SUDBURY – A representative of the Canadian Navy will present framed pictorial histories of two Sudbury area namesake warships to the city of Sudbury at a City Council meeting on Wednesday April 28, 2010. Lieutenant-Commander Clifford Stroud, Project Director with the Director - Maritime Requirements (Sea), will make the presentation to mark the Canadian Naval Centennial at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers of the Town Hall, located at 200 Brady Street in Sudbury, Ontario.
Commemorating HMC Ships Sudbury and Copper Cliff, the presentations will include framed pictures of the ships that include the ships' badges and historical write-ups.
HMC Sudbury was a Flower Class corvette commissioned into the Canadian Navy in 1941 at Montreal, Quebec. She arrived at Esquimalt, British Columbia, on 3 February 1944 and later that month commenced refit at Vancouver, British Columbia. Upon completion of this, on 10 May, she joined Esquimalt Force for the duration of the war. HMC Sudbury was paid off in 1945 and was later sold and converted for use as a salvage tug, entering service in 1949 under her original name. She was broken up at Victoria, British Columbia, in 1967.
Originally laid down as HMC Hever Castle, HMC Copper Cliff was a Castle Class corvette commissioned into the Canadian Navy in 1944. In 1945, she was paid off into reserve and then became the Chinese-flag merchant ship Ta Lung, in 1946. Soon afterward, she was renamed Wan Lee, and was taken over by the Chinese government in 1949.
Similar presentations are being made across Canada, to bring attention to the Canadian Naval Centennial and highlight the connection the Navy has with communities large and small in every corner of the country. Since 1910 Canada has put over 850 warships to sea under the naval ensign. Over 300 ships have been named for communities from coast to coast to coast.
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