HMCS Nonsuch

HMCS Nonsuch is a Royal Canadian Navy Reserve Division (NRD) located in Edmonton, Alberta. Dubbed a stone frigate, HMCS Nonsuch is a land-based naval establishment for part-time sailors as well as a local recruitment centre for the Canadian Naval Reserve. It is one of 24 naval reserve divisions located in major cities across Canada.

Operations
Nonsuch is properly referred to as a ship, being commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is part of the Reserves, and therefore operations are usually held on weekdays and certain weekends. However, her sailors may participate in any operation run by the Canadian Armed Forces year round, if they so choose.

History
HMCS Nonsuch was formed on 23 March 1927, as a RCN Reserve Half-Company. On 1 November 1941 she was commissioned as a tender to HMCS Naden, now part of CFB Esquimalt. She was commissioned as the independent unit, HMCS Nonsuch, on 1 September 1942. During World War 2, over 3500 sailors, and 114 officers were enlisted at Nonsuch. After the war she transitioned into a peacetime force, and was paid off on 30 November 1964. She was recommissioned on September 26, 1975.

Battle Honours
HMCS Nonsuch carries on the battle honours of 11 Royal Navy ships bearing her name in the past.

Pre-The First World War

 * Kentish Knock, 1652,
 * Portland, 1653
 * Gabbard, 1653
 * Texel, 1673
 * St Lucia, 1778
 * The Saints, 1782

First World War

 * Jutland, 1916



Description
"Or a beaver rampant proper gorged with a collar Gules edged Or upon which a roundel displaying the device of St. George."

Etymology
Nonsuch's name comes from the French word "non pareil" meaning "of no equal". Besides being used as a name for many former RN warships, Nonsuch was also the first ship into Hudson Bay in 1688.