Battle of the Atlantic Sunday 2019

As a trustee with the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust (CNMT), the group that looks after HMCS SACKVILLE, I try to head out each year for the service and committal ceremony on the first Sunday in May. Although partly out of self interest because of the different perspective on the harbour, I am ostensibly there to take photos of the service and ceremony for the Trust, in particular to ensure that families unable to make it for the committal have some photos of the event. This year we were hosted by HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC.

Padres giving the service.

The ship's Executive Officer (XO), LCDR Hodgson, stands on the flight deck during the service.

Crew "fall in" on the flight deck during the service.

A bell is rung as the name of each ship lost during the Battle of the Atlantic is read.

The ship's Cox'n, CPO1 Dan Savard, and CO Michael Eelhart salute during the service.

The ship's Cox'n, CPO1 Dan Savard, and CO Michael Eelhart throw a wreath over the side during the service.

During the service, we received a flypast by one of the new CH-148 Cyclone helicopters based out of CFB Shearwater. 

In the foreground is the wreath thrown over a few minutes before by the CO and Cox'n.

The Cyclone flies in front of the lighthouse on McNab's Island.

The Cyclone hovers in front of the sailor's memorial in Point Pleasant Park and the Battle of the Atlantic service being held there in order to drop a wreath.

After the service, the ashes of veteran's are brought out onto the flight deck for the committal ceremony.

The containers of ashes are placed on a board under the flag of their service, and slid over the side.

The first container of ashes slide over the side.

Ashes and a wreath just after hitting the water.

The monkey's fist and messenger line are thrown to the jetty in order to pull across the larger mooring line.

Two messenger lines have made it to the jetty.

VILLE DE QUEBEC's ensign.

The service and ceremony were once held onboard SACKVILLE herself, but in recent years the Navy has provided a frigate for this event, which provides much more space for families, catering facilities, the availability of medical staff if necessary, and generally greater flexibility in the event of poor weather. This has been much appreciated over the last five events.

The 2019 event benefited from beautiful sunny weather, and I left with a considerable sunburn on my neck and face. I'll never learn, it appears.

The entire gallery can be found here. 

Colombian Navy sail training vessel GLORIA

The Colombian Navy's sail training vessel GLORIA arrived in Halifax earlier this week, and after receiving some repair work at HMC Dockyard, moved to Cable Wharf to allow the general public a closer look. This let me get close-up photos on three separate morning so far, and as well I took advantage of the free public tours on Tuesday afternoon. This post will be lighter on text, and focus mostly on the photos I took.

My first sight of GLORIA this week was of her berthed in HMCS SACKVILLE's normal winter location within HMC Dockyard, from the ferry.

GLORIA in HMC Dockyard.

Tuesday morning - the rising sun breaking through the morning cloud made for a particularly dramatic photo. Vertical panorama taken with an iPhone, processed with Lightroom Mobile. I got right down to the water's surface on a floating dock for this shot, as well as the following one below.

Similar photo taken around the same time, this time with a 12mm lens on a Sony A6000. Can't quite decide which I prefer.

Wednesday morning - clear skies provided a different look. Another vertical panorama taken with an iPhone, processed with Lightroom Mobile.

At 0800 hours each morning, the ship's ensign (a variation of the national flag) is hauled up a halyard from the tip of the gaff on the mizzen mast. The ensign is huge, and requires a number of crew members to deploy.

Raising the large ensign is a lot of work, and requires more than a few crew members.

As large as the ensign is, it doesn't fly very well without a fair bit of wind. The ship also has a much smaller ensign to fly when the larger one shown here isn't practical.

GLORIA is rigged as a barque, which means three masts - the foremast (left), mainmast (middle), and mizzen mast (right). The forward two masts are square-rigged, while the after mast is fore-and-aft rigged. The early morning wind isn't doing much for the ensign, but the lighting from the early morning sun was nice.

OK, that's better, but the lighting isn't as appealing. Guess you can't win!

The ensign also made interesting reflections on the water, and I'm a sucker for reflections. I had to take this photo from onboard, looking straight down from the deck.

GLORIA was also wearing a bunting of Maritime Signalling Flags (alphabetical and numerical flags used for signalling) that ran from the tip of the bowsprit to the stern over the tops of all three masts.

A crewmember stands at the tip of the bowsprit, ready to raise the ship's jack.

On Tuesday afternoon, I was able to take advantage of the free deck tours being offered by the ship. One of my favourite subjects is details and rope-work on deck, and GLORIA didn't disappoint.

The ship's name is engraved on all the stair nosings on the upper decks.

I wouldn't want to have to coil these ropes just so, but I do appreciate the effect.

I also wouldn't want to be responsible for keeping the deck buffed and varnished.

Colombian Independence Day is observed on July 20th, so I had the added opportunity to photograph members of the ship's crew gathered on a nearby wharf for a small ceremony.

The ship's crew recognized Colombian Independance Day on July 20, and gathered on a nearby wharf for the raising of the ship's ensign and the playing of the national anthem. The rising sun and reflections off the harbour made for some nice shadows, and the image just begged to be converted to black and white.

Finally....did I mention I'm a sucker for reflections?

After GLORIA left the Cable Wharf on Thursday morning, she returned to HMC Dockyard, possibly for more repair work although I don't know for sure. She was still in port as of Friday afternoon.

All these, and more photos are available in my Smugmug gallery.