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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BROOKS, Morley Drummond - was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England on December 1, 1903. He had two older brothers (Robert and Eric) and three younger sisters (Muriel, Mary and Gertrude). His father was William Brooks who ran a dry goods business.
In 1911 the Brooks family left England for the farming community of Rimbey Alberta in western Canada but by 1922 they had relocated to Vancouver. Drummond worked at several jobs but eventually became a qualified electrician and worked for General Electric as a salesman of electrical products and rose to be General Manager of merchandising for all of Canada by 1940.
Drummond at age 38 in 1941 joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and was enrolled in the officers' training plan at Royal Roads. His specialty in the RCN was anti-submarine warfare. On completion of his training he was assigned as the Anti-submarine Officer on the Corvette HMCS Kenogomi (K125). His first convoy was from Halifax to Scotland; the second was from Halifax to Reykjavik; the third convoy, SC42,consisting of sixty-four ships, was from Newfoundland to Reykjavik. SC42 was attacked by a least eight U-boats off the coast of Greenland and the convoy lost sixteen ship with damage to four others, but the engagement also resulted in the sinking of two U-boats. As the engagement continued, SC 42 steamed on, leaving the Kenogomi to sweep across the stern of the convoy. Kenogomi gained a strong contact and dropped depth charges and was narrowly missed by a torpedo churning through the water off her starboard bow. Moments later a lookout spotted a surfaced U-boat and the ship opened fire driving her under and then attacking with depth charges. The Kenogomi during the SC 42 engagement had at least two opportunities for a kill but neither of them were successful.
Drummond returned to Halifax and was assigned for another six months of special anti-submarine training. He then went to England for another six months of anti-submarine warfare training with the Royal Navy. The ship on which he was serving arrived in New York and was assigned as an escort to MS Queen Elizabeth taking troops to England. On return to London with the MS Queen Elizabeth he was posted to a destroyer operating in the Mediterranean.
While in New York waiting on the MS Queen Elizabeth he met his future spouse, Jean Taggart whom he married during another port visit to New York on September 11, 1944. He was, towards war end, stationed at Digby Nova Scotia, near HMCS Cornwallis. His first son William, was born in Digby on August 25, 1945.
At wars end in 1945,with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Drummond left the Navy and moved first to Montreal, then to Vancouver. His other two sons were born in Vancouver, Ross on July 8, 1948 and Brent on March 21, 1952. Drummond worked for Sylvania Electric where he rose to become the First Vice-President and moved back to their head office in Montreal, living at Pointe Claire.
Drummond eventually retired and moved to St. Pete's Beach, Florida in 1970. He celebrated 100th birthday on 1 December 2003 and in October of 2005, he "Crossed the Bar" at an age of almost102.
Ships served in: HMCS ROYAL ROADS - Appointed to ROYAL ROADS 26 Jan 1941as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR (Navy List Mar 1941) HMCS KENOGAMI - Appointed to KENOGAMI 27 Apr 1941 as a Prob SLt, RCNVR (Navy List Jun 1941) (Navy List Jun 1941). Re-Appointed to KENOGAMI 29 Jun 1941 as a SLt, RCNVR (Seniority 01 Jan 1941) (Navy List Jul 1941). Appointed Lt, RCNVR (seniority 01 Jan 1942) (Navy List Jan 1942) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX For Disposal or Under Training 01 Jan 1942 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Apr 1942) RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT, A/S School 11 May 1942 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Sep 1942) * Serving in Royal Navy as a Lt (a/s), RCNVR eff 11 Jan 1943 (Navy List Aug 1943 - Jun 1944) HMS BLENHEIM - Appointed to BLENHEIM 26 Nov 1943 as a Lt, RCNVR (British Navy List Feb 1944 Vol II pg 2111) HMS BLENHEIM was a destroyer depot and repair ship. * Note: Lt Brooks is not listed in the Apr 1944 or Jun 1944 British Navy Lists * Seniority backdated 01 Jan 1941 (Navy List Jun 1944) HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA For Disposal or Under Training 03 Aug 1944 as a Lt (A/S), RCNVR (Navy List Sep 1944) HMCS CORNWALLIS - Appointed to CORNWALLIS A/S School 06 Oct 1944 as an Lt (A/S), RCNVR (Navy List Nov 1944). Appointed A/LCdr (A/S), RCNVR (Navy List Jan 1945) * Retired List as a LCdr, RCN(R) (seniority 20 Nov 1945) (Navy List Jul 1946) HMCS DISCOVERY (Retired List) as a LCdr, RCN(R) (Navy List Jul 1952) * Last noted on the Retired List as HMCS DISCOVERY as a LCdr, RCN(R) (Navy List Jan 1960)
Astonishing Luck, the Real Story - by Drummond Hudson
'Astonishing Luck' is a phrase coined by my Uncle Drum in the 1940's; but before revealing The Real Story, you need to know some of the interesting history of the Brooks family and, in particular, Uncle Drum.
Drummond Morley Brooks was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England on December 1, 1903. He had two older brothers (Robert and Eric) and three younger sisters (Muriel, Mary and Gertrude). His father, my grandfather (William Brooks), ran a dry goods business.
