Have you ever thought a story was so outlandish and ridiculous that it can’t be true? I have . This Queen of Nanaimo story. Is this some kind of elaborate joke? Fake? Gone to Fiji? The MV Queen of Nanaimo? To be installed on the Suva – Savusavu run down there in Fiji? This can’t be true. It can only be fiction.
But we have received confirmation from Mr George Goundar, principal of Goundar Shipping in Fiji, that the Queen of Nanaimo, this venerable ship plying these inland waters since 1964, has been repurposed as the “Lomaivita Princess V”. And following a short refit interlude in Gdansk, Poland, is now dodging cyclones in the South Pacific.
It used to be said that it “strains credulity”. But people don’t talk like that anymore. It sounds impossible, but a while back my non-friend Mr Dan Reynolds took this shot of the rechristened Nanaimo at Deas Pacific Marine with the new colour scheme. Before the ship sailed for Gdansk. Perhaps few care, but that’s okay.
We’re fine with it. But the one problem this whole thing has created is now we have to get down to Fiji to see for ourselves. And in the forward lounge of the Lomaivita Princess V will still be the murals of Patricia Johnson, a section of which adorns the header of this famous site. As George Goundar himself has assured me, the murals are staying on. We were wondering about that.
A mock-up image of an image of the newly named “Lomaiviti Princess V”. The Suva – Savusavu run is about 90 nautical miles and takes a sedate 12 hours.
RIDGE. What it is about? It’s about a bulb out in the lower “D”. You never notice this stuff unless you look closely and that is if you have the chance.Classic dark grey afternoon. It’s tough when you’re so talented yourself and our beautiful town presents such opportunities. You’re never going to wonder about any of this again. You sure as hell know where you are when you’ve ID’ed this area. Now get going.
Someday Arbutus Mall further south will be open for business again and, in a strange way, that’s all I cared about this Sunday afternoon. There’s a gigantic hole dug up there and a bit of a mystery what’s filling it in. Money maybe.
Joseph Buxley Stretch. Born Long Creek, Prince Edward Island January 5, 1892. Trade: Carpenter. 26 years old. Married. No children. Height 5 foot 10. Weight 163 lbs. Complexion medium. Eyes blue. Hair brown. Present postal address Collins P.O. Saskatchewan. Called up January 3, 1918. First Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment, Regina. Regimental service number: 1263521. Terms of service: Duration of war.
Joe had a short war, and that was good. He didn’t know how long it would be, he just knew he’d been called up and had to go. The Military Service act of 1917 had been instituted because rather a lot of Canadian boys were being annihilated in the great war and the army needed more men. It was simple arithmetic.
So they were even scooping up ancient 26 year old married guys with useless skills like carpentry in Saskatchewan, by law. You need to stop wasting your time, Joe, building things and join us and maybe get yourself killed in the war.
Joseph Buxley Stretch was in the 3rd draft. The war had entered a new phase and it was looking like a lot more killing although you just never knew. Maybe it’d all be over by Christmas.
The Saskatchewan volunteers up to the draft had demonstrated a peculiar knack for getting slaughtered over there in Belgium and France in the previous three years. 70%, 80%, 90% casualties in their units was common, and too close for comfort. These boys just didn’t know how to quit. The term “Suicide Battalion” had been coined.
Joseph Buxley Stretch proceeded overseas with the 5th Division Canadian Expeditionary Force He sailed on the S.S. Missanbie on March 4th, 1918. His timing was great. The Missanbie was sunk by German submarine U87 off Ireland on September 9, 1918 with the loss of 45 lives.
Assigned to the 15th Reserve Battalion March 7, 1918. Recorded as being with the 5th Battalion in France on August, 20, 1918 and transferred to the 16th Battalion Infantry September 8, 1918.
On October 5, 1918 Joseph Buxley Stretch was reported missing after action. On October 28, 1918 he was reported as being a prisoner of war. The war was less than two weeks from being over but it was still full-on war.
On December 10, 1918 Joseph Buxley Stretch was reported released and was at Nº 1 Rest Camp, Dover, England.
Embarked for Canada from Liverpool on the Cunard Line RMS Carmania on February 1, 1919. Pvt. Joesph Buxley Stretch travelled in style.
Homeward Bound
Disccharged on demobilization March 4, 1919, Regina Saskatchewan.
Entitled to wear one blue “Service Chevron” for overseas service up to 12 months. Last pay certificate from the Canadian army $186.20.
Joseph Buxley Stretch and Mrs Ina Neoma Stretch had 9 children, all of whom survived to adulthood and beyond. They left Collins and raised their family in Beechy, Saskatchewan and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Today you can’t find Collins, Saskatchewan on any map of the province. According to a source who would know, “A lot of towns disappeared.”
Image of Joseph Buxley Stretch to be inserted top of column, left. Data from official documents. Have a great wknd..
samoyeddogs 