All posts by Dinger

About Dinger

A sea cadet at RCSCC LION from 1963 to 1968, I joined the Naval Reserve at HMCS STAR in 1968 as a Bos'n. I was an Officer Cadet in the ROUTP, commissioned in 1971, and awarded my watchkeeping ticket in 1973. I served at sea, at one time or another, in all five Gate Vessels and HMCS FORT STEELE & CHAUDIERE as well as the Coast Guard icebreaker Louis St. Laurent and served as OIC of the patrol vessels RALLY and RAPID. At STAR from 1968 to 2007, I served as XO twice and then as CO from 2002 to 2005. I rounded out my career by serving as SSO Training at NAVRESHQ in Quebec City in 2008, retiring in 2009 as CO of HMCS HUNTER in Windsor. I was Executive Director for the Friends of HMCS HAIDA till 2011 and have been an active volunteer onboard HAIDA since she arrived in Hamilton in 2003.

Sad News

It is with regret that we learned that Stephen Antenucci, husband of PO Leanne Price (Ret’d), was struck by a car and killed on May 18th while on a business trip to Pittsburgh. The STAR family grieves with Leanne and her children.

The visitation will be at Smith’s Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line, Burlington from 18:00 till 21:00 on Monday, 23 May and the funeral will be held at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line, Burlington on Tuesday, 24 May at 10:00.

Battle of Atlantic Parade

During the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN lost thirty-two warships and 1,965 men to enemy action or accident, while the RCAF lost another 752 men.  The ships and men lost are commemorated annually on the first Sunday in May.  This year’s commemoration will take place on Sunday, 1 May, at 14:00. Traditionally, the ship’s company marches from STAR the short distance along Dock Service Road and Catharine Street North to HMCS HAIDA where the ceremony takes place.  The names of the Canadian warships lost during the Second World War are read out, each accompanied by a stroke of the ship’s bell and a flower thrown into the water, along with a recognition of the 59 Canadian merchant ships that were lost.  Following the parade, there is a reception in the messes.

convoy_forms_in_bedford_basin
Convoy forming up in Bedford Basin