Return of HMCS Brandon Battle Ensign

Norm Aldridge joined the Royal Canadian Navy at HMCS Prevost in London, Ontario at age 17. The war was on and young Norm wanted to be involved. A neighbour actually signed the papers for him to enlist, as his parents would not.

He served on the Corvette HMCS Brandon (K149) during the Battle of the Atlantic from late 1941 through the end of the war in 1945. It was during this time that the young Norm was tasked by the CO with replacing the battle worn naval ensign. It was a cold day and Norm stuffed the worn ensign in his jacket while he used both hands to attach the new one. That ensign made it home with him.

When HMCS Brandon was decommissioned in June of 1945 it was Norm who lowered that ensign as well.

It was a chilly October day in 2010, 65 years later, that Norm presented these two WWII ensigns to HMCS Prevost. Standing in the wardroom surrounded by dignitaries and local media, Mr Aldridge presented both flags to LCdr Iain Findlater, Commanding Officer of HMCS Prevost.

“There are a lot of officers in this room”, Mr. Aldridge said, “I want you to know that I didn’t steal these flags, I’m returning them now”. Everyone present laughed and applauded Mr. Aldridge.

The battle ensign is being professionally framed.

The decommissioning ensign was carried to the west coast in the spring of 2011 by Lt(N) Sean Batte of HMCS Prevost. It was presented to the ships company of the namesake HMCS Brandon (MM 710). All aboard were pleased to pose with the ensign of their proud predecessor.

On his return to London, Lt(N) Batte presented Mr. Aldridge with two gifts from HMCS Brandon. They sent him a ball cap and a modern era naval ensign. There were tears in Norm’s eyes.

Ground Level Interoperability

Ground Level Interoperability

By SLt David Lewis, PAO, HMCS PREVOST due to the uprising in the city of Port Shara in Obinia, the Canadian government had directed that all Canadian citizens be evacuated from that country. 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (31 CER) “The Elgins” were tasked with providing the assault boats and engineers to assist in the evacuation. HMCS PREVOST would provide blue water escort from HMCS Fredericton to the beaches.

This was the frag order being read on the beach of Port Stanley, Ontario. It was early Saturday morning in the small seaside community on the north shore of Lake Erie. Families strolled along the sand, people were flying kites, and the scent of french-fries began to waft through the air. It was a typical warm spring day, other than the 30 cadpatted Elgins, the 4 assault boats on the shore, and the naval personnel patrolling in the rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB).

In this budget-conscious era it is impressive to see the innovative training conceived and conducted at the local unit level. Army reservists from 31 CER in Waterloo and St. Thomas, Ontario, and Naval Reservists from HMCS PREVOST in London participated in this combined exercise. The training was planned and directed to provide maximum benefit to those involved. The Army has great success in river crossings but limited experience in large open water crossings. This exercise provided a unique opportunity to expand their blue water capability. Sailors also benefited through the experience of presenting briefings on open water safety, small boat handling, and navigation. The HMCS PREVOST RHIB also participated by escorting 31 CER on their assault on the beach.

The exercise provided a scenario for all involved to gain new knowledge and experience. The Canadian Forces doctrine of interoperability was tested, practiced and achieved. These two units have found a way to work together to maximize the training potential for all involved.

Hallowed Ground

HMCS Prevost ‘Hallowed Ground’

By SLt David Lewis

“Is there a stone for HMCS Valleyfield?”

The voice startled me. I was looking down the hill at the new memorial and hadn’t seen the elderly gentleman approach. The Legion blazer he wore draped his fragile frame. From our vantage point, we could see the backs of the 24 blue granite stones dedicated to Royal Canadian Navy ships lost in
the Battle of the Atlantic.

I indicated which stone was the HMCS Valleyfield memorial, and assisted him down the grassy slope. He carefully examined the stone. Below the engraved image, it reads, “HMCS Valleyfield (K329) 7 May 1944”. After a few pensive moments, he reached out and gently touched the stone.

“The date is right,” he said. “It’s the day my brother died.”

The Battle of the Atlantic Memorial was dedicated May 2 at HMCS Prevost in London, Ont. It consists of a series of quarter-tonne stones, each engraved with an individual ship’s name, which form a timeline along a 200-metre hillside. They are placed according to the date when the ships were lost at sea. There are 25 stones in total; one of them is dedicated to lost Merchant Navy ships.

The emotional effects of this memorial were evident even before the stones were placed on their permanent mounts. While the hillside was being prepared, the stones rested on wooden pallets on the drill deck at HMCS Prevost. Unannounced, there would be teary-eyed people searching out individual stones.

One such request was for the HMCS Regina stone. In a shaky voice, a man recounted his story. During the war, he was a young able seaman in HMCS Regina. Because of dental issues, he left the ship in Halifax with orders to rejoin the ship’s company a few days later in St. John’s. When he arrived in St. John’s, he learned that the ship had departed earlier than expected. A short time later, Regina was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-667.

With difficulty, the man leaned over far enough to gently touch the stone, paying his respects to those shipmates.

The stories continued.

Two elderly sisters had a granddaughter drive them to the dedication so they could touch the HMCS Athabaskan stone in memory of the 17-year-old brother they lost in 1944.

HMCS Louisburg’s CO, Lieutenant-CommanderWilliam Franklin Campbell, was one of many lost when the ship was torpedoed February 6, 1943. His grandson,Commander Frank Campbell, flew from Bahrain to dedicate and touch the Louisburg stone.

The local veteran who was tossed into the oily sea when HMCS Weyburn was hit in 1943 was thrilled to learn about the memorial. He died a week before its dedication.He never touched the stone, but the stone touched him.

During the dedication ceremony, the words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address came to mind:
“...we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.”

I’m not sure what constitutes “hallowed ground”. I do know that these stones represent thousands of
young Canadians. I do know that this grassy hillside at HMCS Prevost has been changed forever.