1953
 LCdr. T.R. Dancer. |
In April of 1953 Mr. E.B. Frost, president of the Navy League of Canada, Manitoba division, announced that Lt. T. Dancer, former executive officer of R.C.S.C.C. John Travers Cornwell V.C., would assume duties as commanding officer. Mr. Frost advised that Lt. Cdr. A.G. Payne, the former commanding officer, had found it necessary to resign due to business pressures. At a ceremony marking the change in command the corps bid farewell to Lt. Cdr. Payne shortly after he was presented with a gift on behalf of the Navy League.
The new commanding officer, Lt. T. Dancer, had been a member of the corps since 1943 when he joined as an ordinary cadet. He remained with the unit and worked his way through the ranks until he assumed the position of executive officer under Lt. Cdr. Payne. At the time of publication Mr. Dancer is president of the Manitoba division of the Navy League of Canada.
During April a further presentation was made to the corps. The Mutch Swimming trophy, emblematic of the best sea cadet swimming team in Canada, was presented to Midshipman Blair Ledger, swimming instructor of the corps, by Mr. H.Q. Daly, past president of both the Dominion and Manitoba swimming associations. The team had been successful in competition among all 101 sea cadet corps across Canada.
In May the corps was saddened by the news that past corps bandmaster Mr. W.A. Cramp, had died at the age of 68. Mr. Cramp, bandmaster from 1933 until his retirement due to ill health in 1946 had developed the R.C.S.C.C. John Travers Cornwell V.C. band into the finest cadet band in Canada. The corps' condolances were forwarded to Mrs. Cramp, herself a long time supporter of sea cadets in her capacity as executive member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy League.
The Winnipeg sea cadet organization was to lose another friend in 1953. Mr. E.B. Frost resigned as president of the Manitoba division of the Navy League after four years in office. Mr. Frost, who had been active with the Navy League since the early 1930's, had always maintained a close association with the cadets and had expended countless hours on their behalf. His departure from the post of president was felt by all those who had been associated with him in the past.
Mr. Frost was succeeded in his position by Mr. J.R.K. Millen who had devoted twenty-seven years to sea cadets in Winnipeg. Mr. Millen had assumed the position of corps commanding officer from 1926 to 1935 and since that time had held various executive positions in the Manitoba division of the Navy League.
The photograph shown above was kindly provided by Mr. T.R. Dancer of Winnipeg.
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