Windsor’s Naval Reserve division marked its 85th commissioning anniversary Sunday, reflecting on a history that stretches from recruiting sailors during the Second World War to preparing reservists for operations at home and abroad. HMCS Hunter was formally commissioned on Nov. 1, 1941, after the Windsor division was established in March 1940. Despite its ship-style name, it is a shore-based naval unit — what commanding officer Chris Elliott describes as a “stone frigate.” Elliott said about 4,000 people passed through the unit to support the Second World War effort. About 55 did not return home. Since then, generations of members have served full time or part time in the Royal Canadian Navy, taking on missions and operations around the world. Today, the unit continues to recruit and train sailors while preparing reservists to help respond to emergencies in Canada. Naval Reserve basic training at Hunter takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and some Saturdays, Elliott said. Recruits learn military drill, uniform standards, leadership and physical fitness before completing a three-week field phase in Quebec. That portion includes learning security procedures, working as a team and carrying out tasks in a forward operating base environment. “We put a uniform on people. We expect them to conduct themselves a certain way, have a certain level of leadership, and be able to respond and work in kind of difficult environments,” Elliott said. Beyond the training Elliott described, the Canadian Armed Forces’ broader basic training program also includes learning to use protective equipment against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. That includes a gas-hut exercise using tear gas to practice respirator skills. The military says reservists work toward similar basic training objectives as regular-force recruits. Hunter previously operated at 960 Ouellette Ave. before relocating to a purpose-built waterfront facility at the foot of Mill Street in Sandwich in 2014. In Windsor, members develop boat-handling and seamanship skills, with direct access to the Detroit River providing more opportunities for practical instruction. “Moving into this facility has given us much more opportunity to train and develop our skills, especially in the maritime environment, as we’re able to get our boats on the water much more often,” he said. The unit also works with local marine agencies through Exercise Border Sentinel, which Hunter hosts every April. Last year’s exercise challenged crews to evacuate passengers from a ferry after a simulated grounding. Responders practiced getting people off the vessel and safely to shore, including moving people acting as injured passengers onto stretchers for transport and further care. Elliott said members have also participated in actual emergency responses, including flooding in Ottawa and an ice storm in Toronto. “Anytime there could be a domestic operation in Canada where we need support of the Canadian Armed Forces, it could be our reservist, part-time reservist, our members here that could step up and go do that,” he said. As Hunter marks the milestone, Elliott said its connection to Windsor remains evident wherever his work takes him. “Every time I travel across the country, I’m working on different bases. I’m always meeting people from my hometown, which is Windsor,” he said. “There’s a point of pride to that.” Elliott said more than 100 people joined the Navy through HMCS Hunter last year, with recruits beginning to move into regular-force service and operational roles.
