Vol. 11 No. 6 April, 1959 - CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military ...
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Vol. 11 No. 6 April, 1959
CROWSN EST
Vol. 11 No. 6 THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY'S MAGAZINE APRIL, 1959
LADY OF THE MONTH
A ship, whose name is derived from an
Indian word of unknown meaning, H M C S
CONTENTS Kootenay joined the Royal Canadian Navy
at North Vancouver on March 7 for event-
ual service in the Atlantic Command.
Page
Although the meaning of the new de-
stroyer escort's name may be unknown, dur-
RCN News Review 2 ing the Second World War it clearly spelled
trouble for U-boats. The first H M C S Koot-
enay, a River class destroyer that served
Birth of a Legend 4 for a time with the famed Barber Pole
Brigade, shared in the sinking of three en-
emy submarines and left as a heritage the
battle honours Atlantic 1943-1945, Nor-
Kootenay Joins Fleet 5 mandy 1944, English Channel 1944, and
Biscay 1944.
NATO—The First Ten Years 7 The new Kootenay is shown on the op-
posite page as she appeared during trials
in West Coast waters. (E-47949)
Officers and Men 10
Negative n u m b e r s of R C N photographs
reproduced i n T h e Crowsnest are i n c l u d e d
w i t h the caption for the benefit of persons
Weddings and Births 10
w i s h i n g to obtain prints of the photos.
T h i s they m a y do by sending a n order to
Two Foster Sons 12 the N a v a l Secretary, N a v a l Headquarters,
Ottawa, attention Directorate of Naval
P h o t o g r a p h y , quoting the negative n u m b e r
The Battle of Plattsburgh 13 of the photograph, g i v i n g the size a n d finish
r e q u i r e d , a n d enclosing a money order for
the f u l l amount, payable to the R e c e i v e r
G e n e r a l of C a n a d a .
Her Majesty's Yacht 17
Sizes, finish and the National Defence
standardized prices, follow:
Afloat and Ashore 21 4 x 5 (or smaller) glossy finish only .. $ .10
6V2 x 8V2 glossy finish only 40
8 x 10 glossy or matte finish 50
The Bulletin Board 24
11 x 14 matte finish only 1.00
16 x 20 " " " 3.00
Books for the Sailor 25 20 x 24 " M
" 4.00
30 x 40 " " " 8.00
The Navy Plays 26
SUBSCRIPTION R A T E
The Crowsnest may be s u b -
Lower Deck Promotions 28
scribed for at the rate of $1 for
12 issues; outside of N o r t h A m e r -
Naval Lore Corner No. 70 Inside Back Cover ica, $1.50. Orders, accompanied
by cheque or money order made
to the Receiver G e n e r a l of C a n -
ada, should be sent to:
THE QUEEN'S PRINTER,
Department of P u b l i c P r i n t i n g
and Stationery,
The Cover—While the northern oceans are lashed by winter Ottawa, Ont.
storms, perpetual summer reigns in Hawaii—providing a practical Communications, other than those
reason for cruises to the tropics, where training of officer cadets, relating to subscriptions, should
be addressed to:
just finding their sea legs, will suffer a minimum of interruption. EDITOR,
The ship framed by palm trees along the Pearl Harbour shoreline The Crowsnest,
is H M C S Skeena. (CR-435) N a v a l Headquarters,
Ottawa, Ont.
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa. Page oneThirty-five ladies in khaki—members of 155 Company, RCASC, Victoria—spent three hours on board the frigate New Glasgow on March 15 and
found their "cruise" of great interest, even though the ship didn't leave the jetty. (E-49084)
Shifts Take Part R C A F A r g u s aircraft of M a r i t i m e A i r They were not due to return to E s q u i -
Command also took part i n the opera- malt u n t i l early i n June.
In New Broom IX
tions. Proceeding from Esquimalt to L o n g
Ships of the A t l a n t i c C o m m a n d c o m - Beach, California, the squadron was to
A distinctive feature of N e w B r o o m
bined w i t h units of the U n i t e d States remain i n the L o n g Beach - San Diego
I X was that it tested a new convoy
N a v y i n N A T O training exercises i n areas u n t i l late M a y on exercises.
concept of very large numbers of m e r -
northwestern Atlantic waters from The Miramichi and James Bay are
chant ships. In the exercise, convoys
M a r c h 30 to A p r i l 4. scheduled to sail from L o n g Beach on
of 200 simulated merchant ships were
The exercise, designated New Broom employed instead of the much smaller June 2, a r r i v i n g at Esquimalt on J u n e
I X , consisted of a series of a n t i - s u b - numbers w h i c h comprised the usual 6. The Fortune and Cowichan w i l l de-
marine operations to provide protection Second W o r l d W a r convoys. part L o n g Beach on June 3 and call at
for simulated convoys and to exercise A d m i r a l Cooper pointed out that i n San Francisco before returning home
units i n independent anti - submarine the exercise the simulated ships were on J u n e 10.
operations. D u r i n g the manceuvres, spread out over a front 16 miles wide
ships of the combined navies were e x - and i n considerable depth so that they Two- Warships
ercised i n replenishment operations by covered about 260 square miles. Back in Service
U S N fleet oilers, an a m m u n i t i o n and W i t h modern aerial and underwater A destroyer and a frigate were r e -
a refrigeration ship. detection and A S W offensive, it is be- commissioned M a r c h 10 i n H M C D o c k -
The exercise was conducted from his lieved that fewer n a v a l ships w i l l be yard, H a l i f a x , following long refits that
headquarters i n Norfolk, V a . , by V i c e - needed to provide greater protection to took them out of service last summer.
A d m i r a l W . G . Cooper, U S N , C o m - a larger number of cargo ships than was The T r i b a l class destroyer escort
mander Ocean Sub - A r e a . The U . S . possible under Second W o r l d W a r con- Micmac was commissioned at 11 a.m.
naval forces were headed by R e a r - A d - voy organization. The first destroyer built i n Canada (at
m i r a l R. J . Stroh, Commander C a r r i e r H a l i f a x S h i p y a r d s ) , she entered s e r -
Division Fourteen from his flagship, the vice i n September 1945 and since has
anti-submarine aircraft carrier U S S 'Sweepers Sail served three commissions out of H a l i -
Wasp. T w o destroyer squadrons, a s u b - For California fax. H e r new commanding officer is
marine unit, a replenishment group and The Second Canadian Minesweeping Cdr. A . B . C German.
a shore-based patrol squadron were i n - Squadron sailed from E s q u i m a l t i n m i d - The frigate Lanark's ceremonies b e -
cluded i n the A m e r i c a n forces. A p r i l for exercises, i n c l u d i n g joint o p - gan at 3 p.m. First commissioned i n
R C N units were the Bonaventure, erations w i t h U S N ships, i n the L o n g 1944, she served on t r a n s - A t l a n t i c con-
w i t h Trackers and helicopters e m - Beach - San Diego areas. voy duty for the balance of the Second
barked, the destroyer escorts Algon- The four ships, the Fortune, Mira- W o r l d W a r , but was declared surplus
quin, Nootka, Athabaskan, Restigouche michi, Cowichan and James Bay, were i n November, 1945. Returned to ser-
and St. Croix, and H M Submarine A m - scheduled to carry out an extensive vice i n 1956 after extensive m o d e r n i z a -
bush, of the S i x t h Submarine Squadron. series of exercises i n southern waters. tion and a period i n reserve fleet, she
Page twothe N A T O Tenth A n n i v e r s a r y observ-
ances.
A m o n g U . S . ships i n Norfolk for the
anniversary c e r e m o n i e s were: the
guided missile cruiser U S S Boston, and
the aircraft carrier U S S Randolph.
U . S . sailors, i n return, saw some of
the newest ships of the R o y a l Canadian
N a v y . The Canadian ships were the
aircraft carrier Bonaventure, and the
destroyer escorts St. Croix, Restigouche,
and Athabaskan. Also present was the
B r i t i s h submarine A m b u s h .
The U S S Randoph, U S S Haysworth,
U S S Henley, U S S W . Keith, and U S S
Requiti acted as host ships for the
visiting n o n - U . S . vessels.
