Comox, BC: The Comox District Free Press 1944 (4)

Navy Boys in Combined Ops Play Lots of Ball at Givenchy III

News from Comox District Free Press, May 11 - July 13, 1944

Navy No. 1 team at Powell River, 1944 or 1945

Back row L - R: NA, NA, Chuck Rose, Doug Harrison, Jim Malone,

Bill Grycan, Doug Arney. Front L - R: Kidd, Zink, NA, NA

Introduction:

Below readers will find more news clips that mention the Canadians in Combined Ops who - after two years overseas, 1942 to 1943 - settled into routines and duties at HMCS Givenchy III at Comox on Vancouver Island from January 1944 to discharge in the summer of 1945.

While at Givenchy III my father writes, "I passed professionally for my Leading Seaman rating and Acting Coxswain, classed very good." So, it seems the pace of activities was not over-whelming and about the full scope of his responsibilities he does not fill in hundreds of details in his memoirs. I guess dozens will have to do.

Doug Harrison (back row and centre in top photo) writes:

Then I went to Givenchy III, known as Cowards Cove, at Comox on Vancouver Island. It was absolute heaven there. Just normal routine; I trained a few zombies on cutters, and played ball five or six times a week under a good coach...

I also looked after Captain Windyer’s sailboat and prepared it when he wished to go for a sail...

At Givenchy, Leading Seaman Rose and I took a job washing dishes, but we gave everyone to understand that we had to be at the beach at 1300 hours (1:00 p.m.). There were 150 ratings to start but many were shipped out. If we were going to be late we grabbed dishes half full and said, “you’re done”, because we couldn’t keep the girls waiting.

"Dad, Well Done", pages 40 - 41

Several of the ball games are mentioned in the local newspaper (many details will appear below), but information related to the girls he and Chuck couldn't keep waiting has not been found. 

(Not all of it at any rate. Dorothy "Dot" Levett (now deceased) told me that the boys would pick up the girls in landing craft and escort them to Tree Island, "for picnics, and... you know...")

Dorothy Levett and I meet at Courtenay Museum and Archive, 2012

Chuck ("Comox") and Dot Levett at Kye Bay, 1942 approx.

And now, details from the local paper:

A sailor wins $50; A. B. (Able Bodied Seaman) Donnelly

The cabaret dance took place at Native Sons' Hall, a rare log building in Courtenay, a few miles from Comox:

Photos by GH, 2012

The Navy team played their games at Lewis park in Courtenay. Photos below are from "Canada's Historic Place":

Though Comox is far from the war fronts, an occasional article or photo appears  - to remind the Canadian navy boys at Givenchy III how fortunate they are to have steady, safe routines:

More about the Swordfish aircraft can be found at Wikipedia. Click here.

The Navy boys, many from Combined Operations, start the season with an 8 - 3 loss:

Map below reveals how close Lewis Park is situated to the 5th Street Bridge and downtown Courtenay:

Courtenay newspaper, 2018. Work zones - stairways

Training with live ammunition can be a dangerous part of anyone's day:

A note of thanks from the Combined Operations School on Goose Spit re the recent Carnival (reported earlier in this series):

In an earlier post, we read about Canadian sailor William Fischer, "a stoker (not of Combined Ops but of R.C.N.V.R.), (who) was stationed there (Comox). He had, I believe, an unequalled experience," wrote my father. Click here for details  - The Comox District Free Press, Part 2  

Below is another detailed report of surviving disaster on the high seas:

The Navy team got "blitzkrieged!"

Unfortunate details concerning Pte. Max Seach of Toronto attached to Combined Ops Schoo; Camp in nearby Sandwick:

The story concludes with the following paragraph: "The shot was heard by several men...

By searching alphabetically on a lengthy list  posted by CV Genealogy Group (re details of people in Courtenay/Comox 1940 - 45) one can find scant details of Pte Seach, on page 117. Weddings of two men mentioned in reference to Navy No. 1 baseball team can also be found - George Hodson (coach, page 71), and William Grycan (player, page 52).

Navy news! A second Navy team is formed ("If we can't get it right the first time...) and Navy No. 1 wins a couple of games:

No. 1 Navy makes it three in a row! They "whipped the Markids". What a score too!

"The Fast Navy Team" is in the news again:

Here's a nice description of the Fast Navy 1 team, though they lost a good lead:

Here's one question about Lewis Park:

Earlier the Navy 1 team had been "blitzkrieged". Well, now they've turned the tables:

Here's a pretty strong opinion about the Japanese in British Columbia in the 1940s. I don't think the air has been cleared since that time:

Louis Armstrong. the "King of Swing", was welcomed at the Pygmy Pavilion:

I will share more items from the Comox newspaper in the near future.

Photo Gallery, from a trip to Comox and Courtenay area (entirely research-based ; )

I walked from my hostel to this bridge; Lewis Park is on the left:

From Lewis Park I can see my hostel across the narrow river:

Still lots of ball being played in Lewis Park to this day

I think this may be a WWII-vintage building, still on The Spit, Comox

On the highway between Victoria and Courtenay/Comox:

I believe the next two shots are from my lunch stop in Nanaimo:

The following photos are from downtown Victoria:

This old sailor had a newspaper in his hand - see below

Canadian sailors, including my father, were at Comox on VE-Day

Lots of ways to get around Victoria:

Homes on the water are a short hike away from downtown Victoria:

I left Victoria via BC Ferry Co. I shall return!

More to follow from The Comox District Free Press.

Please link to Comox, BC: The Comox District Free Press 1944 (3)

Unattributed Photos GH