If you would like to be listed on this page, please contact Jerry Proc, e-mail: jerry.proc@sympatico.ca and supply any information, comments or a story about your years of service aboard Cayuga.In addition, Records of Service can be obtained from Library and Archives Canada at the following address:
Personnel Records Unit
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N3All the necessary instructions are listed on the web page.
Toll free 1-866-578-7777 (Canada and U.S.A)
Fax: (613) 947-8456For further details, visit the Library and Archives of Canada web page:
Application Form For Record of Service
Bishop, DonI served in the R.C.N. from Jan.1956 to Jan. 1961. In 1959 it was my privilege to serve on H.M.C.S. Cayuga and was aboard during the boiler room fire while sailing from Montreal to Halifax. Was also part of the crew that transferred to Cayuga from St. Laurent when Cayuga came around from the West coast.
Both ships tied up side by side in Halifax and the crews just marched off St. Laurent to Cayuga and vice versa.
An extremely fast and efficient crew exchange. From a personal view, it was quite a change to go from the "Sally" and it's comfortable bunks to a WWII destroyer and start slinging a mick. However, Cayuga was an excellent ship and I have many fond memories of my time sailing in her.My rank upon discharge was L.S.E.M.
Regards,
Don Bishop
E-mail: Donsan23645@aol.com
Bjorndahl, Don
StokerMadoc, Ontario
E-mail: dot.don.bjorndahl@sympatico.caCansdale, Bob
I thought I would retire from Cayuga as it felt I was there for a long time. Served under Benson, Hoyle, Page, and Petley-Jones. The most memorable announcement made was during the course of preparing meals and especially soup. The ship would make a hard turn to port or starboard, the end result was always the same. Soup all over the galley, from the deck, bulkhead and deckhead and then the announcement which was "the ship is maneuvering and may roll."
The time came when I was to leave the ship. The event started when we left Bermuda for Halifax to get ready for a Baltic cruise in January. We left Bermuda knowing that we were going through a huge storm which lasted two days and abated on Christmas Day with the Atlantic being as smooth as glass. We lost all the upper deck lifesaving apparatus, storage lockers as well as damage to the superstructure.....no more sailing for months.
Previous to this event, we had been rammed by a friendly destroyer abreast of the torpedo tubes. Guess she just wanted to get close to us.All in all Cayuga was good to me for shipmates and experience which I enjoyed. Went to Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Okinawa, Santiago, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Panama, Bermuda and Boston as well as a few other places. On one trip to Pearl Harbor, three Japanese destroyers tied up on the next jetty to us, the first time the Japanese had been back since December 7th, 1941.
There's a lot more good memories of the Cayuga, but only a small place to put them.
Bob Cansdale
Kemptville, Ontario
E-mail being <rcansdale(at)sympatico.ca>Cox, Al
Found the "mascot" picture and it brought back a memory. I had forgotten - - that particular dog ended up being brought home to Dauphin, Manitoba in 1954-55 by one of the ship's company. For some reason he ended up on my doorstep and became my pet until 1956. I named him" Major". As luck would have it, I joined the navy in 1959 and was assigned my first sea draft. You guessed it - HMCS Cayuga ! Served aboard as OSRP
1960 to '61 then on to Athabascan and back to Cayuga in '62 for short stay until refit. Next was a 2's course. Spent 15 years serving on several other ships and left as P2RP for a new career in the Forest Service.Best regards,
Al Cox , Peggys Cove Road,
Peggys Cove , Nova Scotia
E-mail: grumpy2u42(at)eastlink.ca
Doyle , Bill
I was a member of Cayuga ships company in 1951/1952. The skipper was Commander James Plomer and the
medical officer was Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr, the "Great Imposter" a.k.a. Doc Cyr. I would appreciate hearing from any former crew member who served on Cayuga during those years.Bill "Dolly" Doyle
billdoyle(at)telus.netDunbar, Hugh Cochrane CPO1 RCN
My dad, Hugh Dunnbar, served in the Cayuga from 15 September 1949 to 27 May 1951; in Athabaskan from 02 Sep 1952 to 1 Feb 1953; in Fraser (1939) and Skeena in the late thirties (1936, 37, 38, 39). He was made PO in 1940, CPO in 1943 and CPO1 in 1943. Retired in 1957.
Though he would now be 91 years old, it is a little late to think that anyone who knew him is alive today, but you never know. Maybe someone who served under him might know him. He was a ASDIC and a torpedo man. Well liked, I believe, but served an undistinguished career, apart from the expected medal issue (eight medals).
He was a really nice guy. I wish I knew him now.Geoffrey Dunbar
ghdunbar(at)shaw.caFillion, Joe
I sailed in Cayuga 1960-1962. Originally joined the Navy in 1953. After rentry, I stayed in the Navy until 1989, a total of 36 years. Was Coxswain of Annapolis 1978 until 1980 when I was named Command Chief Petty Officer, I was in this position until 1986 when I was Commissioned from the ranks.
Cayuga was a great ship with a great Lower deck crew. I recall when we were alongside in Philadelphia and a young Cook hung himself in the Galley, it very sad. There is not many of us left that slung a "Mic", take care,
Joe Fillion <joefillion(at)eastlink.ca>
Hawtin, Leonard
Served on CAYUGA 60-61 as LSEM. Ollie Saunders took my duty watch 14 of March when they had the fire in the OPs room and I think Dave Mason was the P.O. in the boiler room when they had the fire. Your site brings back old memories.
Leonard C Hawtin
RCN 1952=1977
E-mail: chawtin@nisa.comLichtenstein, Bill
I was an electrician and went from the Bonnie to Cayuga in the Fall of 1962. We went on a cruise to Plymouth, Rotterdam and then to Portsmouth. The squadron then had a rush trip (4 days) back to Slackers to replenish ship and join the Cuban crisis off Shelburne watching 17 Soviet subs. This was a scary time. From there, it was off to Stad on a two's course.
The Electricians shared the 'after lower' with the Stokers, These were a great bunch of guys and I'll never
forget my life at sea especially learning to sling and sleep in a 'Mic'. Trying to keep ones spaghetti on the plate
and on the table rather than on one's lap during speed trials was also challenging. These great memories rate right
along with "UP SPIRITS".Get in touch if you wish ---
Bill Lichtenstein ABLM2 31622-H March 1959 to March 1964
Originally from Fort Frances, Ont. but now living in South Surrey, B.C.
E-mail: pawsnclaws(at)shaw.caMacDougall, Gordon
I transferred to Cayuga from Crusader. She was on her last tour in Korea. Interesting to read about
the dog. She was brought aboard by CPO Buckingham who had a sister who also lives in Gibsons,
BC where I live. He has passed on now (leaving the next generation to become the "oldtimers"!)
I would dearly like to get in touch with anyone who remembers those times in either the Cayuga or
Crusader. I was a signalman.
Later, Gordon MacDougall,LSCV1
E-mail: nodrogm(at)telus.netNoa, Howard
I was a Stoker aboard Cayuga in the 1953-54 time frame and would like to hear from any former shipmates.
Contact me by e-mail or telephone.
E-mail <bettenoa(at)telus.net> OR (604) 826-8081Zinck, Wallace
Brings back great memories served on the ship 1961 until it was paid off. Would like to communicate with old shipmates. Many years after Cayuga I sailed on other interesting ships such as Foundation Vigilent (3rd officer) and also sailed as first officer on Bluenose II. However have always treasured my time as OD seaman FC on Cayuga
Wallace Zinck
P.O. Box 756
Chester
Nova Scotia B0J 1J0e-mail: wallyzinck@gmail.com
Jul 11/09
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