The public visited the B r i t i s h and
Canadian ships and the U S S Randolph
on Sunday afternoon, A p r i l 5.
The president of the N o r t h A t l a n t i c
Council, the secretary-general, foreign
and defence ministers, permanent r e p -
resentatives to the C o u n c i l , and other
m i l i t a r y and c i v i l i a n dignitaries toured
the ships on Monday, A p r i l 6, from
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. There were a p p r o x i -
mately 100 visitors i n a l l . The Bona-
venture held a reception for the N A T O
dignitaries from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. M o n -
day.
The visitors were escorted through
the ships on 20-minute tours. Tours
included a missile demonstration on the
U S S Boston, a static aircraft display on
the U S S Randolph, a w a l k - t h r o u g h of
the U S S Nautilus, and a v i e w i n g of
the anti-submarine warfare capabilities
of the new Canadian escorts.
Later A d m i r a l J e r a u l d W r i g h t , U S N .
N A T O ' s Supreme A l l i e d Commander,
sent the following message:
Rear-Admiral H. S. Rayner, Flag Officer " T h e generous scale and whole- A naval guard at Naden stands straight and
Pacific Coast, was down at Duntie Head to hearted nature of the Canadian rigid for Admiral's inspection. Taking time out
watch one of his ships, the destroyer escort participation i n the Tenth N A T O A n - to chat with a member of the guard is the
Skeena, put out to sea. With him was the inspecting officer, Rear-Admiral H. S. Rayner,
family pet, Rip. Like a good, respectful sea-
niversary celebrations at N o r f o l k cre-
Flag Officer Pacific Coast. (E-49098)
dog. Rip stood starchily at attention as the ated a profound impression here and
Skeena sailed by. Bud Kinsman, of the Victoria are very much appreciated.
and for investigations relative to the
Daily Colonist, was there to record the occasion.
" T h e fine appearance and bearing of
underwater acoustics of ice - covered
the R C N , R N and R C A F units and
waters. The six-week scientific project
also operated from H a l i f a x . H e r new bands and their magnificent p e r f o r m -
commanding officer is L t . - C d r . W . V . A . is called Operation P A C L A B A R .
ance i n the various m i l i t a r y ceremonies
Lesslie. were a major contribution to the suc- Participating are A . R. M i l n e , scien-
O n hand for the L a n a r k ceremony cess of the Council's visit and caused tist-in-charge; T. Hughes, J . O ' M a l i a
were two special guests from P e r t h , much favourable comment. and C. K e l l y . In charge of operations
county seat of L a n a r k County, Ontario, "It was a great privilege to be able for the party is L t . - C d r . J . P . C r o a l ,
after which the ship is named. They to hold my reception i n Bonaventure on loan from the Directorate of N a v a l
were M a y o r E . Scott B u r c h e l l and his and this also added much to the day's Intelligence, who recently completed a
town clerk, J . H . Mather. Mayor success. three-year secondment w i t h the B o a r d .
B u r c h e l l addressed the ship's company Prof. E . R. Pounder and E . P . Stalinski,
" T h a n k you a l l very much indeed.
at the commissioning, of the M c G i l l U n i v e r s i t y Ice Research
A u revoir and good l u c k . "
Project, who are undertaking detailed
measurements of the properties of the
RC/V Takes Part in DRIi Scientists sea ice, joined the party at Resolute
NATO Celebration Study Arctic Ice Bay.
Hundreds of Canadian sailors saw the F o u r Defence Research B o a r d scien- The oceanographic research w i l l i n -
U S S Nautilus, the world's first atomic- tists from the Pacific N a v a l Laboratory clude investigations of the currents and
powered submarine, w h e n she visited at Esquimalt have left for the A r c t i c salinity of the waters i n B a r r o w Strait
Norfolk, V i r g i n i a , A p r i l 6 as part of Ocean for winter oceanographic studies and a variety of floe-ice studies w h i c h
Page threebegan i n the summer of 1954 from the
A r c t i c patrol ship H M C S Labrador.
D u r i n g A p r i l and M a y the ice was e x -
BIRTH O F A LEGEND
L
pected to range from six to 10 feet i n E G E N D S are born i n times of stress the "theme song" of the n a v a l v o l u n -
thickness w i t h air temperatures d r o p - and, w i t h the passing of the years, teers of the Second W o r l d W a r :
ping to 20° below zero. the fading of memory and the t h i n -
R o l l along, W a v y N a v y , r o l l along.
The acoustic soundings planned by n i n g of the ranks of those who were
R o l l along, W a v y N a v y , r o l l along.
the scientists w i l l involve depths of there, it often becomes impossible to
If you must know who we are,
hundreds of feet and w i l l provide new say whether a story belongs to the
We're the R - C - N - V - R .
and detailed information about B a r r o w realm of m y t h of history.
R o l l along, W a v y N a v y , r o l l along.
Strait, an important water l i n k south Fifteen years ago the R o y a l Canadian
of C o r n w a l l i s Island. N a v y , grown from a p r e - w a r miniscule O h , we joined for the money and
The seven-man party is l i v i n g on fleet of 13 ships, had become a mighty the fun.
the sea ice i n t r a c t o r - d r a w n " w a n i g a n s " force of 400 warships and was w r i t i n g Yes, we joined for the money and
from A p r i l 13 to M a y 27. A t Repulse, some of the most stirring pages of its the f u n .
it was joined for a l i m i t e d period by short history. B u t of money there is none
Jackoosie, an E s k i m o of the Resolute A n d the fun has just begun—
A legend of that exciting and some-
B a y group on nearby C o r n w a l l i s Island. R o l l along, W a v y N a v y , r o l l along.
times tragic period grew up around the
The R C A F airlifted the scientists, loss of the T r i b a l class destroyer Atha- L t . - C d r . Stubbs was a permanent
along w i t h several tons of scientific baskan on A p r i l 29, 1944. Canadian force officer, but that didn't matter.
equipment and their supplies, to Reso- destroyers, the Athabaskan among them, " W a v y N a v y " , w h i c h referred to the
lute B a y v i a F o r t C h u r c h i l l and R C A F were taking part i n sweeps of the E n g - w a v y stripes on the sleeves of R C N V R
Station Namao. lish Channel and B a y of Biscay to r i d officers, was everybody's song.
Operation P A C L A B A R is the latest those areas of enemy ships w h i c h might There were further embellishments
of a series of P N L A r c t i c Ocean m i s - interfere w i t h the invasion of Europe, to the legend. W h e n the H a i d a gave
sions, initiated i n 1949 w i t h an ocean- planned for that spring. up the chase of the second G e r m a n de-
ographic cruise to the Beaufort Sea i n stroyer, she sped back to look for s u r -
The Athabaskan was something of a
vivors. The sky was brightening fast
veteran research vessel H M C S Cedar- " h a r d l u c k " ship. She had been pierced
and enemy shore batteries were only
wood. clean through and set afire by a glider
five miles away. A s the Haida came
S i m i l a r investigations continued i n bomb w h i l e on a Biscay patrol i n the
to a stop and h u r r i e d l y gathered s u r -
the same area w i t h the 76-foot long summer of 1943. F i v e men were k i l l e d vivors from the water, it was said that
D R B research ship C G S Cancolim w h i c h and 12 wounded. B u t the names were L t . - C d r . Stubbs shouted: " G e t away
left Esquimalt i n J u n e 1951 and w i n - extinguished and she limped back to Haida! Stand clear!"
tered i n the ice at T u k t o y a k t u k , N . W . T . P l y m o u t h for repairs. B y December If those were his words, they are the
The same ship spent a second busy s u m - she was back i n service as part of the last recorded, for when the survivors
mer on research activities i n the A r c t i c screen for the M u r m a n s k - b o u n d con- were accounted for—some i n B r i t a i n ,
Ocean and on the return to Esquimalt voy that l u r e d the G e r m a n battleship some i n a G e r m a n prison camp—he was
i n the autumn of 1952, n a r r o w l y es- Scharnhorst to her destruction. not among them.
caped being trapped by winter ice as There is no evidence that he sang
The pre-invasion sweeps by the Tenth
it closed i n on P o i n t B a r r o w . D u r i n g " W a v y N a v y " , or that he called out
Destroyer F l o t i l l a , of w h i c h the Atha-
the following three years, joint C a n a - a w a r n i n g to the Haida, but the legend
d i a n - U . S . expeditions, w o r k i n g from the baskan was a member, began on A p r i l
15, but it was ten days before contact fits the character of J o h n Stubbs. He
U S S Burton Island and the Labrador, had won the Distinguished Service O r -
carried the investigations deep into the was made w i t h the enemy. Then, on
der for the courage, s k i l l and initiative
A r c t i c Ocean B a s i n . the night of A p r i l 25-26, the A l l i e d
he had displayed under fire i n a suc-
ships sank one G e r m a n destroyer and
Associated w i t h P N L i n the earlier cessful duel w i t h a surfaced U-boat
damaged another.
operations were the Pacific Oceano- when he was commanding officer of
graphic G r o u p , of the Fisheries R e - Three nights later the Athabaskan the Assiniboine. He r a n a happy ship
search B o a r d , and the Institute of and her sister ship the H a i d a , were i n and he earned and deserved the loyalty
Oceanography, of the U n i v e r s i t y of hot pursuit of two G e r m a n destroyers of his officers and men.
