Her Majesty Reviews the Fleet and Marks the Centenary of the Royal Canadian Navy

Queen Elizabeth II's Canadian standard flies from H.M.C.S. St John's on June 29, 2010 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.


Her Majesty embarks H.M.C.S. St. John's. Bosan Mate: Pipe the Side!


Royal Salute and God Save the Queen!


Prince Philip wears the uniform of a Canadian Admiral. Nice to see the restoration of the executive curl. Shame to see the Duke demoted. Canada has never had the equivalent of an Admiral of the Fleet or Grand Admiral, the honourary rank of His Royal Highness in Britain. Prince Philip seems a little naked without his traditional Royal Navy fourth ring and fourth row of buttons.


3 Cheers for the Queen: Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Horray!


Her Majesty sails past H.M.S. Ark Royal and U.S.S. Wasp




The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh disembark HMCS St. John's after Her Majesty reviewed the Fleet in the waters off Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Day Two of a nine-day tour of Canada, 29 June 2010.


© Press Association

Make it the Royal Canadian Navy

Senator Duffy is a colleague in arms:

A motion in the Senate that would alter the name of Canadian Forces Maritime Command to “Canadian Navy” represents a half measure. If there is a case to honour “the long service, sacrifice and courage of Canadian Naval forces and personnel” during its centennial year, as Senator Bill Rompkey asserts, then the appropriate way would be to restore the proper form, Royal Canadian Navy.

Mr. Rompkey, a Liberal, tied himself in rhetorical knots when speaking to his motion. He celebrated the wartime achievements of the RCN, and hailed it as a “major national institution” whose symbols and traditions, representative of a “long and distinguished legacy of service,” were cast away with armed forces unification. However, he then proceeded to say he would not fully restore what was taken, suggesting this would somehow harm the service’s post-1968 heritage. By applying Mr. Rompkey’s logic, the name Maritime Command should simply be retained.

Senator Mike Duffy, a Conservative, is frustrated by the timidity of the Senate motion. He says the restoration of the RCN could be readily achieved by a ministerial order, at little or no cost, and would be a “small but significant salute to the navy for all they have done over the past 100 years. Why would we deny this small but important sign of respect?” It is a very good question that should be directed at Mr. Duffy’s colleague, the Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay.

The apparent fright over the use of “royal” is peculiar, given that Maritime Command has retained the HMCS designation for Canadian warships and that the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets are allowed the honour of a traditional designation. Moreover, such patronage has remained relevant for Commonwealth allies like Australia and New Zealand.

The Queen visits Halifax later this month to honour the centenary of Canada’s navy, its veterans and serving members. It’s an ideal time to celebrate Canada’s proud naval heritage by restoring the service’s proper name, Royal Canadian Navy.

Remembering Rear-Admiral William Moss Landymore, OBE (1916-2008)

Statement made on 28 January 2009 by Senator William Rompkey

Honourable senators, I rise to pay tribute to a great Canadian to whom we are all indebted for both his valiant defence of our country and his valiant defence and steadfast support of our navy. Rear-Admiral William Moss Landymore, crossed the bar in Halifax on Thursday, November 27, 2008, at the age of 92.

Admiral Landymore enrolled at the Royal Military College in Kingston in 1934 and entered the Royal Canadian Navy in 1936. He distinguished himself in both war and peace, serving in 13 ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. Additionally, he trained the gunnery crews of seven allied ships at Scapa Flow. He survived the sinking of HMCS Fraser and HMCS Margaree. He saw active service in Palestine, the North Atlantic, the Pacific, and was awarded a Mention-In-Dispatches on the Murmansk Convoys. During the Korean War, Admiral Landymore commanded HMCS Iroquois on two tours, was awarded a second mention in dispatches, was appointed Canadian Commander Destroyers Far East and awarded the Order of the British Empire. Following the war, he commanded HMCS Bonaventure, our last aircraft carrier. He also served as Flag Officer Pacific Coast and Flag Officer Atlantic Coast.

However, it was his final act of service that earned him a place of honour as one of Canada's greatest naval heroes. A staunch opponent of unification, Admiral Landymore refused to sacrifice his principles to save his career. He foresaw the many problems unification would bring for the navy and to the morale of his sailors and he fought with a true "Heart of Oak" to serve his navy and keep true to the motto of the RMC: "Truth, Duty, Valour."

