Long referred to as the ‘demon’ rum it has nevertheless been used for hundreds of years to discourage the ravages of cold, wet, lack of sleep and depression along with most other maladies faced by serving men. Rum rose to prominence because it did not ‘turn’ or ‘go off’ as beer and wine did. Our Facebook entry regarding the location of the rum stores aboard HMCS Ojibwa jogged the memory of Jim ‘Lucky’ Gordon – and helps us understand the nickname ‘Lucky’.

It has been tradition, for centuries, to baptize children using the ship’s bell as the baptismal font. The child’s name was usually engraved somewhere on the bell, usually inside the mouth. Canadian submarines have maintained that tradition.

During the baptismal ceremony, the bell is inverted in its box and filled with water used for the blessing. On completion of the baptism, the water is ceremoniously poured over the side. That ritual is marked by piping the still and the carry on with a bos’n’s call.