The Way It Was: Fair Winds And Following Seas . . . The 100th Anniversary Of The Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve

HOT SHOTS Fair Winds & Following Seas, RCNVR Honours 100 Years

By Andrea Grimes

It wasn’t long after the world was recovering from the “war that would be over by Christmas,” that Walter Hose (who began his career as an officer with Britain’s Royal Navy in 1898) transferred to the Canadian Naval Service in 1921.

He took command of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) first ship, the cruiser HMCS RAINBOW. In 1922, Hose was made Director of the Canadian Naval Service.

In 1923, the Conservative government of Richard Bedford Bennett decided the size of the country’s naval service, as well deciding that its funding would be cut.

As a result of this decision, Rear Admiral Hose created the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) January 31, 1923, opening 15 reserve divisions in the largest cities throughout the Dominion.

According to an article published in the Windsor Daily Star February 16, 1940, To Recruit Here for Navy, Lieutenant Jordan H. Marshall, Commanding Officer of Windsor’s navy divisional headquarters, announced “Divisional headquarters will be located in the old Toledo Scales building at 2462 Howard Avenue. The building is large enough to meet any demands that may be made on it as the war proceeds.”

The headlines of a Windsor Daily Star article of December 31, 1940 read: “Windsor Makes Large Contribution in Manpower to Canadian Navy. Approximately 200 Essex County youths enlisted through the Windsor division of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.”

The article further notes: “To enlist in the naval reserves, recruits must signify their willingness to go into active service when called. They are called to active service as soon as a draft leaves. Until placed on active service, recruits drill at the station two nights a week. As soon as they are called, they go on full time with pay.”

The central purpose of Canada’s military presence during WW II was to supply trained reservists as required, for service.

Reservists were allowed to continue their civil occupations by day, training at divisional headquarters in the evenings.

“The Naval Reserve contributes to an individual’s fundamental careerbuilding capacities by offering leadership opportunities and team building challenges,” states Richard Hillier, Commanding Officer HMCS HUNTER, Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Armed Forces. “Everything we do in the Navy involves harnessing the collective capabilities of individuals and focusing their efforts toward a common objective. That’s universal to the success of any organization.”

Hose (who is considered the “father” of the RCN) battled relentlessly to retain a small but very professional regular Navy and a vibrant RCNVR.

If it wasn’t for his efforts, Canada’s Navy wouldn’t have had the ability to expand its presence. He retired in 1934 and died June 22, 1965 in Windsor, Ontario at 89 years of age.

Each year, on June 22, the Royal Canadian Navy Association (Admiral Hose Branch) pays tribute to Hose with a memorial service at his gravesite at Heavenly Rest Cemetery.

Pictured are members of the HMCS HUNTER recruitment division headquarters formerly located at 2462 Howard Avenue in Windsor. Photo courtesy of Royal Canadian Navy Association (Admiral Hose Branch), Windsor, Ontario c 1941.

In 2023, Canada will commemorate the Naval Reserve’s centennial by honouring the tradition of maritime service of reservists to Canada.

HMCS HUNTER (Windsor’s naval reserve unit) will mark this prestigious chapter of Canada’s naval history by hosting various community-focused events, which can be found on their social media page: Facebook.com/HMCSNCSMHunter.

“Oceans are the superhighways of global commerce that contribute to Canada’s maritime identity,” comments Peter Berry, Windsor Port Authority Director of Port Operations, Harbour Master. “The Windsor Port Authority (PortWindsor.com) serves as the advocate and catalyst for our marine transportation resources as an engine for economic and social prosperity, and environmental protection and security that provides awareness, opportunity, and removes barriers to success.”

From sea to sea, Canada’s maritime history identifies the strength and diversity of our national heritage by drawing on the past to preserve the future . . . a mari usque ad mare! As a civilian Veterans Advocate, Andrea Grimes was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Governor General’s Medal, for her volunteer service to Veterans and a number of nonprofit organizations supporting Windsor’s military families’ network.