Athabaskan’s final day sail with veterans

LS Matt Corbett, a hull technician in Athabaskan, was presented the plaque from the ship’s Junior Rank Mess by CPO1 Fred McCrea, who came back to his former ship for the final day sail on Feb. 8. Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, FIS Halifax

Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~

As the final crew of HMCS Athabaskan prepared to say goodbye to the storied ship, they took it out for a final day sail from Halifax Harbour with more than 100 special guests.

Retired sailors, former personnel, and even a few former Commanding Officers took advantage of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) invitation to spend the day with the crew and head to sea for a last time.

This Athabaskan was the third RCN ship to bear that name, and all three ships were represented in some form during the final day sail.

Second World War veteran David Stewart, now in his 90s, travelled from Ontario to be on board. A former naval communicator, he sailed during the war, but it was his brother, Signalman Bill Stewart (RCNVR), who was lost at sea when the first Athabaskan was sunk in 1944. He shared the sad memory of coming back to shore and being given the news that his brother’s ship had been downed by a German torpedo. But he said it was a very positive experience to step aboard a modern destroyer, meet some of this generation’s sailors, and feel the rocking of the sea once again.

“I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life,” he said.

Gordon Stewart, 82, left the navy as a Leading Seaman almost 60 years ago, and his final ship was the second ship to be given the Athabaskan name, a Tribal-class destroyer. Stewart was a Torpedo Anti-Submariner; he was excited to get a glimpse at the “new” weaponry, even if the ship is old and on its way out of service. He also sent a few letters to friends and family that would be postmarked from the ship, just like he did as a young sailor.

“There’s just no comparison, the newer ships are amazing. And we certainly didn’t have helicopters and hangars or anything like that. The only thing that’s stayed the same are the shipmates and the camaraderie. That’s the good thing about the navy, it’s like you’re part of a big family,” he said.

The bulk of those on board, which added up to 500 counting current crew and visitors, made their naval memories on this particular Athabaskan. PO1 (Retired) Peter Rigby counted 19 years serving in the ship at various times through his career, with the longest stretch being two postings back to back from 1983-1991. He left the ship for the last time in 2015, but said some of his most vivid memories go back to 1990 and the deployment to the Persian Gulf on Operation Friction.

“There were 80,000 people waving us off when we sailed out of the harbour, that’s something I’ll never forget.”

He recalled the crew going to action stations due to a missile alert in the middle of the night, closing up in four minutes from a dead sleep as a Scud missile soared 100,000 feet above the ship.

“It missed us, but we were ready, and if it came close we were going to shoot it down,” he said. “It was one of the best crews I ever sailed with. We were well trained and well prepared.”

The ship was buzzing with activity through the day sail, as sailors young and old chatted about the changes that have come to the modern RCN and the changing nature of different trades and naval practices. The ship’s bridge was packed to capacity at 11 a.m. when Athabaskan’s 76mm gun fired its final volleys, and the cooks on board were kept busy with a steady stream of guests dining in their messes like old times.

There were also hints of sadness as the ship came alongside in the afternoon and the former crewmembers walked off the gangway for the last time, but Rigby and many others said they were happy to get the chance to say a proper goodbye.

“It’s bittersweet, but she’s old and she’s put in her time. We’ll still have all our fond memories.”

Athabaskan was decommissioned March 10 with well-deserved naval pomp and circumstance.