British Columbia. when the Athabaskan took a torpedo The Athabaskan was not the only
i n the stern, caught fire and blew up. Canadian warship lost i n 1944. Seven
Duke of Edinburgh The Haida continued the chase and others also died — Valley field, Regina,
drove one G e r m a n destroyer ashore i n Alberni, Skeena, Shawinigan, Clayo-
Patron of NOAC
flames. The other eluded her. quot and M T B 460.
H i s R o y a l Highness the P r i n c e P h i l i p , The names of those who were lost are
F l o a t i n g i n the c h i l l waters of the
D u k e of E d i n b u r g h , has been pleased carved i n the granite of the H a l i f a x W a r
Channel, i n the o i l and wreckage of
to extend his patronage to the N a v a l M e m o r i a l ; they appear on honour rolls
Officers' Associations of Canada, accord- the disaster w h i c h had cost them their
i n city halls, schools and business es-
ing to the J a n u a r y issue of the NOAC ship, the Athabaskan survivors awaited
tablishments across the l a n d ; the school
Journal. rescue as the first glimmer of d a w n be-
at Belmont P a r k , the n a v a l m a r r i e d
gan to appear i n the east.
This is the second occasion on w h i c h establishment near V i c t o r i a , has been
H i s R o y a l Highness has granted his Here legend enters: It was said that, dedicated as a memorial to J o h n Stubbs.
patronage to a Canadian organization i n those despairing moments, the cap- B u t their chief m e m o r i a l lies i n the fact
w i t h n a v a l affiliations. The first was tain of the Athabaskan, Lt.-Cdr. John that Canada remains a free and f o r -
his appointment as A d m i r a l , R o y a l C a n - H . Stubbs, cheered his men by leading w a r d - l o o k i n g land, dedicated to peace
adian Sea Cadets, i n June 1953. them i n the singing of " W a v y N a v y " — and the maintenance of liberty.
Page fourThe first HMCS Kootenay, which served valiantly during the Second World War. Note the "Barber Pole" markings on the after funnel. {L-4124)
T H E L A T E S T of the Restigouche
class destroyer escorts to join the
fleet, H M C S Kootenay was c o m m i s -
B . R. Spencer, Chief of N a v a l T e c h -
nical Services, and the commissioning
services were conducted by R e v . D r .
A colourful and historically interest-
ing note at the commissioning ceremony
was the presence of Chief D o m i n i c
sioned at the E u r r a r d D r y Dock C o m - E . G . B . Foote, Deputy C h a p l a i n G e n - Nicholas, chief of the Kootenay tribe,
pany's yard at N o r t h Vancouver on eral ( P ) , and Rev. J . E . W h e l l y , D e - and M r s . Nicholas. W e a r i n g the f u l l
M a r c h 7. puty C h a p l a i n G e n e r a l ( R C ) . and impressive ceremonial dress of the
In early A p r i l the Kootenay sailed tribe, they were extremely interested i n
from Esquimalt for the East Coast to the new s h i p w h i c h bears the tribe's
join the F i f t h Canadian Escort S q u a d - name.
First Kootenay's
ron i n the A t l a n t i c C o m m a n d . The ship takes her name from the
C O s Still Serving
The Kootenay commanded by C d r . Kootenay R i v e r , i n southeastern B r i t -
R. J . P i c k f o r d , was the first of the R e s - D u r i n g the two and a half years
ish C o l u m b i a . The exact meaning of
of her service i n the R o y a l C a n a d i a n
tigouche class destroyer escorts to c o m - N a v y , the first H M C S Kootenay had the w o r d " K o o t e n a y " is not k n o w n ,
mission on the West Coast and was two c o m m a n d i n g officers. They were: except that it is an Indian w o r d and
the second of the class to go into ser- Acting Lt.-Cdr. K. L . Dyer (April the name of the tribe.
vice i n 1959. The first, H M C S Gatineau, 12, 1943, to M a r c h 28, 1944), now a
The Kootenay Indians were noted for
was commissioned at H a l i f a x on F e b - r e a r - a d m i r a l and C h i e f of N a v a l P e r -
sonnel; the unusual type of canoe w h i c h they
ruary 17. used to b u i l d . Constructed of birch
A c t i n g L t . - C d r . W . H . W i l l s o n (March
Guest of honour at the commission- 29, 1944. to October 26, 1945). now or pine bark, this was a strange look-
ing ceremony was H o n . G . R. Pearkes, serving i n the r a n k of c o m m a n d e r as
i n g craft w i t h bow and stern extending
c o m m a n d i n g officer designate, HMCS
Minister of N a t i o n a l Defence. The ship Terra Nova. under water, not u n l i k e the r a m w h i c h
was accepted by R e a r - A d m i r a l (E) became popular i n the European battle
Page fivefleets of the 19th century before the Gatincau and St. Laurent. The new
invention of the torpedo. group spent the following month " w o r k -
The new destroyer escort is the sec- ing u p " at Londonderry i n preparation
ond of the name i n the R o y a l Canadian for its role i n the invasion of western
N a v y . The first H M C S Kootenay was Europe. T h e i r task was to join other
one of s i x R i v e r class destroyers trans- escort groups i n patrolling a large area
ferred to the R o y a l Canadian N a v y of open sea just outside the Channel.
following an agreement between the D u r i n g the latter part of that s u m -
United K i n g d o m and Canadian govern- mer, the Kootenay, along w i t h several
ments d u r i n g the winter of 1942-43— other ships of E G - 1 1 . took part i n the
an agreement w h i c h was designed to destruction of three U-boats.
strengthen the R C N ' s escort force for The first of these sinkings took place
what was considered to be the crucial in the Channel, about 20 miles south-
period i n the Battle of the A t l a n t i c , west of Beachy Head, i n early J u l y .
the spring of 1943. The Ottawa and Kootenay went to as-
A s H M S Decoy, she had served i n sist H M S Stnticc. which got a submarine
the Royal N a v y since 1933, and had contact on the night of J u l y 5-6. The
won a total of seven battle honours for three ships hunted and attacked until
her service i n the Second W o r l d W a r J u l y 8 and it was later confirmed that
before she was transferred to Canada. the submarine they had destroyed was
She was commissioned as H M C S the U-678.
Kootenay on A p r i l 12, 1943, at J a r r o w On August 18, E G - 1 1 tracked down
on the R i v e r Tyne. a U-boat i n the B a y of Biscay, about
The Kootenay joined Escort Group 70 miles off the mouth of the R i v e r
C-5, the " B a r b e r Pole B r i g a d e " of the Gironde. The Ottawa. Kootenay and
M i d - O c e a n Escort Force, at the end of Chaudiere began the attack at 1012 and
M a y 1943 and there she continued by 1800 the U-boat, which later proved Attack and defence ore symbolized in the
to serve for almost a year, escorting to be the U-621. was considered to ship's badge of HMCS Kootenay. The design
incorporates buffalo horns and the head of an
convoys between St. John's, N e w f o u n d - have been definitely " k i l l e d " . Indian fish spear. The diagonal wavy bands
land, and Londonderry, Northern I r e - T w o days later, August 20, E G - 1 1 represent tlie Kootenoy River, after which the
land. was ordered to return to Londonderry. new destroyer escort is named.
