pennant 153 until she was paid off in March 1954. She was then transferred to the French Navy. Thunder (Ill) was also a member of the Bay class of minesweepers. She was commissioned in October 1957, and wore pennant 161.

Colours

Green and gold

Battle Honours

Atlantic 1941–44, Normandy 1944, English Channel 1944–45.

References

Badges Of The Canadian Navy by Arbuckle, J. Graeme. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1987.

CFP 267 - Badges of the Canadian Forces, Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1977.