Former shipmates reunite in Charlottetown on weekend

Close to 80 former crew members of HMCS Uganda and HMCS Quebec will be in Charlottetown this week to attend a naval reunion.
Fred Bradley of Charlottetown, who served on Uganda from 1954-1956, said Tuesday the reunion has attracted former shipmates from across Canada and the U.S. and from as far away as Mexico and South Africa.
At least two other Islanders will attend the reunion, Frank Carragher and Joe LeClair.
"There were other Islanders who served on the ship but I have not heard from them," said Bradley, who is not originally from P.E.I. but has called the Island home for some time.
Reunions have been held every two years but Bradley said he suspects this could be the last big one.
"We're getting older and there is a lot of sickness, some of us just can't travel anymore," said Bradley, who was a member of the crew when the ship was "paid off" and taken out of service.
Former members of the ship's crew arrive today. Activities at the reunion get underway Friday morning and continue into Saturday. They include the laying of wreaths and a remembrance service at the cenotaph in Charlottetown Saturday morning.
Commissioned by the Royal Navy Dec. 17, 1942, the cruiser HMS Uganda was serving in the Mediterranean when she took a direct hit from a 3,000-pound glider-bomb off Salerno, Italy.
There was no dry dock available that could handle her so she proceeded across the Atlantic Ocean with only one of her four propellers working.
She docked at the U.S. Navy yard at Charleston, South Carolina, for repairs.
During that time the Canadian government negotiated with Britain to obtain the ship and she was recommissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy on Oct. 21, 1944, as HMCS Uganda.
The largest and strongest warship in the Royal Canadian Navy, the Uganda was 555 feet in length, with a beam of 62 feet and displacement of 8,800 tons.
The ship's crew consisted of 907 officers and crew.
A much-celebrated ship, the Uganda was the first Canadian warship to go around the world and the only Canadian warship to fight against the Japanese.
On Aug. 1, 1947, the ship was paid off into reserve status, only to be recommissioned on Jan. 14, 1952, as HMCS Quebec, moving to her new station on Canada's east coast.
In 1953, Quebec was the flagship under Rear Admiral Bidwell which led the Canadian ships to Spithead for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Canadian group consisted of a carrier, two cruisers, one destroyer and two frigates.
In 1956, the Quebec was sold for scrap to the Japanese.