On A p r i l 25, 1944, she was trans- W h i l e passing the Finistere coast, the
ferred from Escort G r o u p C-5 to the Ottawa obtained a clear asdic contact charges and when it was considered
newly-formed E G - 1 1 , w h i c h consisted and the group again proceeded to a t - that the contact must be w e l l and truly
of R i v e r class destroyers—the Ottawa tack. The target was hit m a n y times "dead", E G - 1 1 proceeded on its w a y .
(Senior Officer), Kootenay. Chaudicrc. both by hedgehog and w i t h depth- A t the time the authorities d i d not
consider the target had been a U-boat
but it was learned later that the U-984
had been sunk on that date and in that
location and Escort Group 11 was c r e d -
ited w i t h the " k i l l " .
The Kootenay returned to Canada i n
the f a l l of 1944 for a major refit and
it was not u n t i l M a y 1945 that she r e -
turned to U . K . waters to rejoin E G - 1 1
on patrol i n the C h a n n e l .
W i t h the G e r m a n surrender, h o w -
ever, the Canadian destroyers were o r -
dered to return home and sailed for
H a l i f a x on M a y 30. T h e Kootenay was
assigned to transport duties, c a r r y i n g
returning servicemen from St. John's,
Newfoundland, to Quebec C i t y . T h e
Kootenay spent the next three months
on this task, completing six round trips
in this time.
H a v i n g finished her last r u n t r a n s -
porting troops on October 6, 1945, the
Kooteimy was sent to Sydney, N . S . ,
where she was paid off into the R e -
serve Fleet on October 26. T u r n e d
over to W a r Assets Corporation i n
M a r c h 1946, she was sold later i n the
year to be scrapped.
Chief Dominie Nicholas, Chief of ihe Kootenay Tribe, and Mrs. Nicholas, provided a touch of To the new Kootenay she left the
historically interesting colour at the commissioning of HMCS Kootenay. Attired in their full and following battle honours: A t l a n t i c 1943¬
impressive ceremonial dress, they were among the guests attending the ceremony. They are seen
here with Hon. G . R. Pearkes, Minister of National Defence, the guest of honour, and the Kootenay's
1945. Normandy 1944. English Channel
commanding officer, Cdr. R. J . Pickford. (E-49003) 1944. and Biscay 1944.
Page sixNATO
For ten years the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has stood
for the preservation of freedom, civilization, democracy:, personal
liberty, and the rule of law.
T E N Y E A R S A G O , on A p r i l 4, 1949,
the N o r t h A t l a n t i c Treaty was
signed i n Washington as an expression
The preamble to the N o r t h A t l a n t i c
Treaty states:
" T h e parties to this treaty reaffirm
Nations and their desire to l i v e i n peace
w i t h a l l peoples a n d a l l governments.
" T h e y are determined to safeguard
of the w i l l of the signatories to stand their faith i n the purposes and p r i n - the freedom, common heritage and
together i n the face of any form of a g - ciples of the Charter of the U n i t e d civilization of their people, founded on
gression confronting the western w o r l d . the principles of democracy, i n d i v i d u a l
The nations who signed the treaty liberty and the r u l e of l a w .
were the U n i t e d States and Canada, " T h e y seek to promote stability and
from the western side of the A t l a n t i c , w e l l - b e i n g i n the N o r t h A t l a n t i c area.
and B e l g i u m , Denmark, France, Iceland, " T h e y are resolved to reunite their
Italy, L u x e m b o u r g , the Netherlands, N o r - efforts for collective defence and for
way, P o r t u g a l a n d the U n i t e d K i n g d o m , the preservation of peace and security."
from across the sea. Greece and T u r - The N o r t h A t l a n t i c Treaty O r g a n i z a -
key put their names to the treaty i n tion ( N A T O ) was the outgrowth of the
F e b r u a r y 1952 and the Federal R e p u b - first meeting of the N o r t h A t l a n t i c
lic of G e r m a n y i n M a y 1955. 1940 1059
C o u n c i l i n Washington on September
Page seven17, 1949. B y the time the seventh meet- They are the ministers for foreign af-
ing of the C o u n c i l assembled i n Ottawa fairs and, according to the agenda of
i n September 1951, the concepts of the the meeting, the ministers of defence
original treaty had been considerably and other competent ministers, espe-
broadened. T u r k e y and Greece, w h i c h cially those responsible for financial and
could h a r d l y be considered " A t l a n t i c " economic affairs. In December 1957 the
nations, were admitted to N A T O and heads of government of the 15 N A T O
new emphasis was placed on economic countries were present.
co-operation. N o longer could N A T O N A T O is not a supra-national o r -
be construed as a hastily-devised de- ganization. This means that a l l de-
fensive scheme, promoted by a group m i l i t a r y command w i t h i n N A T O p r e - cisions must be taken unanimously.
of w o r r i e d countries. A program of sents a special problem, i n that it has The council's business is to consider
economic, financial and social co-op- to be superimposed on the w o r k i n g and find solutions agreeable to a l l 15
eration was developed i n accordance national structures. It w o u l d have partners about questions directly or i n -
w i t h article two of the N o r t h A t l a n t i c been extravagant to duplicate the directly affecting the A t l a n t i c A l l i a n c e .
Treaty: higher commands, so most appoint- These include not only m i l i t a r y ques-
" T h e parties w i l l contribute toward ments have been made dual assignments tions but also political, economic and
the further development of peaceful for officers already i n corresponding several other n o n - m i l i t a r y matters. The
and friendly international relations by national posts. "Possessing a N A T O range of the council's activities can be
strengthening their free institutions, by and a national 'hat', i n the current seen from the names of the m a i n c o u n -
bringing about a better understanding slang, is now w i d e l y accepted and, p r o - c i l committees w h i c h give the council
of the principles upon w h i c h these i n - vided it is made clear w h i c h 'hat' is advice on specific problems. There are
stitutions are founded, and by promot- being w o r n or addressed, no a p p r e c i - committees for political, economic and
ing conditions of stability and w e l l - able confusion ensues." scientific affairs, for defence produc-
being. They w i l l seek to eliminate Here is how N A T O is organized, i n tion, infrastructure, c i v i l emergency
conflict i n their international economic c i v i l and m i l i t a r y components: planning, for the annual review of the
policies and w i l l encourage economic The N o r t h A t l a n t i c C o u n c i l is the defence effort, for information and c u l -
collaboration between any and a l l of supreme authority of N A T O . It is c o m - tural relations and for c i v i l and m i l i t a r y
them." posed of representatives of the 15 m e m - budgets.
The treaty, i n fact, tries to eliminate, ber countries who reside permanently The council and its committees are
as a recent issue of the Admiralty i n Paris where N A T O has its head- assisted by an international staff, headed
News Summary observes, "every k i n d quarters. They have the rank of a m - by the Secretary General, who is also
of conflict between member states, i n bassador. These permanent represen- the chairman of the council. The m e m -
particular w i t h regard to economic tatives ensure the continuous f u n c t i o n - bers of this international staff are d r a w n
policy, and to encourage economic and ing of the council. They meet at least from a l l N A T O countries; they are r e -
cultural exchanges." once a week and often more frequently. sponsible i n their work to the secre-
The Admiralty News Summary goes T w o or three times a year cabinet tary general and not to their own
on to say that the organization of the ministers attend the council meetings. national government.
Page eightO n the m i l i t a r y side, under the c o u n - Three N A T O countries w h i c h are not ground: details one takes for granted
cil, is the m i l i t a r y committee, composed part of the European continent (the u n t i l faced w i t h the shattering fact that
of the chiefs-of-staff of each member United States, Great B r i t a i n and C a n - household phrases such as '70-70 sweep',
country or their representatives. (Ice- ada) have taken the unprecedented 'rapid salvoes', 'blue turns', 'manoeuv-
land having no m i l i t a r y forces is r e p - step of stationing forces there i n time r i n g distance' are absolute nonsense u n -
resented by a civilian.) The m i l i t a r y of peace. The A m e i i c a n S i x t h Fleet less one's allies have been, a l l through
committee sits i n Washington. The e x - adds a powerful force to the allied their training, reading from the same
ecutive agency of the m i l i t a r y commit- navies of the Mediterranean. books as oneself.
tee is the standing group composed of The foregoing summary of the N A T O " T h e answer has been the production
the representatives of the chiefs-of-staff setup was prepared by the N A T O I n - of the Tactical, Exercise and C o m m u n i -
of B r i t a i n , France and the U n i t e d States. formation Service i n P a r i s . The Ad- cation series of ' A l l i e d Publications'.
