Five Royal Canadian Navy patrol vessels traversed the 123 miles of the Rideau Canal from Kingston to Ottawa, the first naval vessels do so in fifty years. The flotilla's destination was the naval reserve division HMCS Carleton, the host unit of the Great Lakes Naval Regatta held in Ottawa September 1-3, 1951. Originating at various naval reserve divisions in Port Arthur (711), Windsor (762), London (779), Hamilton (706) and Toronto (716), they were seven of the surviving 117-foot, 88-vessel wooden-hulled wartime fleet, assembled in kit form shipped from England to small Canadian shipyards for assembly. The Fairmiles from London and Kingston (721) did not complete the journey.
At Kingston's CSL dock on August 28 (top photo and below). Note Fort Frontenac plus a boxcar, gasification tank and two other freight cars in the left background in the top photo. (Queen's University Archives, V25.5-16-68, George E.O. Lilley Fonds)
The Fairmiles made their way up the canal starting on August 28, 1951. With a five-foot draft and a lock depth of six feet, clearances were tight! At Kingston Mills, each vessel took about 40 minutes to traverse the locks. Toronto's 716 is the first to pass under Kingston Mills Road:
Reaching Smiths Falls late Wednesday on their three-day voyage, there were three mishaps, including one Fairmile losing the top of its mast to a high-tension power line and London's vessel coming a day later after needing repairs to damage encountered while arriving in Toronto harbour. Swing bridge and blockhouse at Kingston Mills Road (Queen's University Archives, V25.5-16-119, George E.O. Lilley Fonds)
This news clipping shows the four Fairmile launches in the canal approaching Ottawa:
Another news clipping seems to show the Fairmiles descending the locks to the Ottawa River for a naval review. The vessels returned to Kingston, departing Ottawa on September 5.
Faremile ML051Commissioned into RCN: 24 November 1941. Sold January 1946, Commander C.H. Hudson RCN(R), Vancouver."Tied up at Sorel"? Resold (or reacquired?) renamed as Radell II. #192751 Owner: National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa ON; until 1969 at least. Owner (1972): Ministry of the Environment (as a research vessel) Registered in Ottawa. Owner(1980): Kenneth O. Gisborne (Managing. Owner), Toronto Re–registered 26 April 1988 Owner: Drew Baird. Under restoration, at Nanticoke, ON October 2000. Still in service registered 30 November 2004 Engine: 2 Gray Marine Detroit oil engine 2009: Seen by Morin, at Nanticoke: mostly a wreck, partly sunk, desolate.
ReplyDeleteAs Radell II owned by NRC she wintered in Ottawa, but worked in the St. Lawrence system, so she passed through the Rideau twice a year. The Fall passage mus have required some care
Thanks for that additional information, Peter. I came across a photo of Radell II in researching this post and there was definitely a resemblance!
ReplyDeleteEric