HMCS Haida, a Tribal Class destroyer built in England, was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in 1943, serving in many theatres of operation through the Second World War. After a post-war refit, Haida continued in service through Korean War and Cold War situations, until she was decommissioned in 1963.
The ship was acquired by the Province of Ontario and moved to Ontario Place (Toronto) in 1971. The ship was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984 by the federal government, and ownership was transferred to Parks Canada in 2002. HMCS Haida arrived at Pier 9 in Hamilton Harbour on August 30, 2003, the 60th anniversary of her commissioning.
Lyrics:
Waving goodbye with tears in our eyes
We left our loved ones behind
Many of us never been off shore
Not knowing what fate had in store
For twenty years upon her we sailed
From Murmansk to the Bay of Biscay
Serving King, Queen and country
In battle and peace we prevailed
We came from the east
We came from the west
Brothers in arms,
Good men one and all
Twenty-seven Tribals set out to sea
Thirteen sunk; thirteen gone
Only Haida lives on
She's in a class of her own
In a class of her own
The years went by and she lay still
But threats remained
People cried out to save her greatness
Her greatness and her name
She stands tall honouring all who died
So we could be free
No sacrifice never too great
Lest we forget the tribals' legacy
We came from the east
We came from the west
Brothers in arms,
proud sailors one and all
Twenty-seven Tribals set out to sea
Thirteen sunk; thirteen gone
Only Haida lives on
She's in a class of her own
She's in a class of her own
We shared joy and fear,
laughter and sorrow,
Victory and loss
To ship and comrades, raise a tot
Many memories we have stored
The journey from life aboard
To the end of our watch,
Lives on a ship forever moored
Twenty-seven Tribals set out to sea
sunk; thirteen gone
Only Haida lives on
She's in a class of her own
In a class of her own
Twenty-seven Tribals set out to sea
Thirteen sunk; thirteen gone
Only Haida lives on
She's in a class of her own
She's in a class of her own