Victory at Sea!

What's New?

Each year we commemorate the twenty-four (now recognized as thirty-four) warships and the thirteen hundred and eight sailors, eighty of them from STAR, lost by the RCN during the Second World War. This year, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, our theme changes to focus on the accomplishments of the RCN:

“The safe and timely arrival of the convoy at its destination” – The RCN was involved in the escort of 554 trans-Atlantic convoys with 24,550 ships, 97% of which reached their destinations.

Ships of the RCN were involved in the sinking of thirty German U-boats and three Italian sommergibili as well as three destroyers, seven minesweepers and an E-boat.

On April 24th, in conjunction with the AGM of NRAC (Naval Reserve Association of Canada), Cmdre (Ret’d) Marta Mulkins, NRAC President, and VAdm (Ret’d) Glenn Davidson, the guest speaker, unveiled a new installation on STAR’s quarterdeck commemorating Victory at Sea: The 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Left to right: SLt David Donkin (Padre), LCdr Bob DeWolfe (CIC), LCdr Neil Bell, VAdm Glenn Davidson, LCdr Don Williamson, Cmdre Marta Mulkins. Absent: LCdr Doug Martin

The display includes, along with period uniforms and items of kit:

  • a merchant ensign retrieved from the German merchant HERMONTHIS by HMCS PRINCE HENRY off the coast of Peru;
  • a German stalhelm from U-688 which surrendered to the RCN and was briefly commissioned as HMCS U-688, to commemorate the 33 submarines sunk by the RCN;
  • pictures of HMCS ASSINIBOINE’s battle with U-210 and the medal ribbons from Chief ERA Donald Portree who was awarded the DCM for the action;
  • an excellent model of HMCS TRILLIUM to represent the corvettes that took party in the BOA; and
  • the painting “Passing?” to commemorate the warships and merchant ships lost.

Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Morris

What's New?
A commemorative display mounted above the bell from HMS RAMILLES

In 1947, young Robert “Bob” Morris was a Hamilton Sea Cadet who was lucky enough to be picked for an exchange trip to Britain, with travel there and back on the aircraft carrier HMCS BONAVENTURE.  The exchange included a visit to the British battleship HMS RAMILLES.  That fall, he enrolled at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph and joined the UNTD (University Naval Training Divisions) as an Ordinary Seaman Officer Candidate.  After undergoing various training courses and cruises and being promoted to Acting Lieutenant, in 1956 he was posted to the frigate HMCS BUCKINGHAM which, with a helicopter landing pad erected at the stern, was being used to determine the feasibility of operating helicopters from small ships.  He was tasked with designing a “haul down” device for the landing pad.  Many others had a hand in the development of what came to be known as the “Bear Trap”, which is now used in one form or another by almost all the navies in the world, but it had its beginnings with a Naval Reserve Lieutenant from HMCS STAR.  Bob Morris left the naval reserve the next year to certify as a Professional Engineer, but he maintained his connection with the naval community till his passing in 2022 at the age of 94.