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HMCS CHIPPAWA
Winnipeg Half-Company RCNVR
Winnipeg Division RCNVR
Winnipeg, Manitoba
HMCS CHIPPAWA is named after the vessel which led the line of Commander Robert Barclay into action against the Americans at the Battle of Lake Erie on 10 Sep 1813. The name was derived from the Indian tribe which inhabited the area east of the present site of Winnipeg.
In Feb 1923, Lt Eustace Brock was tasked with establishing a Naval Reserve Division in Winnipeg. In March 1923, he procured office space for Winnipeg's Navy. By May 1923, Lt Brock, 5 officers, 2 Petty Officers and over 50 Reservists enrolled. In the spring of 1924, Naval Headquarters in Ottawa arranged to lease the Rat-Portate Lumber Co. building in Norwood and on 22 Apr 1924, the White Ensign was hosted and flew for the first time in Manitoba. By the summer of 1924, the Winnipeg Half Company RCNVR was up to full strength of 100 personnel.
The Winnipeg Company became the Winnipeg Division in 1936 and finally HMCS CHIPPAWA in 1941.
In October 1942, an agreement was reached to sell the Winnipeg Winter Club complex to the Royal Canadian Navy for $256,000, which would in turn be invested in Victory Bonds. The deal was approved by the Federal Treasury Board in mid-October, and conversion of the building began. Bowling alleys were converted to rifle ranges, the courts were renovated into living quarters, and the ice rinks were re-purposed into training areas. The building became HMCS CHIPPAWA, replacing services and barracks previously based at a cramped site on Ellice Avenue and a recruiting office on Sherbrook Street. It contained areas for administration, training, mess facilities, housing quarters, and space for women’s naval auxiliary activities.
In 1973, on the 50th anniversary of the Naval Reserve, HMCS CHIPPAWA adopted the motto "Service".
In 1998 the building was demolished in 1998 to make way for a joint training facility and naval museum. In 1999, the new facility was built by the federal government at a cost of $7.35 million. It was officially opened by senior Manitoba Parliamentarian and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy at a ceremony on 28 November 1999. The 4,200-square-meter facility included classrooms, mess and drill halls, a parade square, and a computer training centre named for Waldron N. “Wally” Fox-Decent (Rear-Admiral and former Commanding Officer of HMCS CHIPPAWA).
Photos and Documents
(LK111) HMCS CHIPPAWA Apr 1965 Inspection of HMCS CHIPPAWA by Cmdre Taylor and Capt Dangerfield - Apr 1965. LCDR Kennedy with sword in lower right corner of photo (LK112) L-R: LCdr E.M.L. Kennedy, LCdr F.B.Bradshaw, Cdr R. Godbehere, Cdr Findlay greeting Cmdre Taylor and Capt Dangerfield, Commanding Officer HMCS CHIPPAWA during the Apr 1965 inspection of HMCS CHIPPAWA From the collection of LCdr Lionel Kennedy, RCN Courtesy of Barbara Holliday
HMCS CHIPPAWA New Entry Recruits - between 28 Jul 1942 - 12 Sep 1942 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
From the collection of Daniel Dunbar, AB, RCNVR
Courtesy of Dan Dunbar
(9) Dunbar, Daniel
New Entries at HMCS CHIPPAWA Between 20 Dec 1943 - 13 Feb 1944 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
Click here to view the photo with sailors numbered for identification
(2) Coutts, Gordon, OS, RCNVR
From the collection of Gordon Coutts, AB, RCNVR
Courtesy of Dan Coutts
New Entries at HMCS CHIPPAWA circa Sep 1943 - Jan 1944
(RS11-RS12) - New Entries on the march. Prob. SLt Richard Simon leading the platoon
Click on the above photos to view a larger images
From the collection of Lt Richard (Dick) Simon
Courtesy of Rick Simon
New Entry Course - HMCS CHIPPAWA - c1943 Click on the above photo to view a larger image Click here to view the photo with sailors numbered for identification From the collection of Lewis Truscott, Signalman, RCNVR Courtesy of William Truscott
Sub-Lieutenant's at HMCS CHIPPAWA circa Sep 1943 - Jan 1944 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
Click here to view the photo with officers numbered for identification
From the collection of Lt Richard (Dick) Simon
Courtesy of Rick Simon
HMCS CHIPPAWA New Entry recruits - photo taken between 26 Jan 1944 - 30 Apr 1944 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
From the collection of Alvin Epp Courtesy of Steve Epp
(14) Epp, Alvin
HMCS CHIPPAWA New Entry recruits - Date Unknown Click on the above photo to view a larger image
From the collection of John Dunsmore Courtesy of Lyle Dunsmore
New Entry Training at HMCS CHIPPAWA circa late 1942 early 1943 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
Click here to view the photo with recruits and staff numbered for identification
(15) Rombough, Wallace Ormand, OS
From the collection of P1ER Wally Rombough, RCN
HMCS CHIPPAWA New Entry recruits - circa late 1943 - early 1944 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
From the collection of John W. Welykholowa, RCNVR
Courtesy of Doug Welykholowa
(20) Welykholowa, John W.
HMCS CHIPPAWA "A" class - 8 Jan 1943 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
From the collection of Harold Colgan Courtesy of Randall Colgan
(29) Colgan, Harold
HMCS CHIPPAWA New Entry Recruits - 1944 Click on the above photo to view a larger image
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
