Richard H. Gimblett - The Naval Service of Canada, 1910-2010: The Centennial Story

THE NAVAL SERVICE OF CANADA
19102010

THE CENTENNIAL STORY

The Canadian Navy gratefully acknowledges the support of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the Weston-Loblaw Group of Companies in making this book possible.

Edited by

Richard H. Gimblett

Published by Dundurn Press Limited in co-operation with Department of National Defence and Government Services Canada.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Copyright Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2009

Catalogue Number: D2-237/2009E

Project Editor: Michael Carroll

Copy Editor: Nigel Heseltine

Design: Kim Monteforte, WeMakeBooks.ca

Printer: Friesens

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

The naval service of Canada, 19102010 : the centennial story / edited by Richard H. Gimblett.

Issued also in French under title: Le Service naval du Canada, 19102010.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4597-1322-2

1. CanadaHistory, Naval. 2. Canada. Royal Canadian NavyHistory. 3. Canada. Canadian Armed Forces. Maritime CommandHistory. I. Gimblett, Richard Howard, 1956

1 2 3 4 5 13 12 11 10 09

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and The Association for the Export of Canadian Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishers Tax Credit program, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.

J. Kirk Howard, President

Printed and bound in Canada.

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by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michalle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada

, Alec Douglas

Roger Sarty

Harold Merklinger

William Johnston

Bill Rawling

Harold Merklinger

Donald E. Graves

Harold Merklinger

Marc Milner

Pat Jessup

Isabel Campbell

Harold Merklinger

Richard Oliver Mayne

Harold Merklinger

Peter T. Haydon

Harold Merklinger

Richard H. Gimblett

Harold Merklinger and Ross Graham

James Boutilier

It was Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in 1910, who said, Mark my words, whoever may take over the reins of power will have to have a navy, as every nation with a seashore must have and has had in the past. Two world wars, numerous international and domestic crises and natural disasters later, subsequent governments have come to understand only too well his prediction.

Canada was still a relatively young country a century ago when it embarked upon the ambitious project of building a sea-going navy. History has recorded, time and again, that the navy has been Canadas first responder to events at home and abroad; there is no reason to expect this will change in the future.

The aim of this centennial celebration, in part, is to build and strengthen in Canadians an appreciation for their navy and its contributions over the past 100 years. Events and activities being held across the country will honour the past, recognize and promote current achievements, and acknowledge the navys commitment to the future of Canada, all beneath the banner of the centennial slogan: Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit.

This dedicatory volume is an impressive expression of that endeavour. The stirring words of its authors, accompanied by wonderful examples of marine art and photography, marvellously illustrate the important role the navy has played in the development and security of our nation. It records the immense contributions and sacrifices made in times of peace and war by the men and women who have served Canada, and captures the strength of the families who remained at home while their loved ones served at sea.

On this special occasion, it is my privilege, as Commander-in-Chief, to wish all serving and former sailors fair winds and following seas into the future. Your dedication to your country will be remembered by generations of grateful Canadians.

Many volumes have been written on Canadas navy, and several more are bound to appear in the course of the Centennial of its founding.Two questions, as such, naturally arise concerning the publication of this one: First, what is its purpose? Second, why this title?

In answer to the first question, the institution that is the Canadian Navy wanted to celebrate its proud century of service to the nation by presenting a token of appreciation to the Canadian people who have supported it in their hearts and with their pocketbooks over the decades. Books are universally accessible and they convey the stuff of memory well. Having decided to produce a commemorative history, and recognizing it would be impracticable to give away a copy to each and every citizen, the director of the Canadian Naval Centennial (CNC) project, Navy Captain John Pickford, opted to publish a distinctive volume at a minimal purchase price.To this end, the Canadian Navy gratefully acknowledges the support of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the Weston-Loblaw Group of Companies in making this book possible.