HMCS Niobe: AB ER's. Training Class and Instructors, 1918
Many thanks to James McKee who sent me a photo of a framed copy of the above photo, complete with the photo description and all of the names printed below it:
A.B.E.R's. Training Class and Instructors
H. M. C. S. "NIOBE," 1918
C. J. Steen,
F. W. Barrett,
E. O. Cousins,
H. G. Brown,
D. Carragher,
E. Proctor.
–
A. S. Crawford,
T. F. Ritchie,
G. Hartry,
H. H. Fellows,
S. J. Kolbinson,
W. G. Durno,
H. A. Bishop,
B. M. Cocquit.
–
J. L. Young,
H. F. Zwicker,
M. G. Lymburner,
F. McC. Park,
W. A. Duggins,
Eng. Sub. Lieut. D. deC. Ross-Ross,
G. E. Warwick,
L. E. Curtis,
C. M. Ashford,
R. J. Mount.
–
R. G. Bryant,
J. T. Davey,
G. T. Huber,
C. D. Lymburner,
W. D. Johnston.
Three men have been identified with complete names, and their information is given below:
Bernard Maurice Cocquyt:
Bernard's daughter, Yvonne Tabalotny, emailed me this info in May, 2019: "Bernard Maurice Cocquyt, RNCVR, was born on 24 May 1895, . . . . in Snelleghem, Belgium. He came to Canada with his parents in 1907. I don't know how long he served in the Naval Reserve. He was a farmer and also a fireman with the CNR in Saskatchewan, Canada. I guess his experience with being a stoker prepared him for that hard work on the steam locomotives! Dad died in Manitoba, Canada in November, 1971.
" I have a "Services rendered" pin of his, with the number 2278 stamped on the back. Would that have been given to men when they were demobilized? I remember him talking about the explosion in Halifax, and (I have) his sailor's hat with the HMCS Niobe ribbon on it. " Please see his entry in the Nauticapedia database.
William Dalton Johnston:
Please contact his grandson, William Johnston, for more information. William Dalton Johnston served on HMCS Niobe during World War 1, and was in Halifax on December 6, 1917, when a munitions ship exploded in Halifax Harbour, destroying most of the downtown area. Please see his entry in the Nauticapedia database.
Henry Freeman Zwicker:
Henry's grandson, James McKee, sent me a copy of the above photo, complete with the names of the men in the class. James said: "The fellow I have (indicated) is my grandfather Henry Freeman Zwicker from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He had a relatively short naval career. He was on board Niobe during the Halifax Explosion and was about to climb into a launch to fight the fire when the explosion happened. Lucky for me or I wouldn't be here. He was always deaf in one ear after. He also served at training camp Aldershot and, I believe, HMCS Stadacona for the rest of WW1." Please see his entry in the Nauticapedia database.
Can you provide names, details or corrections?
Please email Charlie Dobie.