CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
Building 20 Naden V9A 7N2 Esquimalt, BC, Canada

13 December, 1940 - HMCS Royal Roads is commissioned as a training establishment for Probationary Sub-Lieutenants. Our photo from the museum collection shows new trainees arriving with their baggage.

10 December, 1936 - On this day, King Edward VIII gave up his throne so that he could marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson; it was the first time a British king had abdicated. As the Prince of Wales, on a tour of the Empire, Prince Edward first visited Canada and Newfoundland in 1919. The tour included a visit to Victoria, where he laid the foundation stone of a statue of Queen Victoria on the grounds of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, and also stopped to see patients and staff at the military hospital in Esquimalt, now home to the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.

On 18 November 1916, soldiers from the Canadian Corps captured Desire Trench, during the last Allied offensive of the Battle of the Somme. The Canadians had joi...ned the Allied forces at the Battle of the Somme in September 1916 and saw heavy action over the following two months. After the capture of Desire Trench, the winter weather halted any further Allied attacks. Pictured are Canadian gunners on the Somme writing an early Christmas message for the Germans on one of their guns in November 1916. Photo: Library and Archives Canada #WorldWarWednesday #CanadaRemembers http://ow.ly/xJAI50CneZl See more

08 December, 1941 HMCS FREDERICTON is commissioned, at Sorel, Quebec. FREDERICTON arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 18 December. She was assigned to the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) until July, 1942, when she joined Halifax Force (Aruba tanker convoys). In September, after one round trip to Aruba, she was placed under US operational control to escort New York-Guantanamo convoys. She arrived in New York for the last time on 21 February, 1943, rejoining WLEF in March. ...After a major refit at Halifax, Nova Scotia, from June-October, 1943, and workups, she joined Escort Group C-1 and for the next 10 months, was employed as an ocean escort. She left Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on 30 September, 1944, for convoy ON.256, and on arriving in Canada, went into refit for two months. This was completed in mid-December and in January, 1945, the ship proceeded to Bermuda for three months' work ups. In February she joined Escort Group C-9, with which she was to spend the balance of the war as an ocean escort. FREDERICTON was paid off on 14 July, 1945, and broken up in 1946. See more

Today is Letter Writing Day. Although it's become a lost art, letters to and from home were an important lifeline for sailors far from home and family. Our photo VR2008.021.294 from the museum collection shows seamen during the Korean War writing letters in their shipboard mess. The picture was staged by Royal Canadian Navy photographers.

07 December, 1941 - Canada declares war on Japan after that country’s attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. The only Royal Canadian Navy ship to see active service against the Japanese was the cruiser HMCS UGANDA, which served with the British Pacific Fleet between April and July, 1945, in operations against Truk and the Japanese home islands.

18 November, 1944 - HMCS INCH ARRAN is commissioned at Quebec City, Quebec. INCH ARRAN left for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 03 December, and in January, 1945, proceeded to Bermuda to work up, and on her return to Halifax on 04 February, was assigned to Escort Group 28. She served for the rest of the war on antisubmarine and support duties out of Halifax, and on 13 May, escorted the surrendered U 889 into Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Her topicalization refit (for potential use in warm...er waters in the Pacific war) was begun on 06 June but suspended on 20 August, and the ship was paid off on 28 November, 1945. Placed in reserve, she was sold in 1946 to Marine Industries Ltd., but reacquired by the Royal Canadian Navy in 1951 for conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort. She was recommissioned on 23 August, 1954, serving on the east coast as a training ship until finally paid off on 23 June, 1965. She was then acquired by the Kingston Mariners' Association for conversion to a nautical museum and youth club, but was eventually scrapped in 1970. See more

Today is the 'birthday' of Mickey Mouse, the beloved cartoon character. Mickey's image featured in a number of unofficial badge insignias of Royal Canadian Navy vessels during WWII, although Donald Duck was a much more popular go-to for artists designing and painting these insignia. Here is Mickey fighting the good fight aboard HMCS SUMMERSIDE (K141).

18 November, 1941 HMCS OAKVILLE is commissioned, at Montreal, Quebec. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 10 days later and joined Halifax Force on her arrival. On its formation in March, 1942, she transferred to Western Local Escort Force (WLEF). In July she rejoined Halifax Force to escort Halifax-Aruba convoys and, on her second arrival at Aruba late in August, she was diverted to reinforce convoy TAW.15 (Aruba-Key West section). The convoy was attacked on 28 August in ...the Windward Passage, losing 4 ships, but OAKVILLE sank the seasoned U 94, in part by ramming. After temporary repairs, she arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 16 September, and there completed repairs on 01 December. She then joined the US Eastern Sea Frontier Command to escort New York-Guantanamo convoys until 22 March, 1943, she she arrived at Halifax to join WLEF. She served with 3 of its escort groups: W-7 from June, 1943; W-8 from December, 1943; and W-6, from April, 1944. Following a major refit and minor repairs, she returned to duties with Escort Group W-6. The ship was paid off on 20 July, 1945, and later sold to the Venezuelan Navy in 1946 and renamed Patria, serving until 1962. See more

18 November, 1944 HMCS FERGUS is commissioned at Collingwood, Ontario. She was the last corvette launched for the Royal Canadian Navy. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in mid-December, and following work ups in Bermuda, arrived at St. John's, Newfoundland, on 02 February, 1945, joining Escort Group C-9, with which she was to serve on North Atlantic convoy duty until VE-Day. She left Greenock, Scotland, early in June for return to Canada, was paid off on 14 July and placed in reserve. Sold for mercantile use in November, 1945, she was renamed Camco II, and, in 1948, Harcourt Kent. She was wrecked on Cape Pine, Newfoundland, on 22 November, 1949.

17 November, 1941 HMCS MIDLAND is commissioned at Montreal, Quebec. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 30 November, and spent her entire career with the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF), from June, 1943, as a member of Escort Group W-2. Following 2 extensive refits, she returned briefly to Halifax before leaving on 01 July for three weeks of work-ups in Bermuda. She was paid off on 15 July, 1945, and broken up the following year at Fort William, Ontario.