Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

Page 14 text:

A CAREER SWITCH: NAVAL TO NOVEL Early in the I940's, HMS King George V was riding at anchor some distance off Gibraltar. It was night and the blackness of the starless sky ran into the blackness of the sea, with only the lapping of the waves to distinguish one from the other. The British battleship had recently seen action in the North sea and the North Atlantic, but this time was assigned a special war mission. As young midshipman Tony German stood at the rail staring out into the darkness, he could hear the muffled sounds of a tender but could see nothing, not even the faintest outline of the approaching craft. Then suddenly there was a small flare. In its brief glow shone the inimitable features of Winston Churchill. He was lighting his cigar. A master of the dramatic moment, he had chosen this way to announce his arrival at the ship that was to take him back to England following a historic summit meeting. Tony German recalled this night when we chatted on Friday. Now a retired naval commander, he has begun a second career as a writer and was in Calgary to talk about his first novel, a historical adventure titled Tom Pennyg however, with a seafaring background that dates back to 1909 when his father was one of the first seven cadets to join the Royal Canadian Navy, he also has a raft of fascinating stories about life at sea, so gradually veered in that direction. He joined the Canadian Navy in 1942 and was on loan to the Royal Navy at the time he was serving on HMS King George V. Continuing his recollection of that night, he said: I was only a lowly midshipman, so I never ex- pected to meet our distinguished passenger. But he came down to the gun room, which is the very junior officers' mess, and had a drink. Mrs. Churchill and their daughter Mary were with him. Then he said: 'Come along. I'll show you my map room,' and led the way to his centre of war operations while he was on board. Of course, it was surrounded by intense security, but he swept by the door, waved the guards aside, and we followed. i'Once inside, he indicated all the strategic maps on the well with a sweep of his arm, and went directly to one that included Italy. Then, with his finger, he searched for a certain area, saying: 'Clemmie, what was that little village in Italy where we spent our honeymoon? ' The young sailors, awed by his presence, were hanging on his every word. It wasn't until they'd I0 been ushered from the room with a salute and a 'good night' that they realized they'd really seen nothing, been privy to no secrets. Such was the powerful presence of this man, said Tony. He went on to tell of being on the crew of another battleship, the HMS Howe, which was involved with encounters with the Japanese in the Indian Ocean. He later joined the Australian destroyer HMAS Quiberon which was part of the British flotilla, and met Prince Philip, who was then first lieutenant of the destroyer Wizard. He was just another one of the fellows, although being the nephew of Lord Mountbatten did make him a little different. He was a first class naval of- ficer and everyone liked him. Tony stayed with navy after the war ended, and, having worked his way up through different staff appointments, eventually took command of the Canadian destroyers HMCS Sioux, Micmac and MacKenzie. While in charge of the MacKenzie he corresponded with the commander of the clan MacKenzie in Scotland, who allowed the officers to use the MacKenzie tartan in their dress uniforms. Upon leaving the navy in 1966, Tony started his own company and pioneered the operation in Canada of commercial hovercraft which were used at Expo '67 and later in I-Iudson's Bay and the Mackenzie Delta. I thought originally about fictionalizing some of my experience at sea, he mused. I'd never really done any writing except dull technical stuff in the navy, but it appealed to me. When I'd taken command of the MacKenzie, I'd been given a first edition of Alexander MacKenzie's late 18th century Voyages From Montreal, which triggered my interest in Canadian history. So Tom Penny is a story of what might have happened in that era. It's too bad that Canadian history is pictured as prosaic, simply because there were no clashes be- tween kings. Our forbears, who made this country, did it with guts and drive and determination. Canadian history is full of adventure. So that's how Tom Penny came to be written. It is a fast moving action story with generous dollops of factual Canadian History. The author's naval life also show through, with naval terms and jargon popping up when the story involves escapades on the sea.

Page 13 text:

an a ...Q 3 LefrandAbove Two views of Mr Stableford Below Mr Fox Ian Wesson

Page 15 text:

CANADIAN UNITY Tony German comes through as a man who loves his country with a quiet passion and concern. He is worried about the direction we appear to be heading: We've become so many little islands, not looking outward, not touching or talking with each other. ln spite of our great technical advances that should draw us closer together, we're drifting farther apart, he sighed. FORUM FOR YOUNG CANADIANS Five years ago he seized an opportunity to do something about the situation. As director of development at Ashbury College, an independent school in Ottawa, he developed the Forum For Young Canadians, a national education program which brings high school students to Ottawa from all parts of Canada to study government and political PT' processes. They hear speakers from parliament, visit the House and representatives of labour. They learn a lot about each and about Canada as a concept and a country. This e views with parts of the country transforms their outlook. With their inquiring young minds, common sense haul, he concluded. Linda Curtis - Calgary, Albertan AVE ATQUE VALE Tony German is leaving Ashbury after working here for five years. He has brought great energy to his job as Ashbury's Director of Development, the crisp organization of Old Boys' weekends, the professionalism of the Ashbury News and his Forum initiative suggest how marked was his contribution to the school. He did his share of binding the Ashbury 'family' together through his zeal to communicate not only Old Boys' news but also the continuing saga of Ashbury - its highlights of in- dividual and team efforts and the people behind the scenes who make the doing possible. We thank him and assure him, along with his wife, Sage, of a cordial welcome whenever they return for a visit. Kham Penny by Tony Gerinun Young readers will enjoy this exciting t.ile tili .i liufs danger filled journey from ai tmnquil Englisli village to .i new liome on tlie lrone tier ul. pioneer Canaria. The story develops .igiainst rin early nine teentli-century background eoinplete witli villains, srnugglers, fur traders and lumberjuel-ts. Q Peter Martin Associates l ll the