Niobe the boat. Source.
During the build-up to World War One, when even South American countries were constructinging dreadnoughts, the government of Wilfrid Laurier decided it was time Canada got started on its own navy, which was duly created in 1910 as the Naval Service of Canada. Canada took over the Royal Navy bases at Halifax and Esquimault, and bought a handful of superannuated vessels from the British. The first of these was Niobe, built in 1897, but already far outclassed. Niobe was stationed at Halifax, saw limited action in the war, suffered damage in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, and was scrapped in 1922.
During the Second World War the Canadian navy found itself operating a huge fleet of convoy escorts. That required an administration building on the Clyde estuary, and so the Canadians were given space at the Smithston Asylum and Poorhouse on Inverkip Road in Greenock. In line with naval tradition they renamed the building after a ship, HMCS Niobe.
Today Livingston travel to Cappielow to play Morton. Livingston are at the top of the middle group in the table and still could challenge for first if the top clubs continue to falter. The First Division is the only one in Scottish football with a title race at this point. Celtic, Queen of the South, and Rangers all have commanding leads in their divisions. So far this season four different First Division clubs have occupied first place, and six of the ten have beaten a first-place team.
Morton are currently king of the hill. At 39 points they have more now than in the whole of 2007-08 or 2009-10. So relegation is not much of a worry for them. The Ton have yet to lose an away match in league play, and that streak will last at least until February 8th because next week's game is also at home, and then there's that Scottish Cup game against Dundee. [Dunfermline are three points behind Morton, though with a better goal difference. But the Pars' game at Cowdenbeath has been postponed, so win, lose or draw Morton will still be in first after today's game.]
The 12-12-18 model for league reconstruction is encountering some opposition. Rangers, who are a lock to finish first, and Peterhead, who could gain promotion through the usual playoff, don't like that the new set-up would throw them in with the same clubs as this year. However, both Raith and Morton are on board with the scheme.
[Morton win, 2 - 1! Goals by Hardie and MacDonald. They are now five points clear of second place, with as many points (42) as they earned all last season. Dumbarton win and are now equal with Cowdenbeath and Airdrie.]
Niobe the building. Source. [And Italian archaeologists have just this week announced the discovery near Rome of a group of statues representing Niobe the myth.]
My 18th c lit prof told us tales of dating the driver for the commander at Niobe during WW2.
Posted by: Alan | 20 January 2013 at 03:41 PM