ROYAL CANADIAN SEA CADET CORPS FORT LENNOX 

1963 Annual Report 

From L’Echo, Juin 1963, no author identified

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We regret that our photograph shows only a single large-size Division.  In actual fact, we had our usual three Divisions, and the Corps strength was in excess of 80 Cadets.  However, illness invaded the School on the day the photographer visited us.  So, we lumped all ranks - including the Ships' Mascot "Tammy" - into one group and here publish the result.

In September, the Corps resumed its training schedule with a new Executive Officer, two new Midshipmen, and 60 New Entry Cadets.  The 40 old boys provided a good nucleus for the Corps, however, and organisation was accomplished in good time.  SLT A.M. Burridge replaced SLT Howard-Rose as Executive Officer, while MID M.D. Wilson and MID M. Lacombe took over the Divisional Officer duties vacated by MID Gregory and MID Hannah [this is an error - Hannah left in spring of ‘61]  SLT R.W. Kemball was appointed as Training Officer and MID B. Babb was appointed to command Bonaventure Division. 

Our first sortie as a Corps during this year took place on Sunday, 18 October, 1962 , when the corps attended the morning service of Worship at First Baptist Church, Montreal.  A regrettable accident occurred on the return trip when the car driven by Mr. Ferguson crashed into a ditch hospitalising all occupants. [This is also not entirely accurate.  Not all the passengers went to the emergency room for treatment, and Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were the only occupants who were not treated and released.]  We are happy to report that all survived, however, and made very successful recoveries from their injuries.   

Our second excursion was to St. Jean on Remembrance Sunday when the Corps participated in the city’s armistice observances.  Despite the chilling cold, the Corps put on an impressive display and were commended for their work by the Inspecting Officer, Group Captain Cameron, of the RCAF Station St. Jean.

Just prior to Christmas, we learned of the transfer of our Area Officer Sea Cadets, LCDR R.J. Mann, CD, RCN.  On 27 February, we received our first official visit from LCDR Mann’s replacement, LCDR R. M. Green, CD, RCN, of H.M.C.S. Donnacona.  The AOSC was very impressed with the Corps and commended Officers and Petty Officers for their efforts. 

        We look forward now to the forthcoming Annual Inspection and, also, to an inspection by Capt. J. M. Jette, Commandant, College Militaire Royal de St. Jean.  Also, if time allows, we hope to spend one Sunday in May at our namesake, Fort Lennox, on Isle-aux-Noix.  This has not been accomplished since 1959, [this also does not fit the recollections of several cadets and is not consistent with previous annual reports] and so we are hoping to enjoy better luck in this project during the coming spring.