Legion Magazine

January/February 2010

On one foggy day in May 1989 when I was sailing aboard the HMCS Porte St Loius, we were sailing in formation with the Porte St Jean about 500 yards behind us.  I was on lifebuoy sentry duty and heard the following transmission come across my Personal Radio Communicator (PRC):  "Lifebuoy sentry, this is the Bridge, over."  I acknowledged the transmission and was told that a large tanker had been spotted on radar, astern of our position and closing.  I was to keep an eye out for it and report when I saw it.  

Five or ten minutes later, I heard once again over the PRC, "Lifebuoy sentry, this is the Bridge, over."  I acknowledged and the person on the other end asked me if I could see the tanker.  I replied, "Negative."  "Are you sure you can't see it," the voice asked, somewhat exasperated, "It's right behind us?"  I replied, somewhat insulted that they were implying that I was blind, "Negative, all I can see behind me is the Jean!"  There was no reply from the bridge after this.  

Then it dawned on me; the person that I had been talking to was a woman.  We didn't have any women on our bridge crew.  But the Porte St. Jean did!  Just then, I turned towards the bridge and saw the Yeoman of Signals walking towards me on the starboard bridge-wing, laughing.  I asked him, already knowing what he was going to say, "Who was I talking to?"  The Yeoman replied, "The Jean.”