Lyle Bates remembers......
 

Dick Geddes had a very unusual beginning. He was born in Florence, Cape Breton, N.S. He was self taught .

 

A Radio Inspector by the name of Ted Ginn was running the Inspection office during the WWII years. Dick wrote his 2nd class exam at the Sydney office and passed. As Ted needed assistance Dick worked with him inspecting vessels bound across the Atlantic loaded with war supplies and soldiers.

 

In 1945/46 he was assigned to Canso Marine Radio/Vax (N.S.). He was then posted to Resolution Island/VAW and left from the port of Quebec on board the N.B. MacLean/CGSN along with Radio Operators John Weir and Mick McWilliams who were also being posted to Resolution for one year, 1947/48.

 

On the way to Resolution , the Captain of the MacLean received word of the sinking of a Canadian vessel on the shores of Baffin Island and sent word to VAW for Eskimoes to meet the MacLean several miles off Resolution (to save rescue time). John Weir remembers meeting the Eskimoes whereby he, Dick Geddes and Mick McWilliams were taken by small boat to shore at Resolution.

 

After a year or so at Resolution Dick was posted to the Inspection office at Sydney with Phil Ritcey who was in charge. During the years 1964-1972 Dick was IIC at the Sydney Inspection office from whence he then retired  due to ill health but after many years of service.

 

The above is from the combined memories of myself and John Weir. Dick was IIC at Sydney when I arrived as a newly ''annointed'' Inspector in 1965. 

 

- 73

 

Lyle Bates

28 May 2010