It gives strategic direction to the N A T O miralty News Summary points out some These books lay down tactics, proce-
commanders and co-ordinates N A T O ' s of the consequences of the N A T O sys- dure, d r i l l , communications and every
defence plans. tem: other detail for every aspect of m a r i -
U n d e r the standing group are the " B e l o w the level of sub-commander
time warfare; a long job not yet c o m -
supreme allied commanders. They are there are no permanent N A T O f o r m a -
plete and r e q u i r i n g much inter-service
the Supreme A l l i e d Commander Europe tions i n peace time, so far as the N a v y
and international consultation, but one
( S A C E U R ) , w i t h headquarters near is concerned.
w e l l worth doing, for the books go a
P a r i s (known as S H A P E ) ; the Supreme " A n a v a l officer may thus find h i m -
Allied C o m m a n d e r Atlantic ( S A C - self serving i n any of the N A T O h e a d - long way to closing the gaps between
L A N T ) w i t h headquarters at Norfolk, quarters (other than those of army or the 15 member states, each previously
V i r g i n i a ; the N a v a l and A i r Channel air commanders). Staffs are f u l l y i n - w i t h its own ideas of how to fight a
Commanders i n Chief, w i t h headquar- tegrated and i n , say, Headquarters A l - war."
ters at Portsmouth and Northwood, r e - lied Forces Mediterranean, he might W h e n ships of the various nations
spectively. w e l l find himself w o r k i n g alongside a assemble for a N A T O exercise they
There is also the C a n a d a - U . S . R e - Greek and a T u r k and together report- find they are trained on similar lines,
gional P l a n n i n g Group w h i c h develops ing to an Italian. H i s first lesson, using the same drills and codes, the
and recommends to the standing group therefore, is to learn to leave his n a - same phrases and terminology.
plans for the defence of the N o r t h tional 'hat' at home and to think as a Adjustment is not always easy. E a c h
A m e r i c a n Continent. N A T O man . . . navy is bound to feel that many of its
The European C o m m a n d is divided " I n peace time N A T O operates no long-established ways of doing things
into four subordinate commands ( N o r t h - naval forces at a l l . What it does do, are the best. Perhaps they are, but
ern, Central, Southern Europe and however, is i n the first place to r e - they may not be suited to the navy of
Mediterranean). The A t l a n t i c Ocean ceive nominations from member states another country and compromises must
Command is divided into three c o m - of 'forces available i n w a r ' and i n the be made. The difficulties are perhaps
mand areas (Western A t l a n t i c , Eastern second to exercise these forces as often greatest for the forces of those c o u n -
A t l a n t i c and S t r i k i n g Fleet A t l a n t i c ) . as it is possible to b r i n g them together
tries where neither of the official l a n -
The N A T O Supreme Commanders are under temporary N A T O command. In
guages, F r e n c h and English, is the
responsible for the development of de- addition—and this is the v i t a l p r e r e q u i -
mother tongue.
fence plans for their respective areas, site to a l l such co-operation—it ensures
for the determination of force r e q u i r e - that the detailed training of these forces B u t these adjustments are a small
ments and for the deployment and shall at a l l times, whether i n N A T O price to pay for the "fire insurance"
exercise of the forces under their c o m - exercises or not, follow the same agreed that N A T O offers and for the prospect
mand. Member countries have assigned basic doctrine and tactical procedure. that it holds out for international co-
parts of their m i l i t a r y forces i n peace " T h e lack of this last has i n the past operation and goodwill extending far
time to these N A T O commands. Other bedevilled w a r time alliances. It is beyond the m i l i t a r y sphere.
forces are earmarked for N A T O i n the quite impossible to produce an efficient There was good reason for the R o y a l
event of mobilization or w a r . ( A t h i r d integrated force at short notice, unless Canadian N a v y to join w i t h other
category remains under national c o m - signal books, radio procedure, a n t i - s u b - navies of the western w o r l d i n w i s h i n g
mand to ensure the defence of national marine tactics and a l l the h u n d r e d - a n d - N A T O on its tenth anniversary " M a n y
territories.) one details are based on common happy returns of the day".
Page nineOFFICERS AND M E N
Veterans to Meet ten Ontario cities and towns and from seum board at the annual meeting r e -
Quebec and N e w B r u n s w i c k . These cently.
In Hamilton
include associations i n Port Hope, C o - N a v a l members elected to the board
The fifth annual reunion of n a v a l bourg, Toronto, Scarborough, B e l l e - were C d r . (S) P . Cossette, L t . - C d r .
veterans i n Canada w i l l be held i n ville, Oshawa, B r a n t f o r d , Woodstock, A . R. Pickels, L t . - C d r . M . A . ( C E )
Hamilton, June 20 to 21, under the Peterborough and H a m i l t o n , i n a l l O n - Rose, Inst. L t . - C d r . Lawrence F a r r i n g -
sponsorship of the Canadian N a v a l A s - tario, and from Quebec province and ton, L t . - C d r . G . R. M a c F a r l a n e , and
sociation. New Brunswick. L t . I. C. S. Ingliss.
Host organization for the reunion w i l l
A m o n g events at this year's reunion C i v i l i a n members elected were B . L .
be the H a m i l t o n N a v a l Veterans' A s -
w i l l be the annual banquet on S a t u r - Johnson, N o r m a n H a c k i n g , E . S. M c -
sociation, w h i c h is expecting an at-
day, June 20, followed by a b a l l at G o w a n , R. H . Roy, H . A . Wallace, and
tendance of more than 2,000 delegates.
H M C S Star, Hamilton's n a v a l division. E. A . M a c F a y d e n .
First of these annual meetings of
former n a v a l personnel was held i n O n Sunday, June 21, the veterans
Peterborough, Ontario, i n 1955, when a w i l l hold a church parade to church Retired Officer in
group of independent associations met services i n downtown H a m i l t o n . Af- Dockyard Post
to discuss formation of a national o r - terwards, they w i l l reassemble to march
to the cenotaph for a w r e a t h - l a y i n g L t . - C d r . J . E . (Jack) Wolfenden,
ganization. The present organization, R C N ( R ) (Ret.), has taken up the p o s i -
the Canadian N a v a l Association, came ceremony and brief memorial service.
A n a v a l guard and band w i l l also take tion of Assistant Queen's H a r b o u r M a s -
into being at the 1956 reunion i n ter and Master Attendant i n H M C
Oshawa. part i n the ceremonies.
Dockyard at H a l i f a x .
To date, the m a i n participants have C n Sunday afternoon, the a n t i - s u b -
He assists the Q H M i n the operation
been n a v a l veterans' associations i n marine frigate H M C S Buckingham will
and maintenance of 100 a u x i l i a r y ves-
Ontario and the M a i n Brace C l u b of be open for tours by the delegates.
sels, movement and berthing of ships,
New B r u n s w i c k , but it is hoped groups The reunion is open to a l l veterans and the location of various moorings.
from other provinces w i l l j o i n to make of the R o y a l Canadian N a v y , the R o y a l A s the master attendant, he is chiefly
the association's representation D o m i n - N a v y or other Commonwealth navies responsible for the activities of the
ion-wide. and A l l i e d navies, and to veterans of D o c k y a r d boatswain, fire department,
Delegates are expected this year from the merchant navies. Interested o r - security, chart and chronometer depot
naval veterans organizations i n at least ganizations or individuals may obtain and passive air defence i n the D o c k -
detailed information from the R e g i s t r a - yard.
tion Committee C h a i r m a n , J . Senior, M r . Wolfenden, a p r e - w a r merchant
WEDDINGS R R No. 1, Stoney Creek, Ontario. mariner, served i n the N a v y from 1940
S u b - L i e u t e n a n t N e i l A . Barrett, Stadacona,
to Miss Elizabeth A n n O ' C o n n e l l , of H a l i f a x .