History tells us that many significant events happened on December 1st: * Uncle Drum was born (1903). * Henry I, King of England died - he was the first King who could read (1135). * Hans Christian Anderson published his first book of fairy tales (1835). * First chartered mutual life insurance company opens (1843). * First White House telephone installed (1878). * James Naismith (a Canadian) creates the game of basketball (1891). * First drive up gas station opened in Pittsburgh (1913). * Henry Ford (Ford Motor Co.) introduced the first assembly line (a car every 2 hours and 38 minutes) (1913). * The game of Bingo was invented by Edwin S. Lowe (1929). * Bell Labs test coaxial cable for TV use (1936). * CFL Grey Cup: Hamilton Tigers beat Regina 30-0 (1928); Toronto beat Winnipeg 35-0 (1945); in1962 the game was halted by fog, resumed the next day - Winnipeg 28, Hamilton 27). * Jack Nicklaus becomes the first golfer to earn $2 million in a year (1973). * Michael Jackson releases "Thriller" (1982). * Digging begins to link England and France under the English Channel (1987).
In 1911 the Brooks family left England headed for Alberta. They took the ship, Sicilian, to Quebec City, a 14-day trip;and then the train to Calgary. The trip from Red Deer to Rimbey, Alberta, their new home, a village of 100 people, was 35 miles by horse and wagon - a full day's journey. Surrounded by farmers and ranchers, they had no electricity nor modern conveniences.
In 1919, the family left Rimbey and moved to Chilliwack BC. They bought a dairy farm. Uncles Bob, Eric, and Drum milked 14 cows, looked after the chickens and pigs and had a lot of fun; but not much profit was made.
In 1922, the family sold the farm and moved to Vancouver. Drum's first job was selling vacuum cleaners door to door. In 1923, he also sold tea and spices door to door. During these years, he studied and became a qualified journeyman electrician, and later a fully licensed electrician. His trade took him to Calgary where he wired the then new and still standing Palliser Hotel. Uncle Drum also did the planning and wiring for the coloured light display on the fountains you see upon entering Stanley Park in Vancouver.
This is a little side story so you can understand the character and depth of Uncle Drum. While on a trip to Calgary with his friend Jim Masterson, Drum developed quite a reputation for his ability to produce thunderous sounds while emitting wind from bodily orifices. His talent was apparently legendary, so much so that he actually won a burping and farting contest.
Between 1931 and 1940, Uncle Drum was employed as a salesman of electrical products for Northern Electric and rose to General Manager of Merchandising for all of Canada.
Now comes a huge turning point in Drum's life. In 1941, on a gin nurtured evening, with a close friend, he decided to join the Navy. At age 38, he enrolled for first officer training at Royal Roads, Victoria. His specialty was anti-submarine warfare. He was assigned as the Anti-sub Officer on the Corvette HMCS Kenogomi. His first convoy was from Halifax to Scotland; the second was from Halifax to Reykjavik; the third convoy was from Newfoundland to Reykjavik. This convoy, SC42, had 60 ships in total. SC42 was attacked by German U-boats off the coast of Greenland. Twenty ships were sunk by German U-boats. The convoy chugged on leaving the Kenogomi to sweep the stern.
As she dropped charges on a strong contact, the feather of a torpedo crossed her bow and a moment later a lookout spotted a surfaced U-boat coming their way at top speed. Kenogomi opened fire and eventually lost sight of the German U-boat. It was an eerie night. The moon shone white and clear. Aurora Borealis was dressed in a full display of glory for the embattled flotilla. Icebergs slowly drifting south sparkled in the sheen of the moon and northern lights. Seldom, if ever, have men fought for their lives in conditions of such awesome beauty.
Drum then returned to Halifax and was assigned to HMS Cornwallis for another six months of special anti-sub training. He then went to England for another six months of anti-sub warfare training with the Royal Navy. The HMS Cornwallis ended up in New York and was waiting to escort MS Queen Elizabeth to England. The Queen E was taking 16,000 American troops to London. It took three days just to load the men and equipment.
It was while he was in New York that he met his future wife, Jean Taggart, a dietician at Doctors Hospital. They spent two days together and then Drum had to leave to escort the Queen Elizabeth across the Atlantic. Once docked in London he was assigned to a Destroyer which was fighting in the Mediterranean.
In 1944, Uncle Drum was sent back to New York. He looked up Jean and they were married on September 11, 1944 in 'the little church around the corner' in New York. They were stationed in Digby, Nova Scotia near HMCS Cornwallis. Their first son William, was born in Digby on August 25, 1945.
The war was over in 1945. Drum left the Navy and moved first to Montreal, then to Vancouver. His other two sons were born in Vancouver, Ross on July 8, 1948 and Brent on March 21, 1952. In those days, Drum was working for Sylvania Electric where he rose to become the First Vice-President and moved back to head office in Montreal, living in Pointe Claire.
He eventually retired and moved to St. Pete's Beach, Florida in 1970.
Let's jump ahead to Monday, December 1, 2003 - Uncle Drum's one-hundredth birthday. There are about 100 guests, all family and friends attending this gala dinner and special celebration in St. Petersburg Beach. He had asked me to wear my Full Dress RCMP Uniform - to show off to his American friends. My son Drummond also joined in the fun. It was the first time the three Drummonds had ever been all together.
Uncle Drum gave a 20-minute speech. In the speech, he mentioned that he was assigned to a British Destroyer which was fighting in the Mediterranean Sea. The night before he was to meet the destroyer, he met an old close friend and they went out on the town. He missed his flight the next morning to meet the Destroyer and was reassigned to another ship. Two days later, he heard that that Destroyer had been hit and sunk. All hands were lost.
To quote Uncle Drum: "I don't know if it was the Navy Rum or the Good Lord above that spared me, or was it 'Astonishing Luck'?"
Uncle Drum passed away in October 2005, just short of his 102nd birthday.
(Uncle) Drummond Brook's mother was my Great Auntie Flo whose brother, Charles Hartley Turnbull, was my maternal grandfather.
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