Not all history is written in books
by Marie Dundas, Gr. 12 Prince Andrew High School,
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
I have become a living and breathing part of the navy as I help to preserve an integral part of it. Sure dates and times of what ship sank, what ship are in books, and that is important too, however, I think the best stories are the ones told by the men who lived them.
I walked up the gangway with a sign slung on it that read “K181 H.M.C.S. Sackville Canada’s Naval Memorial”. It was my first day of volunteering. I was led down below to the Chief’s and PO’s Mess by a man in uniform. I requested the Buffer and was shortly met by a big man. I was then quickly introduced to the Captain and First Lieutenant. The three men gave me a full tour of the “restored-to-original state last surviving World War Two Flower Class Corvette”. It was amazing; the original hammocks; the fully intact stove; canteen with the original bars and price list; the dark working engine room. The ship had been restored with the help of Trustees, historians, and curators. Mannequins were dressed in the time period; press a button that gives a description for each area of the ship. Everything looked spectacular; full of stories and memories just waiting to be told. I couldn’t wait to learn more.
I was sent to work, cleaning the decks and heads. It didn’t matter to me that I was cleaning, I was just glad to be a part of preserving her history. H.M.C.S. Sackville had been turned into a museum, open to the public. After visitors receive a tour from war veterans, there is a small gift shop on the boardwalk where souvenirs can be purchased. After about one month of volunteering every weekday from nine to five, I knew every one by name and had made friends with many of the Trustees. On my lunch break war veterans told me stories and taught me all about H.M.C.S. Sackville and her history. I was becoming more intrigued.
One day after I had finished closing the ship, the Buffer asked if I wished to work at an event later that night. I enthusiastically answered "Yes". When I arrived that evening they requested I put on a uniform. The uniform was straight from the 1940’s; high waisted bell bottom pants, sea boots, and a gun shirt, all topped off with the cap, in which they taught me to tie a cap tally with the ship’s name on it printed in a bold golden color.
That night I greeted and gave tours to the special guests. The next morning when I arrived at work I was called in the Captain’s office and was told Marie Dundas that the guests last night thought I was spectacular. The Captain told me that he wanted me to wear the uniform from now on and give tours with the Veterans. I was literally in the history.
That summer was great. I learned a lot about H.M.C.S. Sackville and her history. The school year flew past and towards the end of the year I received a phone call from the Buffer, requesting my return for that season as the Starboard Watch Quarter Master.
The first day of summer came around and I found myself down at H.M.C.S. Sackville. I met a lot of new people and became good friends with the gift shop manager. I volunteered at many events and was invited to take part in multiple ceremonies. One of the ceremonies included the Anniversary of The Battle of the Atlantic. There was a flag raising ceremony and I met two very important men. One was a Sailor on H.M.C.S. Sarnia when they came across survivors in the water from the recently torpedoed H.M.C.S. Esquimalt sunk by the German U-boat 190. The Sarnia rescued twenty seven of their fellow sailors. The second sailor was a German submariner from U-190 that sank H.M.C.S. Esquimalt. The once enemies, now comrades stood at each of my sides as we raised the flag all in uniform. Many pictures were taken. After the ceremony the two men chatted with me and told me more stories of their “sea days”. That summer I learned to work the gift shop. I know it sounds insignificant; however, I met many people with personal experiences and stories of loved ones. Tourists shared war- related stories that really opened my eyes to many things such as life style; living conditions; and things and lives that the men and women left behind when they went to war. Many of the stories included the men not coming home. This really made me appreciate everything every man and women has done and appreciate everything I have.
It was October and the end of tourist season. The Sackville was being towed back to the Navel Dock Yard to her winter birth and I was asked to help. I was so excited. Being aboard H.M.C.S. Sackville while she was moving is something that not a lot of people have experienced since she retired. I was really becoming a part of H.M.C.S. Sackville's history.
Summer 2009, Quarter Master of the watch; I was itching to find out what this summer had in store. My first day back we moved H.M.C.S. Sackville back to her summer birth and the summer officially started. The work crew and I put on our paint jumpers and got to work chipping paint. Once the old paint was chipped we applied a new coat of blue and white paint. The ship looked great, just in time for The Tall Ships 2009.
The Festival lasted two weeks, to close the Festival there was a sail past. Every day of the summer we preformed Colours and Sunset, and I was told of the honor of dipping the flag when a junior ship passed. The Captain and First Lieutenant requested that I take the honor of dipping the flag during the sail past. It was the hottest day of the summer and I got third degree sun burns in the shape of my gun shirt. It was totally worth it to have gotten the chance to dip the flag of a retired World War Two ship; the flag that so many men had raised before, day in and day out.
Not all history is written in books. My experiences with H.M.C.S. Sackville have taught me much more then I could have ever learned in books. I am look forward to returning this season and as long as possible. Although I may not know much about the coming of age of the RCN, I am very familiar and close with an integral part of World War Two, RCN, Her Majesties Canadian Ship Sackville and am committed to preserving this beautiful and fading piece of history.