|
THE
COLLECTION - STAR OBJECTS
Next
page......
Totem
pole from HMS Totem
This totem pole was the
mascot of HMS Totem. It was made to replace the original
which was stolen sometime in the 1950s whilst on a visit to Halifax,
Canada. It was taken from the bridge of the submarine when it was
alongside in HMC Dockyard.
Due
to a series of events aboard the submarine, there was a legend amongst
the crew that if the submarine went to sea without the totem pole
disaster would ensue. HMC Dockyard therefore carved a new one before
she sailed.
The original totem pole
The pole was carried on
the front of the conning tower when entering and leaving harbour
and would remain there whilst alongside.
HMS Totem was
presented the original totem pole by the Cowichan tribe in 1945
when in her first commission. The presentation was made by the Imperial
Daughters of the Empire (Junior Branch) of Victoria, British Columbia.
The figures represented (in the original) are the thunderbird, the
bear, the killer whale and the fire god.
In
1967 HMS Totem was transferred to the Israeli Navy and
commissioned I.S. Dakar. On handing her over the totem
pole was removed and it remained in England. She left Portsmouth
for Israel via Gibraltar In January 1968. After leaving Gibraltar
she was never seen again. The wreck was finally found in 1999 in
the Eastern Mediterranean between Crete and Cyprus.
Next
page.....
|
