ROYAL CANADIAN SEA CADET CORPS FORT LENNOX

1961 Annual Report

From L’Echo, Juin 1961 

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At the close of the Cadet year in the Spring of 1960, Acting Chief Petty Officer Bruce Hannah and Able Cadet Ross Kemball, the Stores Assistant, received their appointments as Midshipmen.  The two "Middies" and Sub-Lieutenant F. Howard-Rose, CD, attended a qualifying course for Divisional Officers at the Leadership School of H.M.C.S. "Cornwallis" early in July and all passed successfully.

Following the course, Mid. Kemball returned to Montreal while SLT Howard-Rose and Mid. Hannah proceeded to H.M.C.S. "Acadia", at Sydney, N.S., to take up Staff duties as Divisional Officers.  SLT S. May, the Corps Executive Officer, who had received his appointment to Staff Duties at "Acadia" at the end of June, was on hand to greet the two officers upon their arrival at the Sea Cadet Training Establishment.

Fifteen of the Corps Cadets attended the fourth two-week camp period at "Acadia", from 14^th to 27^th August 1960.  While there, they competed with other Corps from the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec for the many trophies offered by the Training Ship.  These Cadets brought great credit both to themselves and to the Corps by walking off with the coveted "Efficiency Trophy" awarded to the Most Proficient Corps in attendance at the Camp.  Also, Able Cadet Jean-Claude Girodo won the award for the Most Proficient Cadet, a singular honour for one so new to the ways of Sea Cadets.

With the resumption of Corps activities in September 1960, the Corps set about training in earnest and, on October 7^th, sent a contingent to Montreal to participate in the Navy League parade held in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Navy’s 50^th Anniversary Celebrations.

On Remembrance Sunday, the Corps traveled to St. Jean and participated in that city’s observance of Armistice Day.

During the course of the Training year, "Fort Lennox" was visited by the Area Officer Sea Cadets, LCDR R. J. Mann, RCN, the Secretary of the Quebec Division, Navy Leaque of Canada, Chas. A. Hutchins, Esq.; and the Supply Officer, H.M.C.S. "Donnacona", LT. D. Pengelly, RCN.

At the end of January, 1961, the Commanding Officer, LT Peter Ferguson, RCSC, tendered his resignation to the Chairman of the Sea Cadet Committee which was reluctantly received by the Committee.  The Chairman then called upon the Executive Officer, SLT S. May, to assume Command of the Corps.  SLT F. Howard-Rose was appointed as the new Executive Officer.

We should also report that the Corps approached Dr. Joseph Senikas at the end of last year to inquire if he would serve as the Corps Medical Officer.  This "Dr. Joe" readily agreed to do and he received his Appointment as Surgeon-Lieutenant on July 19^th, 1960 .  We are happy to report that outside of routine medical examinations, "Fort Lennox” has not had to overwork the doctor in the course of the year.

At the time of writing, the Corps is busy with preparations for its Annual Inspection.  This will take place on Friday afternoon, May 5^th, 1961, and will be conducted by Commodore H. L. Quinn, DSC, CD, RCN, Senior Naval Officer, River St. Lawrence Area.  The Corps will parade for Inspection and March Past and, later, will perform a number of demonstrations of training skills for the Inspecting Party.

With the Inspection over, "Fort Lennox" will begin training its contingent for this summer's camp at H.M.C.S "Acadia", and, too, will participate in the annual "outing" to its namesake, "Fort Lennox", situated on Ile-aux-Noix. 

All in all, this has been an active and a gratifying year and the Corps looks forward to even greater things in the future.

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