Why The Navy?

Heroes Remember

Why The Navy?

Transcript

Well, we we’re actually quite a seafaring family. My grandfather and great-grandfather were both captains of the largest schooner that ever sailed the Great Lakes. That was the schooner Minnedosa, built in Kingston, Ontario. So, I had that background, I had my time at the …on the Great Lakes. Well it certainly wasn’t … I didn’t join it to see the world, because the world consisted of water and I just felt like that’s where I’d be at home. Kissed my grandmother goodbye and said, “I’ll see you later, honey.” And went down, took the streetcar, walked into the barracks and signed up, and got my uniform. And then we were all taken on a route march to break in the boots. I was always thankful I didn’t lace mine right up real tight because we got blue socks, and when your feet perspired, all the dye ran out of the socks. Well, I fixed those boots that night when I got home. I took my baseball bat and I hammered the begeebers out of them, except for the toes because I figured if I’m going to drop a rifle, I want it on a boot that has some support. And we weren’t living in barracks at the time. It was like you had an office job. You got up at home, had your breakfast, and went off to work wearing your uniform. And then, when you arrived at the barracks, we had a … they paraded everybody to make sure everybody was there. And then we went for rifle drill or route march. The other thing we used to do was boat drill with a Whaler, and we learned how to row the boat, the Whaler, in the water. Now the petty officer in charge had a real smart routine to get a bunch of raw recruits to row that Whaler in unison the right way. He had a gimmick that we had boat races from the barracks to the Humber Hotel. The last boat in was the one that paid for the beer. You didn’t pay for beer very long before you realized you had to get with it. I can’t remember the dates, but after that, I went to the signal school in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, to complete my training as a wireless operator.

Description

Mr. Irwin describes his reason for enlisting and basic training.

Robert Irwin

Mr. Irwin was born in Toronto, Ontario on April 9, 1921. He lost his father in a car accident while a boy. Because his mother had to work, he and his brother were taken under the wing of the local YMCA, where they both became excellent competitive swimmers. Once old enough, Mr. Irwin worked on the lake boats on Lake Superior. Shortly before enlisting, he also worked for General Electric, where he was promised a job upon his return from active service. Mr. Irwin trained as a wireless operator and, after doing shore duty in the Halifax communications centre, joined the frigate HMCS Prince Rupert, which was assigned to convoy duty. Mr. Irwin spent his entire time at sea aboard this vessel. Notable events during his duty include a possible sub kill off Ireland and the rescue of survivors from a torpedoed British warship in the same action. After leaving the service, General Electric made good on its promise, and Mr. Irwin pursued a 40 year career with them. He now resides in London, Ontario.

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