Friends of HMCS HAIDA

Get ready to dive into an action-packed week with the Royal Canadian Navy and !

We’re featuring compelling stories of environmental stewardship, innovative advancements in shipboard living, and prestigious military honours. This week, we'll showcase how our dedicated personnel are making waves both on and off the water, from large-scale emergency exercises to groundbreaking projects and significant recognitions.

Engage with our posts, share your thoughts, and be sure to check out the digital paper at www.Lookoutnewspaper.com for detailed stories and more updates. Stay connected with the Royal Canadian Navy! https://bit.ly/3WiiEVQ
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Préparez-vous à plonger dans une semaine pleine d'action avec la Marine royale canadienne et !

Nous vous présentons des histoires passionnantes sur la gestion de l'environnement, des progrès novateurs dans la vie à bord des navires et des distinctions militaires prestigieuses. Cette semaine, nous montrerons comment notre personnel dévoué fait des vagues sur l'eau et en dehors de l'eau, qu'il s'agisse d'exercices d'urgence à grande échelle, de projets novateurs ou de reconnaissances importantes.

Participez à nos articles, partagez vos idées et ne manquez pas de consulter le journal numérique à l'adresse www.Lookoutnewspaper.com pour obtenir des articles détaillés et d'autres mises à jour. Restez en contact avec la Marine royale canadienne ! https://bit.ly/3WiiEVQ

Leading Seaman J.B. Cloke (left) of the Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commandos talking with Leading Seaman J. Forsyth aboard a Landing Craft Infantry (Large) en route to France. July 20, 1944.



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Take Me Back Tuesday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
JULY, 1918
Brave little ship with many,many adventures.
JULY 24, 1918 HMCS THIEPVAL commissioned
FEB 1930: HMCS THIEPVAL wrecked on B.C. Coast rocks.

IMAGE - Last photo of THIEPVAL above water.
THIEPVAL was wrecked on an uncharted rock in Barkley Sound, B.C., on 27 Feb 1930.
Source: Outlook Magazine

Imperial Adventure: HMCS Thiepval

In 1924, one of the few ships in the post-First World War Royal Canadian Navy, the Battle-class trawler HMCS Thiepval, became the first Canadian warship to visit the Soviet Union and Japan when it provided support for a British attempt to fly around the world.

Accomplishments of little ship Thiepval

*1924, one of the few ships in the post-First World War Royal Canadian Navy

*THIEPVAL became the first Canadian warship to visit the Soviet Union and Japan

*provided support for a British attempt to fly around the world.

*Travelling over 11,000 miles in the process, THIEPVAL also salvaged what remained of the aircraft after it was wrecked at Nikolski, USSR, on 03 Aug 1924

*Intelligence gathering: THIEPVAL examined Alaskan and northern Japanese ports to determine whether the United States or Japan was contravening the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty by fortifying these areas. Reports by Thiepval's commander, W.R.J. Beech, detailed resources, the presence of military or government officials, and the state of communications in several northern ports.

* 27 February 1930, Thiepval on patrol when she struck an uncharted rock in the Broken Islands of Barkley Sound, B.C. Because the vessel had come to rest on a rock ledge, HMCS Armentières came to the ship's assistance. The damage proved too great, however, and she sank the following day in the channel that now bears her name.

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From nurses to codebreakers, mechanics, and many more, women broke stereotypes and changed history during the Second World War.

On July 27 and 28, 2024, join us at to commemorate them for all their service and dedication at our Women of War event.

For more information: https://ow.ly/GqHv50SmIhU

Maritime Monday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
Distinguished officer & gentleman - Rear-Admiral William Moss Landymore
(Hired by the Navy,1936 -Fired by the Navy, 1965

IMAGE - RCN portrait of Rear Admiral Landymore, showing WW2 medals
Date: circa 1960
Source: DND
NOTE: Landymore served aboard Canadian destroyer HMCS Fraser in 1940 as a torpedo and communications officer, surviving her sinking after colliding with HMS Calcutta in the Gironde estuary. Landymore was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 November 1940 and survived his second sinking while serving aboard HMCS Margaree...

