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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
Served in the RCN 05 Mar 1952 - 18 Mar 1957
MARTIN, Robert Vincent Michael (Bob) - Passed away peacefully at Afton Park Place, Sarnia, on Friday, December 15, 2023. Predeceased by his beloved wife, Ruth (2003), his stepson Ted Lynch (2019), his parents William and Eleanor (Drohan) Martin and by all of his siblings Helen, George, Jim, Don, Mary and John. After attending Guelph schools, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy. He was assigned to the HMCS Labrador, the first warship to traverse the Northwest Passage, and circumnavigate North America in 1954. Following his discharge, Bob returned to Guelph and married Ruth, a marriage that lasted more than 40 years. While living in Guelph, he was a proud member of the championship Guelph Royalaires Marching Band, where he made many lifelong friends. Bob and Ruth moved to Sarnia in 1971. Bob enjoyed golf, carpet bowling, bowling, listening to music and watching hockey and football.
He is survived by his stepdaughter, Bonnie Reynolds (Brian), grandchildren Becky Rendall (Marty), Bradley Reynolds (Pam), and Jennifer Luesink (Jim) and great-grandchildren Tie, Brock, Caden, Salem, Cannon, Silver, Dove, Hadley and Coen. Many nieces and nephews also survive him.
Many thanks to the health care professionals at Bluewater Health and Afton Park Place for the care and comfort they provided to Bob. A special thank you to Pat and Terry MacGregor for their on-going assistance, support and friendship over many years.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held at The Salvation Army (970 Confederation St., Sarnia) on Monday April 29, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph on May 3, 2024 As expressions of sympathy, please consider a donation to the Salvation Army.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the D.J. Robb Funeral Home & Cremation Centre Ltd. (102 Victoria Street, North, Sarnia, Ontario N7T 5W9). (D.J. Robb Funeral Home)
Ships served in:
HMCS CORNWALLIS
(RVM001) Main gate at HMCS CORNWALLIS (RVM002) Unit badge of HMCS CORNWALLIS (RVM003) HMCS CORNWALLIS Base Commander's residence (RVM004) An Aerial view of the base during morning divisions (RVM005...) HMCS CORNWALLIS postcard - "The building I am staying in has a circle around it. PS: Write soon" // Bob's barracks is in the left rear row of buildings, 2nd from the left
(RVM006) Kit issue day at HMCS CORNWALLIS (RVM007) Hands falling in for morning divisions at HMCS CORNWALLIS (RVM008) Morning divisions at HMCS CORNWALLIS (RVM009) March off from Saturday morning divisions at HMCS CORNWALLIS (RVM010) Divisions at HMCS CORNWALLIS
HMCS LABRADOR 50
(RVM011) "Bergy Bits" Vol 1 No. 58 - The final edition of HMCS LABRADOR'S shipboard newspaper for her northern deployment
(RVM012) Article on HMCS LABRADOR - A floating Laboratory (RVM013) It Happened in Canada - HMCS LABRADOR transits the North West Passage (RVM014) Ice Flow is Canvas for RCN Artist (RVM015) HMCS LABRADOR sailor point to their route through the North West Passage on a globe. The sailor on the right is named Paul. (RVM016) The Order of the North West Passage Certificate for Robert Martin, HMCS LABRADOR 27 Jul 1954
Three photo taken by Robert Martin aboard HMCS LABRADOR.
All photos below are official RCN / DND photos
(RVM017) "New Captain arriving onboard"
(RVM102) "An aerial view - Gulf of St Lawrence" (RVM104) "Held fast in Ice - Gulf of St Lawrence"
(RVM109) "Bringing a ship into Seven Islands, Quebec (Sept-Isles, Quebec)
(RVM017 - RVM021) HMCS LABRADOR 50 in drydock
(RVM022) HMCS LABRADOR'S mascot sitting in from of the ship's kisby ring and badge during the 1954 northern deployment through the North West Passage
(RVM033) "RCMP station and radio station" (RVM036) It appears to be Christmas Dinner on HMCS LABRADOR. It looks as though the sailor on the right has 2 pieces of tinsel hanging down above him
The next 52 photos are official photos but have no RCN negative #s written on them. They may be from of the 1954 deployment through the North West Passage, or the 1955/56 DEW Line construction deployment, or a mixture of both.
(RVM109) "Pogo" (RVM110) Church service onboard HMCS LABRADOR (RVM111) "Church services in the cafeteria"
The caption on the back of the RVM127 says "Franklin's Grave" however, this is a memorial grave to Joseph René Bellot, French Arctic explorer, Nunavut, Canada
(RVM144) RCMP Vessel Alexandra Fiord alongside HMCS LABRADOR
HMCS LABRADOR's DEW Line Deployment - 1955
(RVM147) HMCS LABRADOR (right) and USS EDISTO. In 1955 Canada and the USA began construction on the DEW line and HMCS LABRADOR's task was to chart and clear the passage in the Foxe Basin area so that equipment and supplies could be taken ashore by landing craft. In 1956, LABRADOR returned to the Arctic and during her time there aided the American ice breaker Edisto and getting a supply convoy from the Foxe Basin to the Bellot Strait. During this transit, the Edisto, which had become icebound and broke a screw, was rescued by HMCS LABRADOR.
(RVM153) HMCS LABRADOR 50 with USCGC EASTWIND W279 in the arctic 1955
(RVM1155-RVM156) "Beginning of a storm" (RVM157) "Looking down from the bridge" (RVM158) "Facing the bridge" (RCM159) "Bird's ice view of one of the bollards"
(RVM160-RVM161) before and after chipping some of the ice off (RVM162) "Starboard bridge wing" (RVM163) "One of the guns, starboard bridge wing"
(RVM164-RVM165) "Erecting an Electronics Position Indicator"
(RVM177 "A beacon used to chart positions"
It is not known if the photos below were taken during the southern portion of the 1954 deployment or during some other cruise.
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