Robert Lewis-Manning, the Commanding Officer of HMCS Vancouver of Canadian Fleet Pacific will present a framed pictorial history of Fergus’ namesake warship to Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj on Feb. 12 at 11am here at Branch 275 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The presentation, to mark the Canadian Naval centennial, 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 commissioned into the Canadian Navy at Collingwood on Nov. 18, 1944 and was the last corvette launched for the RCN. 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.
Centred on the annual Chilifest at the Legion, the short ceremony will include flag parties of Legion members and Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue.
Special program
“We are proud and pleased that the community of Fergus is remembered for its connection to the Navy,” said Fire Prevention Officer Tom Mulvey.
“Including both Centre Wellington council and members of Branch 275 of Royal Canadian Legion emphasises this community’s contribution to Canada.”
Similar presentations are being made across Canada, to bring attention to the Canadian Naval centennial and highlight the connection the navy has with communities large and small in every corner of the country. Since 1910, Canada has put over 850 warships to sea under the naval ensign. Over 300 ships have been named for communities from coast to coast to coast.
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. In the early years, former Royal Navy ships transferred for service in the Royal Canadian Navy were coincidentally named Aurora, Vancouver and Shearwater.
Over the years, Canadian warships have been named for cities and provinces, First Nations communities and geographical features (rivers, capes, and bays). That was particularly true in the Second World War when Canada had the third largest allied Navy. While naming ships for cities and towns seemed straightforward, 37 ships were given alternate names lest they be confused with similarly named ships.
Such was the case for HMCS Beacon Hill named for Victoria, B.C, so as to not confuse it with HMS Victorious, or HMCS Orkney for Yorkton, Sask., to be confused with the USS Yorktown.
During the cold war, many ships were named for rivers and perpetuated their “River Class” predecessors. Naming ships for cities returned in the ’90s with names carried by the present fleet of ships. While four have been named HMCS Ottawa, only the current ship is named for the nation’s capital, the earlier ships named for the Ottawa River.
