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Admiral Sir Charles E. Kingsmill (July 7, 1855 - July 15, 1935) was the first Director of the Canadian Naval Service (which later became the Royal Canadian Navy).
Charles Edmund Kingsmill was born at Guelph, Ontario in 1855. In 1870 he joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman. He was promoted Sub-Lieutenant in 1875, Lieutenant in 1877, Commander in 1891, and Captain in 1898. During his career in the Royal Navy, he commanded HM Ships Goldfinch (1890-91), Blenheim (1895-95), Archer (1895-98), Gibraltar (1900), Mildura (1900-03), Resolution, Majestic (1905-06), and Dominion (1907).
In 1908 he was promoted to Rear-admiral and sent to Canada to command the Marine Service of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. With the formation of the Naval Services of Canada, he became the Director of the Services and held this position throughout World War I until retiring in 1921. He was made Vice-Admiral on 17 May 1913 and a full Admiral in 1917.
He was appointed honorary aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor-General in 1909. He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1918. He was awarded for outstanding services as the Director of Naval Services of Canada 1910 - 1921.
He died at his summer home on Grindstone Island, near Portland, Ontario in 1935.
Medals of Admiral Charles Edmund Kingsmill:
- African General Service Medal (bar Somaliland 1902 - 1904)
- Egypt Medal (1884-1885)
- Khedive's Star for service in Egypt Grand Officer,
- Order of the Crown of Italy Officer,
- Legion of Honour (France) (1906)
What are our goals?
- Develop good citizenship, patriotism, self-respect, self-discipline, healthy living, and respect for others, in a nautical environment suited to young people.
- We meet either at the Reserve Force base at Dow's Lake
- Between September and June, once a week on Sundays. We meet from 1300 (1:00 p.m.) to 1600(4:00 p.m.)
- Boat work (boats and ships)
- Ceremonial Drill
- Citizenship (learn the roles and responsibilities of a good citizen)
- Communications (Semaphore, Morse Code)
- Community Service
- Introduction to Leadership
- Introduction to Instructional Technique
- First Aid
- Naval history/terminology/time/traditions/ranks
- Seamanship (how to tie knots, bends, hitches)
- Fund Raising for our sponsor and our program
- Lots of opportunities to make new friends
- Participate in a week long summer camp (Last week of July)
- Practice and go to competitions with other Navy League Cadet Corps in Ontario such as those below.
Sports First Aid Seamanship Semaphore Drill (w/o arms) Drill w/arms
- Participate in these parades and ceremonies:
Who teaches / supervise the cadets?
Battle of Britain (3rd Sunday in September) Poppy Campaign Remembrance Day (11 November) Battle of Atlantic (1st Sunday in May) Traditional Naval Christmas dinner (Dec) Help out with the Ottawa Food Bank Drive (Dec) "Official Banner Carriers" for the Ottawa Fire Fighter's Help Santa Toy Parade (Nov) Raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation (Feb)
- Skilled and motivated volunteers. Officers and civilian instructors keen to provide the cadets with the knowledge, supervision and to develop our nation's youth. Our volunteers all receive training from the Navy League of Canada to provide them with the skills required to work with today's youth. All our volunteers are carefully screened by the Navy League of Canada including personal background checks.
- Interested adults who would like to volunteer their time to assist with instruction, administration or supply duties may contact the Commanding Officer at any time.