SUMMARY
William Moss Landymore, naval officer (born 31 July 1916 in Brantford, ON; died 27 November 2008 in Halifax, NS). He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1936 and was promoted lieutenant in 1940. Landymore saw action in the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans during the Second World War and commanded the destroyer Iroquois off Korea, 1951-53. He was promoted captain in 1953 and held a series of posts until 1963 when, as rear-admiral, he became flag officer, Pacific coast. In 1965 he was appointed officer commanding, Maritime Command. In a bitter public disagreement over unification led to his "early retirement" in 1966.
(He quit and was forced out by DND Hellyer, but officially, he retired with pension.

Mid-1960s- The Rear-Admiral made war on unification and went down, guns blazing

In 1965, Admiral Landymore was embroiled in a bitter public disagreement over Unification of the Canadian Forces, as pushed by the Minister of Defence.

In 1966, Bill C-243, the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act, was introduced by the government. It was hotly debated both in Parliament and the defence department. Unification would abolish the three services, replacing them with generic structures called “elements”. Traditional ranks and uniforms would disappear to be replaced by a common rank structure using army terms and a single “walking out uniform”. Unification was greeted with hostility and strongly resisted by the services, particularly the RCN. The navy’s opposition resulted in the firing of its senior operational commander, Rear Admiral W.M. Landymore.

Read more about Landymore

https://readyayeready.com/biographies/Bill-Landymore.php

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Take Me Back Tuesday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
1943- Meanwhile back at the factory...Canada Carries On!

IMAGE - Riveter Lorenzo Periard hits rivets while assistant André Chaussée holds them from the inside, in the bottom section of the boiler of a frigate under construction at the Canadian Vickers shipyard.
Date: Sept. 1943
Place: Montreal, P.Q.
Source: Photographer: Ronny Jaques
Source: national du film du Canada.

During World War 2 and later, Canadian Vickers produced many ships on behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy.
his shipyard would go on to produce many civilian and military ships in Canada, including:

River-class frigates for the Canadian, British, and US navies.
Flower-class corvettes for the Canadian, British, and US navies.
St. Laurent-class destroyer
HMCS St. Laurent (DDH 205)
HMCS Ottawa (DDH 229)
Restigouche-class destroyer
HMCS Restigouche (DDE 257)
Mackenzie-class destroyer
HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261)
Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers
CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent
CCGS Simcoe
among others.

Maritime Monday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
JULY 1, 1934 - Date with Destiny
Commodore Percy W. Nelles becomes the first Canadian-born and Canadian-trained Chief of the Naval Staff.

IMAGE - Rear Admiral Percy W. Nelles (1892-1951), of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
Date: circa 1940
Source: Illustrated London News / Mary Evans Picture Library

RCN Service

In 1925 and later that year was promoted Commander and appointed Senior Naval Officer in Esquimalt, B.C.

In 1933, while in command of HMCS Stadacona, Admiral Nelles became the first Canadian to achieve the rank of Captain in the RCN.

The next year he was promoted Commodore and appointed Chief of the Naval Staff.

Nelles became Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) in January 1934. He was the first Canadian-born and -trained to do so. With that, came a promotion to Commodore First Class in July 1934. As CNS, he was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1938 and Vice-Admiral in 1941.

In January 1944, Admiral Nelles, now a Vice-Admiral, moved overseas to assume the leadership of the RCN in the coming invasion of Europe.

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When the broke out, Canadian women wanted to do their part. 💪

It was in 1941 that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) started accepting women – one of the first branches of our military to do so.

Initially known as the “Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Air Force”, it was renamed “Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division” seven months later.

Some 17,000 women served in the RCAF Women’s Division during the Second World War, amounting to about 8% of all RCAF personnel. 🌟

🔗 Learn more about this remarkable period of change in Canada’s military history: https://ow.ly/jBRY50StEOi

📸: Library and Archives Canada

Women and Gender Equality Canada

The fresh issue of has arrived! Explore fascinating stories, heroic adventures, and much more:

The 18th annual Navy Run at CFB Esquimalt started with a BANG from an Army Howitzer, uniting families and runners of all ages. POESB made a splash on World Oceans Day, clearing 498kg of waste from Esquimalt Harbour.

Exclusive: Meet the new Honorary Captain, Jeff Topping, who is leading a national memorial project, and discover how Commissionaire Gary Restell solved a 110-year-old photo mystery.