A b l e Seaman J o h n Robert C a r m i c h a e l , C a y - Commodore Inspects
uga, to Miss S y l v i a M a r i e Santoro, of L o n -
don, Ont. Eastern Divisions BIRTHS
Petty Officer W i l l i a m Cave, Beacon Hill, T o L e a d i n g Seaman D . R. B r a n d , Beacon
to Miss A n n Whitlow, of N o r t h V a n c o u v e r . The annual inspection of n a v a l d i v i - Hill, and M r s . B r a n d , a son.
A b l e Seaman A l f r e d Coderre, Beacon Hill, sions i n Eastern Canada and the M a r i - T o C h i e f Petty Officer A . C a w l e y , Beacon
to Miss S h e r r y Pappenberger, of Ganges, B . C . Hill, and M r s . C a w l e y , a daughter.
L e a d i n g Seaman F r a n k T . G o d w i n , Jon-
times was carried out from M a r c h 16 T o Lieutenant (S) J . F . Cowie, Beacon
quiere, to Miss Peggy O ' D o n n e l l , of V i c t o r i a . to M a r c h 26 by Commodore E . W . Hill, and M r s . Cowie, a son.
A b l e Seaman R o n a l d W . G u n n , Gloucester, F i n c h - N o y e s , C o m m a n d i n g Officer N a - T o Instructor L i e u t e n a n t H . M . D e r y n c k ,
to Miss H e l e n Elizabeth H u s k , of R i c h m o n d , Griffon, and M r s . D e r y n c k , a son.
P.Q. v a l Divisions. T o A b l e Seaman J o h n W . K o z i e r , J o n -
L e a d i n g Seaman D a v i d H a l l , Beacon Hill, quiere, and M r s . K o z i e r , a daughter.
to Miss J o a n M a r i n u t t i , of V a n c o u v e r .
D u r i n g his inspection tour, C o m m o - T o A b l e Seaman J . G . L e n n o x , Beacon
Lieuteneant T h o m a s A . Sigurdson, Naden, dore F i n c h - N o y e s visited divisions i n Hill, and M r s . L e n n o x , a daughter.
to S u b - L i e u t e n a n t ( M N ) B a r b a r a A n n e H u g - Quebec C i t y , M o n t r e a l , Saint J o h n , T o Lieutenant B . A . Massie, Jonquiere,
gett, Naden. and M r s . Massie, a daughter.
Ordinary Seaman Waldemar Iltshishin, N . B . , H a l i f a x , Charlottetown and St. T o Lieutenant D . N . M a c G i l l i v r a y , Stada-
Cornwallis, to Miss A n n e m a r i e C o m e a u , of John's Nfld. cona, and M r s . M a c G i l l i v r a y , a daughter.
Saulnierville, N . S . T o Instructor L i e u t e n a n t - C o m m a n d e r W . F .
L e a d i n g Seaman A u s t i n J . Moss, Glouces- M c G o w a n , Stadacona, and Mrs. M c G o w a n , a
ter, to Miss M a r y Koeslag, of P e r t h , Ont. daughter.
S u b - L i e u t e n a n t D o n a l d B . M a c L e o d , Bea-
Five Thousand T o Petty Officer E . W . M u e l l e r , Beacon
con Hill, to Miss M a r g a r e t M o o n e y , of V i c - Visit Museum Hill, and M r s . M u e l l e r , a son.
toria. T o A b l e Seaman George J . P e r c i v a l , Jon-
A b l e Seaman Charles G . Reekie, Jonquiere, The B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a M a r i t i m e M u - quiere, and M r s . P e r c i v a l , a son.
to Miss W a n d a S c h e r m e r h o r n , of V a n c o u v e r . T o Lieutenant (SB) H . C. Wallace, Stada-
S u b - L i e u t e n a n t (S) D u n c a n A n g u s S h e l -
seum, Esquimalt, was visited by more cona, and M r s . Wallace, a daughter.
ley, Quinte, to Miss N o r m a G a y G i l d n e r , of than 5,000 persons d u r i n g 1958, an i n - T o Lieutenant J . L . Watkins, Shearwater,
Halifax. crease of 20 per cent over the previous and M r s . Watkins, a son.
S u b - L i e u t e n a n t ( M N ) F r a n c e s Olive E l i z a - T o Lieutenant A l e x a n d e r B a j k o v , Iroquois,
beth Sinclair, Carleton, to Instructor L i e u - year, museum officials report. and M r s . B a j k o v , a daughter.
tenant B e r n a r d A . Beare, R C N ( R ) , Stada- T o L e a d i n g Seaman H . A . Coones, Niobe,
cona.
Commodore H . V . W . Groos, c o m - and M r s . Coones, a son.
L e a d i n g Seaman R o y E . Staicue, Jonquiere, manding officer of H M C S Naden and T o C h i e f Petty Officer J o h n N o r r i s , Niobe,
to Miss J o a n M o n t g o m e r y , of V a n c o u v e r . Commodore of R C N B a r r a c k s , E s q u i - and M r s . N o r r i s , a daughter.
A b l e Seaman G o r d o n Zerr, Beacon Hill, T o Petty Officer Edward P . Tracy, Iroquois,
to Miss E v e l y n S w i n t o n , of M e r r i t t e , B . C . malt, was elected chairman of the m u - and Mrs. Tracy, twins, a boy and a girl.
Page tenu n t i l this year. D u r i n g the war he
served m a i n l y overseas, from Mur-
mansk to G i b r a l t a r . W h i l e on the West
Coast, he commanded the research ship
H M C S Cedarwood, for six years. The
Cedarwood i n 1949 became the first of
H M C Ships to voyage to the A r c t i c .
He served as a lieutenant-commander
at N a v a l Headquarters i n Ottawa i n
the Directorate of Inter-Service D e v e l -
opment for the three and a half years
preceding his retirement. D u r i n g that
time important advances were made i n
the development of A r c t i c wear for
servicemen.
East Coast Wrens
Inspected
L t . - C d r . (W) Jean C r a w f o r d - S m i t h ,
Staff Officer (Wrens) at N a v a l H e a d -
quarters, made a tour of inspection i n
M a r c h of naval establishments in Nova
Scotia i n which wrens are serving.
Establishments visited by L t . - C d r .
C r a w f o r d - Smith included Cornwallis,
Shelburne, Stadacona and Shearwater.
Edmonton 1SOA
Elects Officers
The winner of first prize ($100 and an engraved ploque) in this year's naval essay contest spon-
W. Ross Hickey was elected president sored by Canadian Shipping and Marine Engineering News was Cdr. K. E. Grant, commandant of
of the Edmonton branch of the N a v a l the Joint Atomic, Biological and Chemical Warfare School at Camp Borden, Ontario. His essay
Officers' Associations of Canada at the "The Bird Watchers", took a scienee-frction look at the RCN of the future. Second and third prizes
annual meeting i n H M C S Nonsuch, went to Officer Cadet John M. Treddenick, of RMC, and last year's winner, Inst. Lt.-Cdr. Lawrence
Farrington, of Venture. Cdr. Grant was presented with plaque and cash award by Eric Axelson,
The vice-president for 1958 is U . E . editor of Canadian Shipping, in a ceremony at the JABC School, as pictured above.
Cameron and the new secretary-treas-
urer is Thomas Peters. M a r c h 2 to 20. It was attended and Navy League Cadets
Members of the executive committee completed by P O W r e n S. M . Stretton, Win Three Awards
are L y l e Hoar, E. P . Shaver, F . D. Cornwallis; Wrens B . D. Bateman, N .
The N a v y League of Canada General
E a n w e l l , Ross M c L e a n , H . H a r t l e y , A . C h o m i c k i , P . Fotheringham, R. M . H e i s -
Proficiency Trophy for N a v y League
Baker and C. H . Rolf. ler and E. A . K e r r , a l l of Stadacona,
Cadet Corps for the year 1958 was r e -
and W r e n J . M c K e n z i e , Shelburne.
cently presented to the Weston O n -
Wren Division tario N a v y League Cadet Corps I l l u s -
Completes Course Chief and POs Give trious. This marked the third award
Scholarships received for 1958 activities by the corps.
