This cache was hidden for the 19th Annual Vancouver Island Hide-&-Go (or HAG).
This cache is hidden beside Prentice Pond. The pond was constructed and originally stocked with trout by the distinguished Captain James D. "Chummy" Prentice in the 1960s. In addition to developing vital wartime naval tactics and receiving several awards for his actions in sinking German U-boats, Prentice was also well-liked by the crews of the ships he commanded.
James Douglas Prentice was born in Victoria in 1899, but then joined the Royal Navy in 1912. He rose through the ranks and retired from the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1934. However, his retirement only lasted five years before World War II broke out in 1939. He returned to service with the Royal Navy before transitioning to the Royal Canadian Navy and serving as Senior Officer, Canadian Corvettes in Nova Scotia. In this role, Prentice developed tactical doctrine for the corvettes that escorted convoys across the Atlantic, and was also given command of the Flower-class corvette HMCS Chambly. In September 1941, HMCS Chambly participated in the sinking of U-501, the first U-boat to be sunk by Canadian vessels. For this action, Prentice was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the second-highest award below the Victoria Cross.
In 1942, Prentice shifted roles and was assigned to develop doctrine for new Canadian destroyers, leading to the technical manual "Hints on Escort Work" which was disseminated to Atlantic convoy commanders. He would be given command of the River-class destroyer HMCS Ottawa in 1944. Soon after, he was also designated the senior officer of Escort Group 11, which was tasked with clearing the English Channel of German submarines for the D-Day landings. While he was commander of HMCS Ottawa, the ship collaborated in the sinking of U-678, followed by the joint sinkings of U-621 and U-984 along with HMCS Chaudière two days apart. For the latter two actions, Prentice would receive the Distinguished Service Cross along with a bar to designate a second award.
Prentice rose to the rank of Captain by the end of the war, and later served as an aide to the Governor General of Canada before retiring in 1946. He passed away in Saanichton in 1979 and now rests in Ross Bay Cemetery. The pond he built remains and is now the centrepiece of Prentice Pond Park in North Saanich.