Catch up with your Royal Canadian Navy news now! https://bit.ly/3L6JVpl

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Le nouveau numéro de est arrivé ! Découvrez des histoires fascinantes, des aventures héroïques et bien plus encore :

La 18e course annuelle de la Marine à la BFC Esquimalt a commencé par un BANG d'un obusier de l'armée, unissant les familles et les coureurs de tous âges. La POESB a fait sensation lors de la Journée mondiale des océans en débarrassant le port d'Esquimalt de 498 kg de déchets.

En exclusivité : Rencontrez le nouveau capitaine honoraire, Jeff Topping, qui dirige un projet commémoratif national, et découvrez comment le commissionnaire Gary Restell a résolu un mystère photographique vieux de 110 ans.

Rattrapez vos nouvelles de la Marine royale canadienne dès maintenant ! https://bit.ly/3L6JVpl

🎄🎁 Our Christmas in July sale is here! Skip the summer heat and dive into cool savings with us. Beat the December rush, pop by our gift shop or shop online!

https://bit.ly/3UDW9eD

Three Victoria sailors took on the world in a high-stakes military half-marathon in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their results are astonishing: https://bit.ly/3XAvwJm
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Trois marins de Victoria ont affronté le monde lors d'un semi-marathon militaire de haut niveau en Bosnie-Herzégovine, et leurs résultats sont étonnants : https://bit.ly/45G33UH

Meet The River-Class Destroyer - State-of-the-art WARSHIP! We’re celebrating the start of construction activities for Canada’s new fleet of Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC)!The CSC project will equip our fleet with ...

Samantha Beattie · CBC News:

Free admission on HMCS Haida - July 1st!!

A big war ship docked next to a grassy park.
HMCS Haida is open to visitors on July 1 for Canada Day.

Climb aboard the national historic site at Hamilton harbour's Pier 9 for free on Monday.

"Explore the legendary tribal-class destroyer, learn about brave sailors who served aboard the ship, and enjoy stunning views of Lake Ontario," says Parks Canada.

"Join us on July 1st to honour Canada's rich naval history."

The ship is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Foggy mornings on HMCS Oriole.
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Matins brumeux sur le NCSM Oriole.

World War Wednesday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
June 23, 1923 - A Date with Destiny
HMCS Queen, a current day Naval Reserve Division, was raised as a Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve half-company in Regina.

IMAGE - Calgary Half Company, RCNVR, Class of RCNVR (new entries) ,HMCS Queen, circa. WW2.
Source: For Posteritys Sake

Starting in 1923, the RCNVR established units called "companies" or "divisions" across the country, with some communities like Regina having smaller units called "half companies" or "half divisions".

This practice helped give the Royal Canadian Navy a national presence even when its fleet had been reduced to a bare minimum. Even in provinces like Alberta without an ocean coastline, interest in the RCNVR was usually strong.

HMCS Queen
HMCS QUEEN is named after Regina which is Latin for "Queen". The Regina Half Company was established on 26 Jun 1923. QUEEN began as a "Half Company" because during those austere economic times, the RCN was only able to obtain funding for a unit of that size. The first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant A.L. Geddes, D.S.C. Between 1923 and 1942 QUEEN remained a half company of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and lead a nomadic life with several types of buildings being her home during those years. It was not until WWII that she finally attained the designation HMCS QUEEN (commissioned 01 Sep 1942) and obtained a semi-permanent home within the Wascana Winter Club.

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Maritime Monday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
WRENS pull their weight overseas

IMAGE -
Leading Wren June Whiting, Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S,), disembarking at Liverpool, England,
Date: April 1945
Photographer: Lt F.Roy Kemp
Source: Library and Archives Canada / PA-142415

By 31 August 1945, 6,783 women had enlisted overall in the WRCNS. At its peak, the organization had 5,893 members, more than 1,000 of whom served outside Canada. None were killed in action, but 11 died on duty, due to illness or accidents.

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Maritime Monday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
Significant Dates in Canadian Military History
JUNE 17, 1943
HMCS Waskesiu is commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy, becoming the first of sixty RCN frigates built in Canada.

