It Strikes Me Funny by G. Harrison: Photographs: The Effingham Division, HMCS Stadacona (Halifax), 1941

The First Canadian Division to Join Combined Operations

The Division, "almost to the man," Volunteered in Dec. 1941

'X marks the spot' where my father Doug Harrison is sitting

Introduction:

I have had the above photograph in my possession for many years and it appears often on this site. However, the accompanying list of names, including each sailor but one - and printed neatly by my father - was lost in my travels. My fault.

Years ago I was given a typed list of that accompanied the photograph below - from the collection of sailor Joe Spencer - but it was not neatly divided into the six rows and there was some confusion on my part re who ended up where in which row. After lengthy review I now feel confident I have the list of names organized in the correct fashion and only 1 or 2 mysteries remain.

Effingham Division, Halifax, 1941

The spelling of the names may not be 100% accurate. Updates/corrections will take place as correct spellings are found. Also, not all of the members of the division are present (e.g., some may have been doing certain duties), though it is the largest of the two group photographs that I have found. A smaller group photo follows. GH

L - R Front Row

Woodley, Leavere (sp.?), Doug Harrison, F. Davies, C. B. Sheeler, J. Muirhead, S. ('Admiral') Dewey

L - R Second Row from front

V. R. Ward, Richard Cavanaugh, Gowan, P. O. Bigelow, Muscles Martin, P. O. Stevenson, Don Westbrook, R. Brown, Al Reneaird (sp.?)

L - R Third Row

E. Hampson, Art ‘Gash’ Bailey, Cabana, J. Martin, Lyle Miller, Norm Mitchinson, J. Jennings, Jack (Jake) Jacobs, W. Moore, Verne Smart, R. Carrol

L - R Fourth Row

Chuck Rose, J. E. Miller, Al Adlington, J. Templeton, M. Redpath, Allen Kern, Don Linder

L - R Fifth Row

H. Brill, N. Hodge, Jim W. Cole, J. Stewart, L. J. Miller, G. Fuller, John Watson, W. Belontz

L - R Sixth or Back Row (8 sailors, 9 names!)

Art Warrick, D. Kerr, J. Costello, F. Howard, W. Lewis, R. (Barry?) Yokum (sp.?), Joe Watson*, D. McPherson

I know that Joe Watson is second from the right. The extra name is Alen Finley.

As well, I know that four sailors are missing, for reasons as yet unknown:

Al Kirby, Woodstock (he appears in a separate photo below with my father); Joe Spencer, Toronto (he supplied the photos and appears below); Art Bradfield, Simcoe (he appears below); Buryl McIntyre, Norwich (he appears in a separate photo below with my father).

The smaller group photograph of members of the Effingham Division below was taken in front of the sailors' Wellington Barracks (aka Nelson Barracks). The building no longer exists at HMCS Stadacona, though a somewhat similar building (the Officers' Mess) still stands in its original location. The photo is also from the collection of Joe Spencer and he supplied a list of names that helped confirm certain identities, but one or two mysteries still remain.

L - R Front Row

Scotty Wales (Whalen?) (pipe in his mouth), Norm Mitchinson, Niagara Falls, Jim E. Miller, Don Westbrook, Hamilton, S. Dewey (aka Admiral), J. Jennings, Sam Ingram (? Editor: I question the name Ingram; it may be Thibodeau)

L - R Middle row

Levere (sp.?), Art Warrick, Hamilton, Charlie B. Sheeler, Verne Smart, J. Stewart, J. Muirhead, V. (Ray?) Ward, Niagara Falls, Jim Cole, Al Reneaird* (Renaird?)

*Al Reneaird was listed as Al Kirby but I know it was not Al Kirby, Woodstock, a man who was also missing from the first photo.

L - R Back Row

Joe Spencer, Charles ‘Chuck’ Rose, Chippawa, Art Bradfield, Simcoe, Joe Watson, Simcoe, Barry (R.?) Yokum (sp.?), J. Martin, Unknown (Alen or Allan Finley, from first photo?), L. J. Miller

I include this next photograph because it also reveals Wellington Barracks in the background. As well, Buryl McIntyre, Norwich (RCNVR and Combined Operations) was absent from both group photos.

Doug Harrison (left) and Buryl McIntyre both from Norwich, Ont.

Al Kirby was another sailor absent for both photographs and there may be more. I will add such details or updated/additional photographs to this post as they become available.

Al Kirby appears in the photo below (on the right) with my father Doug Harrison. I believe they are on guard duty in the United Kingdom, e.g., HMS Northney, Hayling Island, 1942.

My next challenge will be to identify the second division of Canadian sailors which volunteered for Combined Operations in December, 1941. This division (below) accompanied the Effingham Division on the Dutch liner Volendam overseas in January, 1942. They landed in Greenock, Scotland, boarded at HMCS Niobe (transit depot) for a few days and were then sent en masse to their first training re Combined Operations at HMS Northney on Hayling Island, off the southern coast of England.

The photograph here is from the collection of Lloyd Evans (back row, fifth from the left) and I can only confidently identify 3 other sailors. Help Wanted!*