The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 275 here was a full house on Feb. 12 when a piece of the town’s military history came home.
Robert Lewis-Manning, the Commanding Officer of HMCS Vancouver, of Canadian Fleet Pacific, presented a framed pictorial history of Fergus’ namesake warship to Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj.
“It’s nice we can have a positive event at the Legion,” said President Brian Bielby. “Too often, it’s a somber event.”
“We have a lot to be proud of,” said Lewis-Manning. “I’m humbled by what our troops are doing in Haiti … security for the Olympics with the RCMP.”
He presented the plaque and said, “I hope it means something to you.”
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj called the presentation “an honour” and said, “We are proud of the services you have given our country.”
MP Michael Chong noted his father-in-law had connections with the Navy. He thanked Guelph resident and Fergus Legion member John Eccles, the last surviving person to serve on the HMCS Fergus.
“Your service defined our country 60 years ago,” Chong told Eccles.
Chong noted Canada at one time never had an Armed Forces, and, “The Navy was the first of the three-legged stool.” He said the Navy had provided “a century of excellence.”
MPP Ted Arnott’s father-in-law also served in the Royal Canadian Navy in the last stages of World War II. Arnott noted that while the Navy is celebrating its 100th birthday, the Fergus Legion has its 75th anniversary this year.
Eccles told the packed hall he joined in 1944 and went to Halifax where the ship was, helped get it ready for service and then, “All we did was zig-zag across the ocean,” he said of the convoy service the Fergus provided.
Eccles lived at the University of Guelph until last year, when at 93 he moved into a retirement home. When asked why he joined the Fergus Legion instead of the one in Guelph, he said it was because he had served on the Fergus, and it seemed to be the correct thing to do.
Elora Legion member Gord Brown, who is a military historian with a large collection of memorabilia, had displays of the HMCS Fergus that attracted a good deal of attention. He had photos of nearly everyone who served on that ship, including a few people from Fergus.
The presentation marked the Canadian Navy centennial. It includes a photograph of the Second World War corvette, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Fergus, a picture of the ship’s badge, and a short history of the ship’s service.
HMCS Fergus was com-missioned into the Canadian Navy at Collingwood on Nov. 18, 1944 and was the last corvette launched for the Royal Canadian Navy. She was employed on convoy duties in the Battle of the Atlantic until Victory in Europe Day. Paid off from wartime service on July 14, 1945, she was sold and operated as a merchant ship until 1949.
The Centre Wellington Fire Department was also involved in the presentation, and several members were in attendance.
“We are proud and pleased that the community of Fergus is remembered for its connection to the Navy,” said Fire Pre-vention Officer and District Chief Tom Mulvey.
Ross-Zuj said that fire officials played a big role in the festivities that day.
Lewis-Manning said in an interview that he has a few more presentations to make to communities that had ships named after them. He said he has two more in Southern Ontario, and noted there are about 300 ships named after communities.
Since 1910, Canada has put over 850 warships to sea under the naval ensign. Hundreds of Canadian communities will be reacquainted with their namesake Canadian Navy warship to mark the Canadian Navy’s Centennial year, 2010. Since the Canadian Navy was established in 1910, 320 Canadian navy ships have been named for communities.
The Legion also held its successful annual Chilifest, and Ray Pearse presented Sherrie Sutherland, of the Groves Memorial Community Hospital with a cheque for $7,500 that was collected through the branch’s poppy fund.
