HMCS Buckingham in Toronto, 1959
To quote a paragraph from Page 16 of 'The Crowsnest' of November, 1959: "Saturday (August 29) was a great day for the Royal Canadian Navy when a whaler crew from the frigate Buckingham captured the Carling trophy after defeating the finalists of 16 other entries."
The other entries were from the international fleet of ships which was touring the Great Lakes to celebrate the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway. The only other entry that is known at this time was from the German ship GNSS Hipper, which was launched as the Corvette HMS Actaeon in 1946 and transferred to the German Navy in 1958.
It is not known who took these photos – no negative numbers or other information is written on their reverses, which pretty well rules out DND photos. It is possible they are publicity photos taken by Carling Breweries.
Many thanks to Neil S. Bell for pointing out that the race was held in Toronto – a tower of the Ontario Government Building at the C.N.E. is visible in the background of one photo.
This must be just after completion of the race. Tradition is that the winning coxwain (in this case, Gerry McLennon) gets thrown overboard.
Whaler crew from HMCS Buckingham being presented with the Carling trophy. PO Gerry McLennon is 3rd from left, holding the trophy, and L/S Normand Gagnon is 2nd from right.
Whaler crew from HMCS Buckingham being presented with the Carling trophy. PO Gerry McLennon is front & centre, holding the trophy, and L/S Normand Gagnon is 2nd from right.
Whaler crew boarding HMCS Buckingham with the Carling trophy. PO Gerry McLennon is at the top of the ladder.
Whaler crew from GNSS Hipper, who were runners up in the race.
The tower mostly hidden by trees in the left background is part of the Ontario Government Building at the Canadian National Exhibition
grounds in Toronto. Many thanks to Neil S. Bell for pointing this out.
Passes to the Toronto Transit Commission and the Toronto Men's Press Club.
PO Gerry McLennon at the wheel, presumably of HMCS Buckingham. This must have been a promotional photo, either by the Navy or Carling Breweries.
Many thanks to Eric Gagnon for sending me the name of his father, L/S Normand Gagnon, who appears in two of the photos above. Eric says his father passed in 2021.
Can you provide names, details or corrections?
Please email Charlie Dobie.