The " M e r i t A w a r d " has gone to O r d .
Previously the Weston corps had been
W r e n Beverley Robertson for o b t a i n - Founded i n the fall of 1955, the Chief
awarded the Metropolitan Toronto G e n -
ing the highest standing i n the wren and Petty Officers' Association ( V i c - eral Proficiency Trophy and the O n -
division Conestoga XII. w h i c h c o m - toria) now has 185 members, some of tario D i v i s i o n General Proficiency
pleted its training at Cornwallis on whom are completing their last five- Shield.
M a r c h 25. year hitches i n the R C N .
These awards were f o r m a l l y p r e -
Eight of the graduates are attending A l r e a d y a substantial contributor to sented at an open house for parents
Communications School at Cornwallis. charitable causes, the association has and friends following an inspection and
They are O r d i n a r y Wrens M . G . B a i l e y , announced the establishment of two march past of the ship's company i n
H . M . Crooks, G . Fitzgerald, T. M . G o s - scholarships. These are for $150 each which the H o n . L . O. Breithaupt, h o n -
selin, G . L . L i b e r t y , M . D. M u r r a y , and w i l l go to university students whose orary president of the National Council
B . A . Robertson and J . E . V a i l . fathers are members of the association. of the N a v y League of Canada, was
O r d . W r e n M . J . Cote is attending Membership i n the association is open the inspecting officer. M r . Breithaupt
the Supply School at Hochelaga. Six to former C P O s or POs of the R C N , is the former Lieutenant Governor of
other members of the division, who the former R C N R and R C N V R , and the Ontario and was performing his first
are taking branch training i n the N a v i - R C N ( R ) , as w e l l as those completing official function on behalf of the N a -
gation Direction School, Stadacona, are their last five years i n the service. I n - tional C o u n c i l .
O r d i n a r y Wrens S. I. B a l m e r , C. A . formation is available from Clifford P . C P O W . R. F r a n k l i n R C N ( R ) p r e -
M i t c h e l l , P . P l o w r i g h t , K . M . Pratt, Henze, publicity chairman, 1631 P i n e - sented the Metropolitan Toronto T r o -
M . D. R e i d and M . G . Rock. wood Avenue, V i c t o r i a , B . C . phy, w h i c h was being awarded for the
The first P & R T and sports course for The president of the association is first time, on behalf of the Chief and
wrens was held i n Cornwallis from Joseph W . C a r v e r . Petty Officers' Mess, H M C S Y o r k .
Page elevenO. B . Mabee, president of the O n -
tario D i v i s i o n N a v y League of Canada
presented the P r o v i n c i a l a w a r d while
TWO SMALL BOYS NOW
M r . Breithaupt made the a w a r d of the
National G e n e r a l Proficiency Trophy
to L t . - C d r . W . J . Hodge, N L C , c o m -
N A V Y ' S FOSTER C H I L D R E N
T
manding officer. W O S M A L L B O Y S , thousands of was given a name and a guessed-at
B y the day of the actual trophy miles from Canada and l i v i n g birth date,
presentations the enrolment i n the corps thousands of miles from each other, No one ever made inquiries concern-
had risen to 110 cadets, a l l of whom are finding their chances of a n o r m a l ing a child answering his description,
were on deck. and happy childhood vastly improved so the H a l i f a x wrens are the only
A n interesting feature of the training because of the interest shown i n their " f a m i l y " In Soo has.
program, started i n 1958 and still con- welfare by R C N personnel. In Soo has been described as a l i v e l y
tinuing, is the monthly attendance of M o r e than a year ago the wrens boy with a delightful personality, who
the corps at church as a ship's c o m - at that time members of the Wrens' wins friends q u i c k l y and who is both
pany. Attendance each month at this Mess at Stadacona undertook the "adop- sincere and brave. He does w e l l i n
service i n various churches has steadily t i o n " , under the Foster Parents' P l a n , his p r i m a r y school studies and says he
increased and now includes committee Inc., of little K a n g In Soo, n i n e - y e a r - wants to be a c i v i l engineer when he
members, ladies a u x i l i a r y and parents old K o r e a n boy, who was separated grows up.
as w e l l . from his parents d u r i n g the K o r e a n Last fall he wrote a charming letter
This marks the first time that the w a r and lives i n a Pusan orphanage. to his new parents:
National Trophy has been won by a " O u r f a l l is lovely and it is good
corps i n Eastern C a n a d a . — W . J . H . season for us to study. I have happy
times. I hope you are a l l i n God's love.
Wrens Inspected Y o u r loving
By Staff Officer K a n g In Soo."
A n inspection of wrens i n western
A l t h o u g h the Antigonish's little I t a l -
naval divisions was carried out i n F e b -
ian boy has a mother and is one of
ruary and M a r c h by L t . (W) L . Frances three children, his home is i n a p o v -
A . Tait, Staff Officer (Wrens) to the erty-stricken agricultural area where
Commanding Officer N a v a l Divisions. the ground is dry and almost barren.
L t . Tait's tour of inspection took her His widowed mother does her best but
to naval divisions at Port A r t h u r , W i n - is unable to earn more than $8 a month
nipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, E d - — h a r d l y enough to provide bare s u b -
monton, Prince Rupert, Vancouver and sistence for the f a m i l y .
Victoria. Since Giovanni's "adoption" by the
L t . Tait became Staff Officer (Wrens) 150 officers and men of the Antigonish
at H a m i l t o n i n J a n u a r y , when she s u c - he has been given his first toy, his first
clean sheets and w a r m blankets and
ceeded L t . - C d r . (W) W i n i f r e d Grace
his first square meal. It has also been
Lyons, who is now serving at Corn-
made possible for h i m to go to school
wallis as T r a i n i n g Officer (Wrens), and like the rest of the children.
as A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Officer (Wrens) on
Other children have been adopted i n
the staff of the F l a g Officer A t l a n t i c KANG IN SOO the past by ships of the R o y a l C a n a -
Coast. dian N a v y and it seems likely the cus-
T h i s year, the officers and men of tom has become w e l l enough established
New Calibration the frigate Antigonish "adopted" (also to continue.
Range Established through the Foster Parents' P l a n ) eight- The Foster Parents' P l a n , Inc., whose
year-old G i o v a n n i Cecchetti, who lives address i n P O box 65, Station " b " ,
The N a v y ' s anti-submarine weapons
w i t h his widowed mother i n a w i n d o w - Montreal, is a non-sectarian, non-profit
calibration range at L a w l o r ' s Island i n
less, doorless, mud-floored hut i n Italy. relief organization that helps children
the eastern approaches to H a l i f a x h a r -
The Stadacona wrens have not c o n - i n eight countries throughout Europe
bour has been discontinued. Instead, and A s i a .
new facilities have been completed i n fined their interest to the $15 monthly
payment to the Foster Parents' P l a n . The organization has given assistance
Bedford B a s i n near the R C N Magazine
On In Soo's last birthday they sent h i m to 76,000 children and at present has
and were used for the first time i n
a box of gifts and when Christmas 11,500 children on its food lists.
m i d - M a r c h by the recently-commis-
sioned H M C S Gatineau. came, there were hand-knitted socks, a
sweater, a pair of jeans, candies, shoes
In addition, the Department of T r a n s - and toys for h i m . F r o m time to time,
port has undertaken to lay a sonar r e - surprise treats are sent to h i m .
flector buoy at sea about nine miles
east of Sambro L i g h t S h i p , by means In Soo, then about three years of
of which anti-submarine warships w i l l age, was found wandering i n the streets
be able to line up their underwater of P u s a n i n 1953, w i t h no memory of
detection equipment and their a n t i - s u b - his parents or his name. H e was taken
marine weapons. Hitherto, it was n e - into the orphanage, where he still lives
cessary to tow targets to sea as required. under Foster Parents' P l a n care, and
Page twelveTHE BATTLE O F PLATTSBURGH
For more than 100 years—from the should present itself as a worth while Strategically, any American conquest
capitulation of Montreal (1760) to Con- target when these conflicting interests of Canada required successful thrusts
federation (1867)—Canada was a Brit- came to a show-down. Show-downs against Montreal and Quebec; posts on
ish colony. During the same period the did occur and Canada on several occa- the Great Lakes would then fall for
want of supply and reinforcement.