IMAGE - HMCS Waskesiu (K330) / River-class frigate, also the first frigate to be completed on the west coast.
Armament: one 4-inch (102-mm) gun, one 12-pounder (5.45 kg) gun, eight 20-mm guns (4 x II), one Hedgehog mortar and depth charges.
Source: Ships Nostalgia

Ships Nostalgia caption
Waskesiu was the first of the RCN's es**rt frigates. She es**rted convoy RA.59 to Russia and was also credited with the sinking of U 257 while es**rting convoy SC.153 on the African run. She is seen here preparing for a jackstay transfer as evidenced by the crewman with the coston gun ready to fire the line over.

Service Details
"HMCS Waskesiu served chiefly in British waters, but in 1944 supported Gibraltar and Sierra Leone convoys.

Later on, on 24 February, while an es**rt to Convoy ON-153 (which left Halifax on 13.2.44 and arrived at Liverpool on 2.3.44) , Waskesiu sank the German submarine U-257.
Then, in April, she made a trip to North Russia to bring back convoy RA.59. She was present off Normandy on D-Day."

On 14 September 1944, HMCS Waskesiu left Londonderry with convoy ONF.253 for Canada, and soon after arriving began an extensive refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

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Hello folks! For those of you out and about today, remember to keep cool. It’s another hot day 🥵

Maritime Monday at Canadian Virtual Military Museum
Who's Who- Rear-Admiral George Stephens, the RCN's Engineer: He rose from Dockyard apprentice to the RCN's Engineer (Rear Admiral)
He is the father of modern technology in the RCN.

IMAGE - Rear Admiral George Leslie Stephens (1889-1979), Engineer Rear-Admiral (RCN)
Source: Nauticapedia Project

SUMMARY
George Leslie Stephens became was orphaned and then Indentured Apprentice (1903) at fourteen years old at HMS Dockyard to qualify for an engine fitter. Six years later, while employed at Devonport Dockyard he was working on a cruiser that was slated to become part of the Canadian Royal Navy fleet. He decided to join the Canadian navy and continued to work his way through the ranks to become the first Engineer Rear Admiral of the RCN.

Military Service
He joined the RN 1903. (Transferred to RCN 04/10/1910). He was appointed as an Engine Room Artificer (2nd Class) RCN (With seniority dated 04/10/1910).

He served as Instructor in Engineering Royal Naval College of Canada 1910. (CFR). He was appointed as an A/Artificer Engineer RCN (With seniority dated 16/10/1912). He served in HMCS Niobe for Engineering Department 1912.

He was appointed as a Warrant Engineer RCN (With seniority dated 16/10/1912). He was appointed as an A/Engineer Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/11/1915).

He was appointed as a Engineer Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/11/1915). He served in HMCS Niobe 1915-1917. He served in H.M.S. Cornwallis. He served in H.M.S. Victory. He served in H.M.S. Ramillies 1919. He served in HMCS Patrician 1920.

He was appointed as a Consulting Engineer HMC Dockyard Esquimalt 1922.

He was appointed as a Engineer Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/11/1923). He served in HMCS Patriot 1925. He served in HMCS Stadacona for Barracks, Depot Workshop, Minesweepers and as Consulting Engineer HMC Dockyard Halifax 1927.

He was appointed as a Engineer Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/02/1929). He served as Assistant Naval Overseer in UK (Destroyer Program) 1930. He served in HMCS Skeena as Engineer Officer 1931. He served in HMCS Naden as Chief Engineer HMC Dockyard Esquimalt and Senior Naval Officer West Coast 1933. He served in HMCS Naden On Staff of Commanding Officer Pacific Coast and as Chief Engineer HMC Dockyard 1936.

He was appointed as a Engineer Captain RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1940). He served as Engineer-in-Chief 1941. He served in NSHQ as Chief of Naval Engineering Construction and 5th Member of the Naval Board of Canada 1943.

He was appointed as a Engineer Rear-Admiral RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1943).

He was retired 30/09/1946. He was considered as one of the founding members of the RCN and the father of modern technology in the navy with the introduction of the engineering, constructor abd electrical branches.

See book "A certain E.R.A. : the life and times of Engineer Rear-Admiral George Leslie Stephens, C.B., C.B.E., C.D.** Royal Canadian Navy (1889-1979) "

Reference: Nauticapedia Project

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