Our Association

During the autumn of 1984 the idea of establishing a Submariners Association on the West Coast of Canada was born, with the prime movers being retired submariners Alfie Betts, Bob Eveleigh and Larry Skaalrud. Assisted by Neil Boivin, then a senior staff officer at Headquarters Maritime Command Pacific, initiatives were implemented in the spring of 1985 to determine if sufficient interest and commitment existed to support a viable Submariners Association.

A most heartening and positive response from some 35 individuals, with both Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Navy submarine backgrounds, resulted in the formation of the Submarine Old Comrades Association (SOCA) Canadian Pacific Branch. We reported directly to the parent organization in the United Kingdom and our inaugural Branch meeting was held in January of 1986.

As members of SOCA we held monthly meetings and social functions, participated in various Remembrance Day Ceremonies, were represented by strong local contingents at Reunions in the UK and financially assisted the Vancouver Island Navy League.

During the spring of 1993 we sponsored our first Submariner's Reunion in Victoria, BC, an outstanding success with 230 persons attending.

In 1994 our membership elected to form a distinct Canadian Submariners Association and in January of 1995 the inaugural meeting of The Submariners Association of Canada (SAOC) was held.

In January of 1996 we welcomed SOCA members from central Canada, who became the autonomous Branch of The Submariners Association of Canada Central, based in Ottawa, Ontario.

During 1999 SOCA was renamed the Submariners Association and our brother Submariners of SOCA Halifax became known as Submariners Association Halifax. In early 2002 the members of Submariners Association Halifax voted to become the 3rd Branch of SAOC and are now known as The Submariners Association of Canada East.

In August of 1914 Canada's first submarines, HMC Submarines CC1 and CC2, were purchased by the Province of British Columbia, presented to the Royal Canadian Navy and patrolled the BC coast during WW1. The first Canadian naval vessels to transit the Panama Canal under the White Ensign, they also served as training vessels in the Bras D'Or Lakes until 1920.

During 1961-1969 HMCS Grilse SS71 served on the west coast , followed by HMCS Rainbow SS75 during 1968-1974. Both served with distinction in a continuous series of national and international missions and exercises.

In April of 1996 The Submariners Memorial Cairn was unveiled in HMC Dockyard, Esquimalt, by Rear Admiral Bruce Johnston, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and then SAOC West President Hal Zerbin. This Memorial is dedicated to Canada's West Coast Submarines and to all who have served in Boats of the 'Silent Service'.

May of 1997 saw our second Submariner's Reunion in Victoria, BC, the guests of honour being Flag Officer Submarines Royal Navy, Rear Admiral James Perowne and Mr. Bob Wonsley, President of the United States Submarines Veterans, Inc. The Reunion was truly an international event. Two hundred and forty-six persons attended, including six from England, two from Australia and twenty-five from the United States. During this Reunion a Time Capsule, to be opened after a period of fifty years and containing Submarine Memorabilia and 1997 artifacts, was loaded into the Submariners Memorial Cairn.

Subsequent years found our Association members busier than ever with a display of Submarine Memorabilia in the Naden Naval Museum and our Annual Summer BBQ & Horseshoes Tourney's at the Batchelor's residence overlooking Cowichan Bay, along with attendances at the USSVI Convention in Reno, Nevada, the 2000 United States Navy Submarine Centennial celebrations and during 2001, the Royal Navy Submarine Service Centenary in the United Kingdom and the dedication ceremonies for Deterrent Park, Bangor Submarine Base, Washington, USA.

2003 was another banner year for our Association with another successful Submariner's Reunion hosted in Victoria, BC, guest of honour being Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Bob Davidson.

August of 2003 saw the arrival of HMCS Victoria SSK876 and, after a period of almost 30 years, the reactivation of Canadian Submarine Force Pacific. Our Association is privileged to enjoy a close rapport with the Submariners of HMCS Victoria, being regularly invited to Mess Dinners, Ship's Socials & Retirement Functions. Several are members of our Association & have taken a leading role in the refurbishment of the Submarine Memorial Cairn located nearby to the HMC Dockyard Submarine Support Facility.

2007 found members of our Association busier than ever, with our Annual Summer BBQ & Horseshoe Tourney during the month of July, along with attendance on the USSVI National Convention Cruise to Alaska (including a port visit to Victoria) during the month of September ~ a 90,000 ton Cruise Ship ... full of Submariners!!

Our 2008 Gathering of Submariners was hosted in Victoria, BC, May 2-3-4, with guest of honour being Captain Ray Hunt (Ret'd), Commanding Officer HMC Submarines Rainbow & Okanagan and Commander 1st Canadian Submarine Squadron. Yet another great success with 187 Attendees from across Canada, the United States, England & Scotland.

In addition to our regularly scheduled functions for 2009, September found a contingent from our Association headed south for the United States Submarine Veterans ~ International Submariners Association Joint Conventions in San Diego, California. A truly International Gathering of approximately 1800 Submariners from around the world.

2010 was the year of our Canadian Navy Centennial, with Association members participating & attending the Naval Fleet Review, Victoria's Navy Day & Freedom of the City, Homecoming Statue and Battle of Atlantic. Helping to round out another busy year was an Association Garage Sale, along with visits to our USSVI Bremerton Base Shipmates Picnic & old alma-mater the Horse & Cow.

2011 another banner year thus far, with one hundred fifty attendees from across Canada, England & the USA celebrating our Grilse 50th Anniversary Commemorative weekend. Our full slate of events included ... Friday Meet n' Greet with submarine memorabilia. Saturday's Massive Marine Garage Sale, Navy Memorial Window, HMC Dockyard Tour, and Grilse exhibit in the Maritime Museum of BC. Saturday evening Commemorative Banquet with our living repatriation of the Burrfish - Grilse Bell & guest of honour Commodore Peter Ellis, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific. Sunday functions included our Hotel Grand Pacific Buffet Breakfast, Battle of Atlantic Parade & Ceremony, unveiling of the Veteran Sailor statue, and C&POs' Mess reception. Very positive feedback indicates another successful gathering, and we now look forward to our 2014 Canadian Submarine Service Centenary.

SAOC West - May 2011