CANSUBFOR unveils new commemorative plaque in building naming ceremony

Mrs. Anne Nolte, a relative of Lieutenant William McKinstry Maitland-Dougall for whom Building D-85, HMC Dockyard, CFB Esquimalt will be named after, makes a speech during a plaque unveiling ceremony at the building on August 5, 2024. Photo: Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services

A/SLt Alexandre Khoury
MARPAC PA

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Aug.  5, marked the 110^th anniversary of the Canadian Submarine Service. In recognition of the day, Canadian Submarine Force (CANSUBFOR) hosted a building naming ceremony on Aug. 2, in memory of those who have lost their lives performing their duty underneath the sea. Often called the silent service because submarines are generally required to operate undetected in the interest of stealth, submariners are a proud and a distinguished part of Canadian Naval Military History.

Building D85 was renamed after Lieutenant (Lt) William McKinstry Maitland-Dougall, the first Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) officer to volunteer for the new submarine service and one of Cowichan’s most promising sons. He was the first Canadian to command a British submarine and the youngest to earn a command.

William attended the Royal Naval College in Halifax. Upon graduations he put in a request to the Dominion Government to transfer to the Royal Navy. Maitland-Dougall would then be tasked to the British Navy for the duration of the first World War. 

On March 7, 1918, Lt. Maitland-Dougall, took His Majesty’s D3 Submarine as Commanding Officer to patrol near Le Havre, France. But D3 would never return due to being hit by friendly fire. D3 sunk sometime between March 12 and 15, with Maitland-Dougall and the crew of 29 all being lost in the incident. He was the first, the youngest, and the only Canadian submarine commanding officer to be lost in action.

CANSUBFOR building D85 is one of a large number of facilities constructed at the Esquimalt Naval Base between 1890 and 1903. It is recognized as a Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value. It is one of the primary buildings on the West Coast for serving submariners.

A new commemorative plaque in the memory of Lt. William Mckinstry Maitland-Dougall was unveiled by family members, the Mayor of the Township of Esquimalt Barb Desjardins, Captain(N) Alex Kooiman, Commander of CANSUBFOR and Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific & Joint Task Force Pacific, during the ceremony.

“This weekend we celebrate the 110th anniversary of Canadian Submariners and their legacy of service to Canada which all started five miles south of Trial Island on Aug. 5, 1914.  Today in particular we’re paying tribute to a gallant officer of the silent service, killed in action at a young age,” said RAdm Robinson. “By naming this building in his memory, we ensure the ultimate sacrifice made by Lt. Maitland-Dougall, as well as all the other submariners who were lost at sea, will never be forgotten.  A Vancouver Islander, his talent had already been recognized by the Admiralty and I can’t help but be saddened at the loss of potential represented by his death, two days before his 23rd birthday, and a mere 11 months after his brother Hamish was also killed in action at Vimy Ridge.”