This post is based on a presentation by Martin Gillis and Carol Smithson given at the March 2017 Hantsport & Area Historical Society meeting.
Navy League of Canada
This group of Sea Cadets is the first to have their picture taken after the group formed in 1949.
In boat, from left, Edward Pearson, Les Beazley
Standing, from left, (Inspection Officer from Navy name not known), Leonard Winchester, Warren Tompkins, Earl Schurman, Bev Patten, Carl Salter, _ Skiner, Edward Veino, Fred Turner, Donald Miller, Joe Winchester, Ross Merriam (first Commanding officer).
Front row, from left, Malcolm Coffill, Burton Smith, Joe Saulnier, Dick Cohoon, Glenn Salter
- 1951 WARRANT FOR RCSCC LINDSAY WAS ISSUED FOR THE HANTSPORT SEA CADET CORPS
The Corps was named after the HMCS Lindsay, a Flower-class Corvette, which fought mainly in the Battle of the Atlantic as convoy escort.
Ross Merriam was the first Commanding Officer. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939 just before the Second World War, as a boy seaman. He served in the gunnery branch on destroyers, corvettes and minesweepers. At the time of discharge seven years later, service complete, he held the rank of petty officer, AA Gunnery 2.
He and Capt. Jack Ferguson organized the Lindsey Sea Cadet Corps.
David Johnston, Jim Canavan, Vernon Faulkner, Bill Hughes, Wayne Folker, David Folker
- 1962 THE CORPS NAME WAS CHANGED TO RCSCC MINAS
The HMCS Minas was a Bangor-class Minesweeper. She saw action in the Battle of the Atlantic as well as the invasion of Normandy.
- 1963 NAVY LEAGUE CORPS WILLIAM HALL VC FORMED
One of the reasons for forming the Navy League Corps was to have a feeder group for Sea Cadets. The Sea Cadet numbers had declined to a point which could have lead to closure.
Back Row: Carl Pulsifer, Rev. Godfrey, Bill Stevens, Robert Sircom
2nd Row: James Partridge, Basil Levy, Pat Hunt, Gary Macdonald
3rd Row: Bernard Harris, Mervin Swaine, Leigh Clayton, Robert States, Steve Patterson, Gary MacDonald
- CAMP MOCKINGEE First held in 1966
Originally a weekend event but soon changed to a week long camp, attended by both Sea Cadets and Navy League Cadets. Activities included training, sports competitions and boating.
- 1967 Presentation of Corps Colours by Governor General
Governor General Roland Michener
Bernard Harris and Steve Patterson
- 1973 THE SEA CADET CHARTER WAS CHANGED TO ALLOW FEMALE MEMBERS AND THE WRENETTES BECAME SEA CADETS
