Spotted today in Halifax: HMCS Sackville, the last survivor of nearly 300 Flower-class corvettes (the workhorses of the North Atlantic convoy escorts in WW2).
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Spotted today in Halifax: HMCS Sackville, the last survivor of nearly 300 Flower-class corvettes (the workhorses of the North Atlantic convoy escorts in WW2).
As many as 20,000 Canadians and 45,000 Brits served on these slow, poorly-armed ships through the Atlantic gales and U-boat attacks.
They weren't designed for the open ocean, and would roll almost 70° side to side in a heavy sea, but … somehow … they helped escort the convoys of food and other essential supplies across to the UK.
@david_megginson @Nerdfest My uncle was a lieutenant on a corvette.
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@david_megginson @Nerdfest My uncle was a lieutenant on a corvette.
@NunavutBirder @david_megginson @Nerdfest
My grandfather was a ship's carpenter on a corvette. -
@NunavutBirder @david_megginson @Nerdfest
My grandfather was a ship's carpenter on a corvette.@mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder Have you ever visited the Sackville to see what conditions your grandfathers lived under?
(Unfortunately, tours don't start until July, so I could only walk around the outside.)
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Spotted today in Halifax: HMCS Sackville, the last survivor of nearly 300 Flower-class corvettes (the workhorses of the North Atlantic convoy escorts in WW2).
As many as 20,000 Canadians and 45,000 Brits served on these slow, poorly-armed ships through the Atlantic gales and U-boat attacks.
They weren't designed for the open ocean, and would roll almost 70° side to side in a heavy sea, but … somehow … they helped escort the convoys of food and other essential supplies across to the UK.
@david_megginson Is it me or the HMCS Sackville doesn’t have a ship badge?
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@mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder Have you ever visited the Sackville to see what conditions your grandfathers lived under?
(Unfortunately, tours don't start until July, so I could only walk around the outside.)
@david_megginson @mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder @Nerdfest
I toured the Sackville before her refurbishment. That is one tiny boat for the role she was used for.
I couldn't imagine.
Also toured one of the Oberon class subs on the same trip. I think I'd rather have been on the Sackville.
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@david_megginson @mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder @Nerdfest
I toured the Sackville before her refurbishment. That is one tiny boat for the role she was used for.
I couldn't imagine.
Also toured one of the Oberon class subs on the same trip. I think I'd rather have been on the Sackville.
@david_megginson @mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder @Nerdfest
That picture of the Sackville reminded me that I really appreciated the Navy bringing back the "dazzle" camouflage for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic
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@mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder Have you ever visited the Sackville to see what conditions your grandfathers lived under?
(Unfortunately, tours don't start until July, so I could only walk around the outside.)
@david_megginson @mpjgregoire @Nerdfest No. weirdly I’ve never been east of Quebec City.
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@david_megginson @mpjgregoire @Nerdfest No. weirdly I’ve never been east of Quebec City.
@NunavutBirder @david_megginson @Nerdfest
@Sir_Osis_of_Liver
As I recall, I visited the Sackville back in the 1990s. I have family in Nova Scotia, so I visit from time to time, but they live north of Halifax Stanfield, so I rarely go to the big city. -
@NunavutBirder @david_megginson @Nerdfest
@Sir_Osis_of_Liver
As I recall, I visited the Sackville back in the 1990s. I have family in Nova Scotia, so I visit from time to time, but they live north of Halifax Stanfield, so I rarely go to the big city.@mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder @david_megginson @Nerdfest
I'm not the biggest fan of the city, but the waterfront is pretty good with lots of interesting places.
When I go to NS it's generally to visit my brother in Truro or on vacation in Cape Breton. Lots of other places like Lunenburg and Annapolis Royal I'm long overdue to see again.
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@david_megginson Is it me or the HMCS Sackville doesn’t have a ship badge?
@EdwinG Not sure about a badge, but the port side of the shield for the 4 inch bow gun, there was an illustration of a cigar-smoking Donald Duck with a broom, sweeping U-boats. I found this low-res photo online.
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@mpjgregoire @NunavutBirder @david_megginson @Nerdfest
I'm not the biggest fan of the city, but the waterfront is pretty good with lots of interesting places.
When I go to NS it's generally to visit my brother in Truro or on vacation in Cape Breton. Lots of other places like Lunenburg and Annapolis Royal I'm long overdue to see again.
@Sir_Osis_of_Liver Lunenburg was a disappointment — just a classic seacoast tourist strip (I understand why it's a UNESCO world heritage site, but that's lost under the seafood restaurants, gift shops, and bus tours). There was a nice café in an old house off the main strip though, and the towns and villages back along Route 3 towards Halifax are nice.
Peggy's Cove and the SwissAir 111 memorial, OTOH — definitely worth a visit. Even the new viewing platforms haven't ruined its rugged beauty.
In Halifax itself, the North End is interesting, especially the Hydrostone Neighbourhood and the Agricola corridor. And the nearby Fort Needham Park is a very touching and creative memorial of the 1917 Halifax explosion.
In the South End, the Public Gardens were already beautiful in early May, though the Farmer's Market (moved to the Seaport District) was disappointing; Fredericton, though much smaller, has a far bigger and better weekend market.
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