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Chronological Origins of Canada's Naval Reserve Units
Personnel from HMCS Chippawa show off the range of naval uniforms.
1. 1923 March 15 Hamilton ON. Later became Star. Lt. Ralph Yates, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
2. 1923 March 19 Winnipeg MB. Later became Chippawa. Lt. Eustace A. Brock, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
3. 1923 March 21 Ottawa ON. Later became Carleton, A/SLt Robert Shipley, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
4. 1923 March 27 Edmonton AB. Later became Nonsuch. Lcdr A.B. MacLeod, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer. Paid off November 30, 1964. Re-activated September 26, 1975.
5. 1923 April 01 Calgary AB. Later became Tecumseh. Lt. Raymond Hinton, RCVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
6. 1923 April 03 Halifax NS. Later became Scotian. Lt. John P. Connolly, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
7. 1923 April 10 Toronto ON. Later became York. Lt. Gordon B. Jackson, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
8. 1923 April 21 Quebec QC. Later became Montcalm. A/Lt Leon Gauvreau, RCNVR, confirmed as Company Commanding Officer.
9. 1923 April 27 Saskatoon SK. Later became Unicorn. A/Lt John W. McEown, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
10. 1923 June 20 Saint John NB. Later became Brunswicker. Lt. Hugh A. Morrison, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer.
11. 1923 June 26 Regina SK. Later became Queen. Lt/ A.L.Geddes. DSC, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer. Paid off November 30, 1964. Re-activated 1975.
12. 1923 March 14 Montreal QC. Later became Donnacona. Lt. Frank Meade, RCNVR appointed as Commanding Officer for the English-speaking Company. Later became Cartier. A/Lt Alexandre Brodeur, RCNVR, appointed as Commanding Officer for the French-speaking Company. This Half–Company amalgamated with HMCS Donnacona 09 June 1944.
13. 1923 September 14 Charlottetown PE. Later became Queen Charlotte. Lt. George H. Buntain, RCNVR, appointed Company Commanding Officer. Paid off December 15, 1964. Re-activated 1994.
14. 1924 April 15 Vancouver BC. Later became Discovery. A/Lt Joseph W. Hobbs, RCNVR, Appointed Company Commanding Officer.
15. 1924 August 24 Prince Rupert BC.Later became Chatham.Lt. Russell P. Ponder, RCNVR, appointed Company Co. Paid off in August, 1945. Reactivated 21 October 1946. Paid off 31 March, 1964.
16. 1937 May 03 Port Arthur ON.Later became Griffon. A/Lt D.M. Black, RCNVR, appointed Division Commanding Officer.
17. 1938 August 11 London ON. Later became Prevost. Lt. Edward E. Hart, RCNVR, appointed Division Commanding Officer. Paid off 30 November 1964. Re-activated 1990.
18. 1939 September 18 Kingston. Later became Cataraqui. A/Lt William C. Rigney, RCNVR, appointed Division Commanding Officer.
19. 1939 November 8 Windsor ON. Later became Hunter. Lt. Jordon H.Marshall, RCNVR appointed Division Commanding Officer.
20. 1944 January 15 Victoria BC. HMCS Malahat commissioned for recruiting only. 1947 April 23. Victoria. HMCS Malahat commissioned as a Reserve Division. Cdr. Ronald Jackson RCN(R), appointed Division Commanding Officer.
21. 1949 September 20 St. John’s NL. HMCS Cabot commissioned. Cdr. H. Garrett RCN(R), OBE, VRD, appointed Division Commanding Officer.
22. 1953 August 23 Cornerbrook NL. HMCS Caribou commissioned. Lcdr F.L.Rowsell RCN(R), appointed Division Commanding Officer. Paid off 1964.
23. 1986 August 15 Chicoutimi QC. HMCS Champlain commissioned. Lcdr. P.N. McKeogh (NR) appointed Commanding Officer.
24. 1987 June Trois Rivieres QC. HMCS Radisson commissioned. Lcdr D. Prevost (NR) appointed Commanding Officer.
25. 1987 November 14 Rimouski QC. HMCS D’Iberville commissioned. Lcdr G. Lafontaine (NR) appointed Commanding Officer.
26. 1989 October 07 Sept Iles QC. HMCS Jolliet commissioned. Lcdr D. Prevost (NR) appointed Commanding Officer.
The following separate, but dependent Units, were formed, each associated with one of the existing Reserve Divisions.
27. 1953 May 20 Naval Air Squadron VC-920 established at HMCS York. Lcdr (P) R.S. Bunyard RCN(R) appointed Commanding Officer 15 June, 1953.Paid off 31 March 1964.
28. 1953 September 30 Naval Air Squadron VC-921 Established at HMCS Cataraqui. A/Lcdr Allen R. Burgham, RCN(R), appointed Commanding Officer May 3, 1954. Paid off 12 March 1964.
29. 1953 December 01 Naval Air Squadron VC-922 established at HMCS Malahat. Lcdr (P) Alexander M. Davidson, RCN(R), appointed 26 March 1956. Paid off 31 March 1964.
30. 1954 May 01 Naval Air Squadron VC-923 established at HMCS Montcalm.Lt. (P) Jean-Paul J.E. Jobin, RCN(R), appointed Commanding Officer 29 May 1954.
31. 1954 June 01 Naval Air Squadron VC-924 established at HMCS Tecumseh.Lt (P) Peter T. Rogers, RCN(R), appointed Commanding Officer 30 September 1957. Paid off 31 March 1964.
32. 1954 June 01 Kitchener ON Tender to HMCS Star established. LCDR J.R.H. Kirkpatrick RCN(R) in command. Paid off 30 November 1964.
33. 1955 January North Bay ON Tender to HMCS Carleton established. Lt. G.E. King, RCN(R), in command. Paid off 31 July 1958.
The date of the of formation of Naval Companies or Divisions is usually accepted as that of the date of appointment of the Commanding Officer. Original List Compiled by CDR F.M.McKee, CD, Toronto Ontario, 1973 and augmented by Stephen Rybak 2011.
To quote from this article please cite:
Rybak, Stephan (2011) Chronological Origins of Canada's Naval Reserve Units. Nauticapedia.ca 2011. http://www.nauticapedia.ca/Articles/Rybak5_Chronology.php
Site News: December 21, 2024
The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 94,824 vessel histories (with 16,274 images and 13,929 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters).
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