1000 Men, 1000 Stories : Presentation: My Dad's Navy Days 2

Monday, April 25, 2016

Presentation: My Dad's Navy Days 2

My Dad's Navy Days, 1941 - 1945

By G. A. Harrison

Doug Harrison and his sister Gertie, Bay St., Hamilton, 1941

Introduction: I will be making a presentation at a local library in November, 2016 regarding my father's WW2 service with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and Combined Operations organization. I will share facts and details related to his initial training (much of it aboard various landing crafts) and the raids and invasions at Dieppe, North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

The following posts related to my presentation will link to several of the books, stories and photographs displayed on the '1000 Men, 1000 Stories' website, and more.

MY DAD'S NAVY DAYS

Part 2 - Early Training at HMCS Star in Hamilton, 1941

After Dad made up his mind to join the Navy - in his case the RCNVR - he left his job at the Norwich Co-op and moved to his sister Gert's apartment on Bay Street, Hamilton, mere steps from HMCS Star. When I am asked why he would enlist in Hamilton rather than in London, a bit closer to his hometown, I will say, "Free accommodation."

In his notes he recalls his first rating, i.e., "probationary", and early introduction to training:

I went on probationary strength at HMCS Star in Hamilton, corner of McNab and McNutt streets, a building which was at one time a cider mill. By probationary I mean I went nights from 7 to 10 p.m. and took instructions on semaphore, rifle drill, marching, compass work, bends and hitches, knots and splices, etc.

And later he adds the following about his progress, and supplies more details about the training regimen:

After approximately six weeks probationary, I was taken on full strength and was made an Ordinary Seaman.... Space at H.M.C.S. Star was not large enough for all-out training as H.M.C.S. Star is now. Rifle drill, route marches, frog-hopping up hills with 60 pound sacks on our back (frog-hopping is hopping in a squat position), and gunnery under the gunnery officer who always wears black garters. Everything is done on the double. It was a madhouse. They really toughened us up. Hold a Lee Enfield rifle (approximate weight - 12 to 14 pounds) in front of you in one hand and double change to the other hand, over your head, behind your back, then watch black garters (i.e., training instructor) walk away and forget all about you and you are still running.

In a book published in 2010 entitled Citizen Sailors: Chronicles of Canada's Naval Reserve 1910 - 2010 one reads these statements about the initial training young sailors received:

While each individual unit (e.g., HMCS Star, Hamilton; HMCS Prevost, London) was responsible for designing its own training syllabus in the early stages of the war, most involved some type of instruction in seamanship, marching, rifle drill, rope work, physical training and communications. The lack of equipment and a shortage of qualified instructors contributed to the ad hoc nature of this training. It was replaced in February 1941 by a more structured eight-week course designed to produce a sailor who would arrive at the coasts (i.e., East or West Coast, at HMCS Stadacona or Cornwallis in Halifax, or HMCS Naden in Esquimalt, or Givenchy III in Comox, Vancouver island) adjusted to naval life and prepared for his advanced training. As the war progressed the larger and better-equipped facilities on both coasts became increasingly responsible for almost all aspects of reserve training. (Page 61)

My father's last words about his training days in Hamilton are about a proud moment and what lay ahead:

When eight weeks of training were over we were shipped to Halifax, but not before the 80 of us, led by our mascot (a huge Great Dane led by Scotty Wales who was under punishment) and headed by a band, did a route march through Hamilton in early evening. We really were proud and put on a display of marching never seen before or since in Hamilton. Shoulders square, arms swinging shoulder high, thousands watched and we were roundly cheered and applauded. This was a proud moment long-remembered, but soon we were bound for Halifax after a goodbye to Mum and family.

Again I say we were a proud division and our training was to stand us in good stead in Halifax. Because if Hamilton was tough, it couldn’t hold a candle to Halifax.