The Honourable Ralph Goodale PC MP

The Honourable Ralph Goodale PC MP

  Friday, October 14, 2016    Ron Field

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The Hon. Ralph Goodale has been appointed the Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Preparedness. I wanted to know what the responsibilities were for this position and found the following information on Wikipedia.

“The Minister of Public Safety, formerly the Solicitor General and then the Minister of Public Safety

and Emergency Preparedness, is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government’s domestic security department, Public Safety Canada. The position was nominally created in 2003 and incorporated the responsibilities associated with the Solicitor General including responsibility for the federal Canadian prison system (Correctional Service of Canada), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Parole Board of Canada, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, although the incumbent was formally sworn in as Solicitor General of Canada. The position also assumed responsibility for the Canada Border Services Agency which was formerly known as Canada Customs and was administered by the Minister of National Revenue prior to 2003. In 2005 the creation of the position was formalized and that of Solicitor General abolished.” Source: Wikipedia

Mr. Goodale has previously held the following positions.

Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom - 2021 
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party 2010 – 2015
Opposition House Leader 2006 – 2010
Minister of Finance 2003 – 2006
Minister of Public Works and Government Services 2002 – 2003
Minister of State 2002
Minister of Natural Resource 1997 – 2002

Mr. Goodale’s family originated from England. His grandfather, Albert Edward Hathaway Goodale at 24 years of age left Liverpool, England on April 4th 1901 aboard the S.S. Numidian and landed in Portland. He was listed as a farmer and his final destination was shown to be Winnipeg, Canada. On the 1st of April 1911 in Daly, Manitoba, Albert Goodale married Frances Chapman the daughter of William and Lucy Chapman. Albert and Frances had three children the first being born in Saskatchewan in 1912.

Albert Goodale had 10 siblings and was the son of Henry Goodale and Harriet Hathaway of Mortlake, Surrey. Henry’s sister was Martha Goodale my 2nd great grandmother and she married Philip Field. Ralph, his sister and I are 3rd cousins once removed from my fathers side of the family.

There’s also a family connection to the famous Victorian actor Edward Smith Willard, actor Edmund Willard and English author Barbara Willard.

The family and I keep in touch via email.

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Sailing the high seas

Sailing the high seas

  Friday, April 15, 2016    Ron Field

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When I was a kid I remember watching those old Errol Flynn movies on TV with the buccaneers, those massive ships, and all the guns firing on the enemy prior to boarding and capturing the ship.  It was exciting to watch.

Well I can now say that I have cousins who sailed aboard some of those massive ships.  I have managed to find three cousins on my fathers side of the family who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).

They were all brothers, from the village of Frant, Sussex,  located just three miles south of Royal Tunbridge Wells.  They were, William, Richard, and John Budgen.  William was the oldest, born in 1790, then Richard born in 1792 and finally the youngest, John, born in 1794.

When they joined the navy they were listed as 1st class volunteers.  Richard and John would move up through the ranks, first as midshipmen and then lieutenants.  Eventually being referred to as commodores in their later years.  John also became secretary to the late Queen Caroline.

William was unfortunately mortally wounded while attempting to cut out ships.

Richard and John served together aboard the Centaur during the capture and destruction of the Russian ship Sewolod with Captain Hood.

The following is a description of the event.
On the 26th of August HMS Centaur, in conjunction with the HMS Implacable, captured the Russian 74-gun ship Sewolod in sight of the whole Russian fleet near Rogerswick. During a spirited attempt by the Russians to retake and row the Sewolod back into port, Sir S. Hood laid her on board and lashed her bowspit to the mizzen rigging of the Centaur under a heavy fire of musketry. The bow of the enemy grazed the muzzles of Centaur's guns, which at the same moment were discharged, and the raking broadside tore her to pieces. The Russians made several attempts to board, but were repelled by the fire of the marines and the stern chase guns of the Centaur, and after a hot action of half an hour the Sewolod again struck her colours. In this furious conflict the Centaur lost 3 killed and 27 wounded, and the enemy 180 killed and wounded.

The following medal and clasp was awarded to 39 men aboard the H.M.S Centaur for their capture and destruction of the Russian ship Sewolod which included Richard and John.  

Navy General Service Medal with Centaur clasp

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