Development of Pier Eight, adjacent to HAIDA and HMCS STAR, continues, with the erection of a “faux” container handling gantry.


Wednesday, 26 May 2021 – Foregather at 12:00, presentation at 12:30. Drinks and lunch are your own responsibility.
You do not have to be an NAC member to attend. For registration, please contact neil@hamiltonnaval.ca
Fraser joined the RCNVR as an Ordinary Seaman when he turned 18 in March ’43. He was planning on becoming a Visual Signalman as his Father was then overseas commanding an Army Signals Regiment. Commissioned as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant in ’44, he served in a couple of shore stations, in the Armed Yacht, HMCS VISON, one trip in an ex-USN 4-stacker destroyer, another in the corvette SACKVILLE, and served as asdic officer in the Algerine class HMCS WALLACEBURG, whose blazer crest he wears today. He remained in the Naval Reserves in Ontario and Montreal post-war, specializing in all aspects of anti-submarine warfare and served in various Canadian and British warships, from 3 aircraft carriers to destroyers, frigates, and twice in submarines, not counting a Coastal Command flying Squadron. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1978, after thirty-five years service.
He has authored or co-authored 6 books on Canadian naval history, a Naval Reserves novel, and a paper on mine warfare for DND. He lives in west Toronto, is a widower with 4 grown children.
His books:
The Canadian Naval Chronicle 1939-1945, with Robert Darlington
Volunteers for Sea Service: A Brief History of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
The Armed Yachts of Canada
Sink All The Shipping There
HMCS SWANSEA: The Life and Times of a Frigate
The Ellesmere Pickup
Thanks to Keith Black for this puzzle. The Toronto Star of 11 February 1959 reports on the death of Maude Leslie, noted as “the mother of the navy”, who showed up either at HMCS STAR or the railway station (presumably the Canadian National, now LIUNA), whenever men were being shipped out. It also noted that she had died in a nursing home where she had been placed by HMCS STAR Ladies Auxiliary. Does anyone have any information to add?