United States was on the march towards sions was invaded. Sometimes these
Lake Champlain and the Richelieu was,
becoming the dominant power in the attacks were to some extent successful, therefore, the most important invasion
New World. It was only natural that sometimes they were complete debacles. route.
as the young republic grew in stature One side factor in these campaigns As reported in an earlier issue of
her interests were often in conflict with was the apparent inability of the Am- The Crowsnest, Instructor Commander
those of the British Empire. ericans to take the full measure of the C. H. Little, CD, RCN, was the winner
Because the massive power of the Canadian people; it was beyond their of the 1958 competition for the Barry
Royal Navy could seldom be challenged comprehension why the colonists to the German Prize in Naval History. There
on salt water with any hope of success, north just simply did not want to be follows a portion of his prize-winning
it was also only natural that British "rescued from the imperialist yoke". essay, "A Naval Study of the Richelieu-
territory as represented by Canada But that is another story. Champlain Valley".—E.C.R.
W I L L I A M W O O D has said t r e n c h -
antly i n his volume i n the
Chronicles of Canada " A l l A f l o a t " :
as a m i l i t a r y post i n 1870 when the
U . S . A . and Canada had come to a tacit
understanding that their wars were
S i r George Prevost, G o v e r n o r - G e n -
eral of Canada and C o m m a n d e r - i n -
Chief, had attained the rank of l i e u -
" I n the w a r of 1812 it was the two over. There are two plaques of p a r - tenant-general i n the B r i t i s h army be-
annihilating A m e r i c a n n a v a l victories ticular n a v a l interest i n the fort itself. fore coming to Canada. In the autumn
on Lakes E r i e and C h a m p l a i n that A t the entrance, where the bridge has of 1814 he found himself at a decisive
turned the scale far enough back to crossed the moat, is a bronze m e m o r i a l point i n history: there had been B r i t -
offset the preponderant B r i t i s h m i l i t a r y i n our two languages commemorating ish victories along the Canadian border,
victories along the Canadian frontier the nearby n a v a l battle of June 3, 1813, on the M a i n e coast and at Washington;
at w h i c h the A m e r i c a n sloops or cor- m i l i t a r y supremacy could be obtained
and prevent the advance of that f r o n -
vettes Eagle and Growler were taken i n the L a k e C h a m p l a i n area by a p p l y -
tier beyond Detroit and into the state
by sailors and soldiers under M a j o r ing the three-to-one advantage i n troops
of M a i n e . "
George Taylor, 100th Regt., Capt. F r e d - against the sole remaining A m e r i c a n
The A m e r i c a n victory on L a k e C h a m - erick Gordon, R o y a l A r t i l l e r y ; L t . stronghold: Plattsburgh. Plattsburgh
plain was Plattsburgh, September 11, George B . W i l l i a m s , 100th Regt., and had for its defence some 3,500 soldiers
1814—a victory w h i c h indeed deprived L t . W i l l i a m Lowe, P r o v i n c i a l M a r i n e . of various types and the small n a v a l
Canada of a c l a i m , w h i c h both history Where the fort faces the western force under Commodore Macdonough;
and other victories w o u l d have upheld, branch of the r i v e r is another bronze Prevost had for attack 11,000 veteran
to a boundary along the general line plaque noting the contribution of the troops and the small n a v a l force under
of the 44th p a r a l l e l rather than the various segments of the R o y a l N a v y — Captain Downie, R N . It seems i n c r e d -
peculiarity w h i c h now obtains. including the P r o v i n c i a l Marine.) ible that the affair could have been so
H o w did this defeat come about? Let B y the following year, 1814, each side mismanaged.
us study the background. numbered five ships of various sizes Captain Downie a r r i v e d at I l e - a u x -
In 1812 a shipyard was established and strengths and a few gun-boats. N o i x on the second of September to
at Fort L e n n o x . It w i l l have been W h e n they met at Plattsburgh there take command. H i s flagship Confiance
noted that the p r e v a i l i n g custom of the was little to choose between them i n had been launched eight days before,
time was to b u i l d ships and boats i n material strength but there was a she did trials on the 7th and 8th and
the area where they w o u l d be used. vast difference i n the way they were the shipwrights had not yet completed
A small but efficient drydock was also handled. There can be few instances
their w o r k when she went into action
created — when the vessel had been i n our history of a more improper
on the 11th. H i s crews were composed
floated i n , the gates were closed and waste of n a v a l power than the Battle
of drafts hastily gathered from various
the water pumped out by hand. D u r - of Plattsburgh.
other ships and soldiers put temporarily
ing 1813-14 several warships were built,
into the n a v a l service at the last
the largest of w h i c h was La Confiance.
These vessels, together w i t h the cap- moment. N o ship was w o r k e d up, no
E d i t o r ' s Note orders had come from the C o m m a n d e r -
tured sloops Eagle and Growler, w h i c h
were repaired locally, enabled Captain It has been recognized that the i n - C h i e f , no plans had been d r a w n u p ;
E v e r a r d , R N , to conduct a successful high cost of manuscript typing has a l l was confusion, haste and l a s t - m i n -
sweep of the lake i n 1813 and to de- made it difficult for candidates to ute improvisation.
stroy A m e r i c a n ships, forts and supplies submit entries for the Barry Ger- To add to the unpreparedness, P r e -
at Plattsburgh, B u r l i n g t o n , Swanton and man Prize. As a result it is now
vost kept goading Downie to attack the
Champlain. acceptable to enter a single copy,
A m e r i c a n s and to overcome a l l diffi-
legibly written in long hand. Na-
(The N a t i o n a l P a r k on He aux N o i x culties so as "not to keep the a r m y
val General Order 210.00/12 has
has as its central jewel F o r t L e n n o x been amended accordingly. waiting".
w h i c h was begun i n 1819 and given up The tactical position was elementary.
Page thirteenThe battle that led to the capture of Quebec 200 years ago was a classic example of how to fight a combined operation. The Battle of Platts- burgh in 1814 was an equally classic example of how NOT to fight one. This drawing from American sources shows the general disposition of the naval forces toward the end of the battle. The name of the British ship Confiance is misspelled "Confidence". The Americans had a small fortress and w h i c h , like a rifle, fired one projectile anchored A m e r i c a n ships to a r u n n i n g close by i n the bay their little n a v y : for a comparatively long distance and fire beyond their effective range of r e - thus they could make the most of their w h i c h were most effectively employed ply. Indeed Prevost's first objective slender resources by m u t u a l support. at long range as anti-ship weapons. should have been the A m e r i c a n bat- The ships were equipped w i t h c a r r o n - The ships were new, the crews m a k e - teries w h i c h , once taken, could have ades w h i c h , somewhat after the fashion shift and, to complete the disaster, been turned w i t h destructive power of a shot-gun, fired patterns of s m a l l Prevost committed a tactical blunder upon their own ships forcing them projectiles and were deadly a n t i - p e r - of the worst k i n d . either to capitulate at anchor or to take sonnel weapons at short range. M a c - In the situation described it w o u l d to the open lake where they w o u l d donough had anchored i n Plattsburgh seem axiomatic for Prevost to attack meet the B r i t i s h force at a d i s a d - B a y i n an ideal position to defend the fortress w i t h his a r m y at the same vantage. Instead he crossed the b o r - against an attack and had even taken time that Downie was subjecting the der w i t h the army several days before steps to lay out springs on the l a n d - his n a v a l force could possibly be ready w a r d side so that the ships might be and filled i n the i n t e r v a l by sending swung around by hand (winding ship) sarcastic messages to C a p t a i n Downie. to b r i n g the unused guns on the p r o - When the unhappy Downie d i d arrive, tected side into action at an opportune Prevost instead of carrying out a s i m u l - moment. H i s crews were better trained taneous attack on the land batteries as as w e l l as being put into a position he had promised i n w r i t i n g to do, where they could make m a x i m u m use marched and counter - marched his of their weapons. troops i n an empty show w h i l e Downie The B r i t i s h ships, on the other hand, went to death and defeat i n the trap were armed mostly w i t h long guns of Plattsburgh B a y . Page fourteen
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