Bedecked In Flags

Celebrating the Queen's birthday,  the Iroquois, as well as every ship in port,. was bedecked in flags. Dazzling sunshine sparkled on the harbor front as more than 250 relatives and friends thronged the Halifax Dockyard to bid the ship's 275 officers and men good bye.  A light Spring breeze played across the harbor, and a crashing naval band made the scene complete, as sailors and their girls paused for one last embrace before the destroyer got under way.

It was a perfect day for the destroyer's colorful departure, and spirits were high until the band broke into "The Little White Cloud That Cried." Then, the tears started to fall and women softly sobbed.  Rear Admiral Roger E. S. Bidwell came aboard Iroquois on a personal farewell call.

Admiral Pays Call

Rear Admiral Bidwell, Flag Officer Atlantic Coast was aboard Haida earlier in the day. He made the trip over to Iroquois in a whaler and was soundly cheered as he reached her side. As the Admiral stepped aboard, a host of brightly colored flags whipped in salute from Iroquois which was in spanking trim from stem to stern.

The sleek Tribal class destroyer, under Cdr. William Landymore of Brantford Ontario, sailed at 4 p.m., cheered on her way by seamen lining the decks of other warships in the harbor. She is scheduled to relieve the destroyer Cayuga now completing her second tour in the Far Eastern zone. She will join her sister ships  Nootka  and Athabaskan in service with United Nations naval forces in Korean waters.