History has vindicated Admiral Landymore. Many of the initiatives that ended the Royal Canadian Navy have since been reversed and, today, we once again have a navy we can be proud of and depend upon. However, his legacy extends far beyond the navy of today.

Admiral Landymore established a tradition of principled leadership and uncompromising care for the welfare of subordinates that has since spread through generations of future military leaders. Without his great example of courage and conviction we would not generate leaders like General Rick Hillier; leaders who tell truth to power and who are unwilling to compromise on the welfare of the men and women who protect and defend this country.

After he was shamefully removed as head of our navy, Admiral Landymore continued to give to our country. Serving on the Board of the Grace Hospital in Halifax, he was awarded the Salvation Army Cross of the Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service. His work to promote health care, education and care for those with special needs brought many accolades that he never sought but so clearly deserved.

Honourable senators, I am honoured to pay tribute to a great sailor and a great Canadian, Admiral William Moss Landymore.

***

And this tribute from Gord Crowe:

In the 1960s I was a very young sailor on board HMCS Kootenay. The big news at the time was the government unifying the military. The day Rear-Admiral William Moss Landymore left the fleet the COs from all the RCN ships pulled him from the south gate to the north gate of the naval dockyard in a 26-foot whaler fitted with wheels for the occasion. The ships' companies lined the roadway cheering wildly as he passed. In front of the old dockyard fire hall the whaler was stopped, the admiral mounted the dias and in his address to us, he asked us to return to our ships, saying it was his fight with Ottawa and we were to continue to do our duty and serve to the best of our ability.

I saw many a tear that day especially from senior sailors. When his speech was over he was pulled the rest of the way to the north gate. There were many upset sailors returning to their ships, and then as now, I truly believe that had the admiral said "Follow me lads!" the dockyard would have emptied, and the military police would have had their hands full.

It was a historic day in my mind, forgotten by many, especially the government. Admiral Landymore was right. The RCN lost its identity, lost a great leader and consequently never fully recovered. God bless Admiral Landymore. He is one of the few military officers that stuck to his beliefs in spite of the dire consequences to his career. Admiral Bravo Zulu!

Gord Crowe

Halifax

A Century of Navy Honour and Tradition

Get your RCN watch today!

From its modest beginnings in 1910 and eventual development into the third largest navy in the world at the end of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy has evolved into a modern and highly respected instrument of maritime peace on the three oceans which border Canada.

The men and women of the Canadian Navy have proudly served this nation in peacetime and conflict; diligently guarding North Atlantic convoys that were the principal lifeline to Allied troops in war torn Europe, engaging in grueling anti submarine patrols that preserved Cold War global stability, securing shipping lanes in the pirate ridden Arab Gulf and rebuilding shattered homes and lives in places like
New Orleans and Haiti, as they diligently reinforce Canada’s sovereignty over the Arctic.

Throughout the hundred years of its history, the Navy League of Canada has been there to actively support our Navy. Founded in 1895 as a society with the primary aim of ensuring secure ocean trade and an adequate naval defense of Canada, the League helped formulate naval policy and the establishment of the Canadian Naval Service, the forerunner of the Canadian Navy.

Following the First World War, the Navy League supported the Merchant Marine and maintained shore hostel facilities to benefit seafaring personnel. During the Second World War, the Navy League operated 24 hostels in seaport areas with provision of quarters, amenities and special clothing supplies for visiting seamen from all Allied nations.

At war’s end, the Navy League returned to its primary goals; support for youth training through the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet program and promotion of a knowledge of Maritime Affairs and in 1948, the Navy League established The Navy League Cadet Corps.

Today, the Navy League of Canada has a presence in more than 260 Canadian communities. Their youth programs benefit 15,000 young Canadians every year. As we celebrate the centennial of the Canadian Navy, it is only fitting that the Navy League shows its pride in a distinctive yet timely way. The Navy League of Canada, Ontario Division has commissioned one of Canada’s leading watch designers Time is Ticking Inc., to issue a truly remarkable limited edition commemorative timepiece which will reflect the great heritage of Canada’s naval service.