Halifax and Stadacona Part 2 of 2--Admiralty House

This handsome stone building is in Stadacona. It was built in 1815, and for years was the residence of Royal Navy admirals in Halifax. Now it houses the Naval Museum of Halifax.

It was for the latter reason that I visited it a month ago, looking for submarine exhibits and also, if I was lucky, hoping to find evidence of my brother Tom's time in the RCN.

In the course of exploring the museum, I glanced into a glass display case--and saw the photo at left. I was thrilled.
The picture was taken on board HMCS St. Laurent, of which Tom was then first lieutenant. He is front row, second from left, on the captain's right.

Halifax and Stadacona Part 1--North Gate

Time stood still for a short time for me a month ago during a trip to Halifax--first real visit for me since 1969. A major stop was what had once been HMCS Stadacona, now part of CFB Halifax.

In the photo at left is what was then a restricted access called North Gate, where I stood watch as guard officer, welcoming back sometimes-drunken (overserved, as we now say) matelots off leave. Fortunately, as a junior sublieutenant, I always had the assistance of very experienced petty officers and leading seamen.

Just in through the gate and around to the right is what is now a parking lot. One snowy November day in 1963, I was walking across the then open space, when a friend came toward me and told me John Kennedy had been assassinated. At once an already chilly day became very bleak.

"Sally" in The Crow's Nest, and Slackers

In my blog post of June 6th, I talked about The Crow's Nest, former watering hole for allied naval officers doing convoy duty out of St. John's, and now a private club that does a great job of honouring the traditions of the navy.

Here is another Crow's Nest photo: "Sally", high in a corner on a prominent wall. H83, HMCS St. Laurent, was for some time my brother Tom's ship during World War II. Sally is fighting off mustachioed Hitlers, and bespectacled Tojos, while looking good at the same time.

 Next on the recent itinerary to the east coast was the old stomping ground, HMCS Stadacona, now Canadian Forces Base Stadacona. And an open base at that. Back in the day, I remember cold winter nights on duty in the now-deserted guard room. More on Slackers coming up.