ANSWERING THE CALL!

A CENTURY OF CANADIAN NAVAL HEROES:
STORIES OF ORDINARY CANADIANS DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS

Commander Thomas George Fuller

(L-R) Tom Fuller, Tom Ladner, Douglas Maitland and Cornelius "Corny" Burke - famous Canadian MTB/MGB Captains of WWII.

Amongst the daring band of Canadians who "Answered the Call" by serving in Canada's Coastal Forces during WWII were many heroic figures. Canadian MTB/MGB aces, such as "Corny" Burke, Douglas Maitland and Thomas Ladner, known as the "Three Musketeers" from Vancouver, where joined by others such as James Kirkpatrick, Tony Law, Charles Burk and Tom Fuller. Fuller, from Ottawa, became known as the "Pirate of the Adriatic" in recognition of his fearlessness and numerous feats of daring while wreaking havoc amongst enemy formations in the Aegean, Adriatic and Mediterranean. An unconventional leader, he gave and expected the utmost while often showing a keen sense of ironic humour - he once signed on the cook of a German U Boat , who was amongst survivors he had picked up, as a member of his crew to act as the cook for his boat! After the war he served as the Commanding Officer of Ottawa's Naval Reserve Division, HMCS CARLETON, re-established himself in the family business, Fuller Construction, and was active in benevolent activities such as the Bytown Brigantine youth sail training organization.

MTBs on patrol	German E Boat
MTB crew	Tom Fuller in later years

Listen to a short audio vignette by radio personality Nick Vandergragt on the exploits of Lt Cdr Tom Fuller

 

"Answering the Call" is the idea of CFRA Ottawa radio personality Nick Vandergragt. Nick believes that Canadians should hear the stories of the thousands of Canadian men and women who have served in our Navy, Army and Air Force as these are compelling parts of our national heritage.

For more information on the Canadian Naval Centennial visit:

www.canadiannavy100.forces.gc.ca