Centennial Bell Artefacts- 1910-1935 (The First World War)

Note: Scroll down the page to find an exact person and their donation(s).

ARTEFACT 
Monogrammed napkin holder likely presented to Lieutenant HG DeWolf when he left the destroyer HMCS Patriot in April 1927.

Artefact Submitted by
Michael Whitby

Donated by: 
James De Wolf

Description
The artefact itself is valuable, but its link to Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, makes it of even greater value. DeWolf served in the RCN from 1917-1960, rose to become Chief of the Naval Staff and served with distinction at sea, especially as CO of HMCS Haida, 1943-44 and in various critical staff positions. Widely described as ‘Canada’s Nelson’.

ARTEFACTS 
Campaign medal 1914-1918, issued to Seaman Henry Joseph Brown, RNR, 1097X                              -Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) lapel pin                                                                                  -Newfoundland badge, c. 1914

Donated  by
Estate of H.J. Browne

Description
Seaman Henry Joseph Brown 1097X was born in Baine Harbour, Placentia Bay on September 12th, 1892. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve Newfoundland Division in HMS Calypso on November 5th, 1912 at the age of 21, just barely making the minimum standard of 5 feet 4 inches in height needed to enrol. He was listed as being a fisherman, typical of those men who swelled the ranks of the RNR Division during the winter months, and who met the criteria of ‘familiarity with compass, lead, log-line and oar’. He completed his initial four-week commitment in Calypso, the shore training establishment on the South Side of St. John’s, trained in gunnery, seamanship and physical fitness.

In company with a thousand other naval reservists, Seaman Brown returned to Calypso in August 1914 for the duration of World War I. When HMCS Niobe put into St. John’s in September, she was critically undermanned: Seaman Brown and one hundred and six other Newfoundland sailors volunteered to make up the remainder of her crew. Niobe was stationed to the Royal Navy 4th Cruiser Squadron tasked with intercepting German merchantman off the coast of North America, and Seaman Brown was later posted to the Armed Merchant Vessel Macedonia, one of those German merchantman successfully intercepted and taken into Royal Naval service. He was to serve in her for the majority of the War. He returned to Newfoundland in 1918, serving for a brief time in Halifax again as part of Niobe’s crew. After demobilisation on April 2nd, 1919, he married Elsie Abbott from Port au Bras, Burin, and had two sons and three daughters. He fished on the Grand Banks and worked with the Newfoundland Railway. He joined the Naval Association of Newfoundland in Burin, and died in 1978.

Gordon Brown, his nephew, served in the Royal Navy in World War II. During the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, he was speaking with his captain when they came under attack. His captain lost a big toe, and Mr Brown received three bullets in his leg, but he did not think to report the injury at the time. Mr Brown later did convoy duty from St John’s to Londonderry in HMS Belmont, and was onboard when an oil tanker collided with the destroyer, with 25 hands lost. He served in Tank Landing Craft 475 during D-Day, landing Special Forces on Gold Beach. Mr Brown currently lives in Port au Bras.

ARTEFACT 
Brass boat hook

Artefact Submitted by :
PO1 D. Boettger

Donated by: 
HMCS CARLETON

Description
The naval reserves have existed in Ottawa since 1923 when the Ottawa Half-Company was created.  From these early beginnings, to the expansion and re-naming to the “Ottawa Division of the RCNVR” in 1935, to the commissioning of HMCS CARLETON in 1941, citizens in the National Capital Region have been trained to become sailors.  Of all the different types of training conducted there is none that helps to strengthen our link to the sea than to be on the water in a vessel.  The level of pride and professionalism of a boat’s crew is easily gauged by the sharpness and execution of the boat-hook drill performed when coming alongside. 

ARTEFACT
Ten photo reproductions relating to CGS/HMCS Canada

Artefact Submitted by :
LCdr Charles D. Maginley, RCN (Ret’d) & CCG (Ret’d)

Donated by:
LCdr Charles D. Maginley, RCN (Ret’d) & CCG (Ret’d)

Description
The photos show the ship in various stages of her life: as delivered, as modified during service and as converted for war service in World War One. The photos of the ships commander (Captain Charles Tupper Knowlton) officers, crew, naval militia trainees and the first trainee officers of the new Royal Canadian Navy in 1911.

CGS Canada was an armed fisheries protection vessel built in 1904 for the Department of Marine and Fisheries.  Her design was that of a small warship, including the ram bow customary at the time. In 1905, in addition to her usual fisheries duties, she carried out a cruise to the Caribbean to train members of the Naval Militia, during which she was conducted in all respects as a warship representing her country.

RAdm Charles Kingsmill headed the Fisheries Protection service from 1908 and continued to do so when he became the head of the Naval Service of Canada in 1910.  During this period CGS Canada was used as the sea training ship for the future officers of the RCN.

In 1912 her focs’le was raised to make her suitable for war service and her armament increased. In 1915 she hoisted the white ensign and became HMCS Canada.  She was released from naval duties 1919, was sold in 1924, became SS Queen of Nassau and foundered off the Florida Keys in 1926.

The wreck of QUEEN NASSAU was discovered in 230 feet of water off Islamadora Island in 2002.  The marine archaeologists who investigated the site and the divers who made two television documentaries about the wreck were not allowed to recover material.