Monthly Archives: February 2024

STAR’s Link to James Bond

From Our Collection

STAR Accession #STA1991.0.007.4

This coat is No. 1 Full Dress which would be worn with epaulettes, cocked hat & sword with dress sword belt.  There is also a hat box and an epaulette box.  No. 1 Full Dress was put in abeyance during WWII and never reintroduced, except for a modified version worn by Flag Officers and members of the Royal Family.

Cdr Cohen display on the quarterdeck of HMCS STAR
Cdr Cohen Display, Quarterdeck, HMCS STAR

Cdr Kenneth Herman Salaman Cohen, CMG, CB, RN (1900 – 1984)

Cohen joined the Royal Navy in 1918 and retired as Commander.  In 1936, he was seconded to the British Secret Intelligence Service, popularly known as MI6.  During the Second World War, he was in charge of agents in Vichy France, including Marie-Madelaine Fourcade, code name Hérisson, who led Alliance, the largest French resistance network.  Cohen ended the war as Chief Controller Europe and retired from the SIS in 1953, likely when he was not chosen to become the next head or “C” (called “M” in James Bond novels).  Cohen was created CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George) in 1946 and CB (Companion of the Bath) in 1954.

Cohen as a LCdr, RN in 1932
Cohen as a LCdr, RN in 1932
Kenneth Cohen

Canadians & the FAA Corsair

What's New?
Vought Corsair

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 622, 12 King Street East, Stoney Creek

Our LWOTM (Last Wednesday of the Month) on February 29th at 11:30 features a presentation by Cdr (Ret’d) Robert Williamson.

Rejected by the U.S.N. and declared totally unsuitable for Carrier use in 1942 by the Royal Navy’s Chief Test Pilot, the Admiralty invested money they could ill afford in creating a flying program and facilities similar to the Canadian BCATP to train colonials to fly the dangerous Chance Vought F4U Corsair.   

   What was the FAA thinking?

Cost $20.00/person

Please pay by ETF using:  hna@hamiltonnaval.ca and RSVP to: r.dewolfe2023@outlook.com by Friday Feb 23rd so we can order meals.

OTD – 6 February 1810

OTD

06 February 1810     Sailors from HMS STARR a 16 gun ship of the MERLIN class, form part of a Naval Brigade that establishes gun batteries to bombard the capital of Guadeloupe, the last French colony in the West Indies.  The surrender of Guadeloupe markedly diminishes the slave trade, made illegal by Britain in 1807.  In 1847, participants are eligible to apply for the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp, Guadeloupe, and STAR received the battle honour Guadeloupe. 

line plan of HMS STAR
Naval General Service Medal with Guadaloupe bar