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Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Officers
1939-1945

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Note. In naval circles it is custom to refer to the commander of a vessel as Captain. More explanation & other abbreviations can be found at the help page. When two dates are given for an award/decoration, the first one is that of the London Gazette and the second one that of the Canadian Gazette.

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A

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Adams,
Kenneth Frederick
K.F. Adams

Son of Walter Edward & Lilian St. Croix (Beek) Adams. Marries Dorothy Rowena Horsey, 12.08.1933; two daughters.
06.09.1903
Victoria, BC
-
01.12.1984

Victoria, BC
Lt.
03.01.1928 [0-1160]
Lt.Cdr.
03.01.1936
A/Cdr.
07.1940
Cdr.
01.01.1941
A/Capt.
01.01.1944
Capt.
01.07.1944
Cdre.
01.09.1949
R.Adm.
27.05.1955 (retd 28.10.1958)
Canadian Forces Decoration CD
?
?
War Cross, 3rd class (Greece) GrWC
15.12.1942
escorting Greek King to UK 41
Education: Oak Bay, BC, elementary school; RN College of Canada (1919-1922)
1922


transferred to RCN(R) [as there were no vacancies]



entered merchant service (Master's Certificate)
01.1928


transferred to & commissioned into the RCN
1928


First Lieutenant, HMCS Champlain
1928


HMCS Vancouver (destroyer)
1928
-
1931
served with the RN (overseas):
27.09.1928
-

HMS President
04.1929
-
(08.1929)
Lieutenant's course, Portsmouth
11.11.1929
-
(02.1931)
HMS Calypso (cruiser)
25.06.1931
-
1933
HMCS Skeena (destroyer) [till 09.06.1931 on stand by]
19.12.1933
-
(01.1934)
HMCS Cairo (cruiser) & Squadron P&RT Officer
1935


HMCS Stadacona
17.02.1937
-
(1939)
First Lieutenant, HMCS St Laurent (destroyer)
15.05.1939
-
21.08.1939
Commanding Officer, HMCS Nootka (minesweeper)
1939
-
1941
RCN barracks, Halifax [HMCS Stadacona] (lastly as Executive Officer of the Barracks)
25.03.1941
-
01.12.1941
Commanding Officer, HMCS Prince David (armed merchant cruiser)
20.12.1941
-
02.1943
Commanding Officer, RCN Barracks, Halifax [HMCS Stadacona]
11.02.1943
-
30.09.1943
Commanding Officer, HMCS Assiniboine (destroyer)
10.1943
-
11.1943
Commanding Officer, HMCS Ottawa (destroyer)
[other source: 09.06.1943-06.07.1943]
30.11.1943
-
11.12.1943
Commanding Officer, HMCS Prince Henry (armed merchant cruiser)
12.1943
-
08.1944
Director of Warfare and Training at Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa
01.08.1944
-
02.1945
Commanding Officer, HMCS Somers Isles (RCN sea training base, Bermuda)
08.02.1945
-
02.07.1945
Commanding Officer, HMCS Iroquois (destroyer)
07.1945
-
07.1946
Commanding Officer, RCN barracks, Halifax [HMCS Stadacona]
05.07.1946
-
01.08.1947
Commanding Officer, HMCS Uganda (cruiser)
29.08.1947
-
16.08.1948
Director of Naval Reserves, Naval Reserve HQ
16.08.1948
-
09.1949
Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, Naval Headquarters
07.09.1949
-
28.10.1951
Commanding Officer, HMCS Magnificent (aircraft carrier) [also Senior Canadian Officer Afloat]
10.1951
-

Commanding Officer, RCN Barracks, Esquimalt
27.04.1953
-
27.05.1955
Commanding Officer Naval Divisions (COND) [HMCS Star]
27.05.1955
-
31.03.1958
Flag Officer Naval Divisions (FOND) [HMCS Patriot]
04.1958 joined Canadian Westinghouse Co. Ltd.; 1959 Western Regional Manager.
Director, Naval Officers Association of Canada. Member, Hamilton & District Officers Institution.
Agnew,
Ronald Ian
R.I. Agnew

Married (15.10.1921, Oak Bay) Eleanor U. Monteith.
From Victoria, BC.
06.06.1895
Toronto, Ont.
-
22.03.1949
London, UK
[buried at sea from HMS Finisterre]
Cadet
01.01.1911 [0-1290]
Midsh.
15.01.1913
A/S.Lt.
26.11.1915
S.Lt.
02.12.1916, seniority 01.12.1915
A/Lt.
15.02.1917
Lt.
15.07.1917
Lt.Cdr.
15.03.1925
Cdr.
01.01.1930
A/Capt.
18.01.1935
Capt.
01.07.1941
A/Cdre.
15.03.1946
Cdre.
01.07.1947
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
10.08.1935
?
Mention in Despatches MID
01.01.1943
New Year 43 *
* For services in command of one of HMC Auxiliary Cruisers, during which period he was responsible for the destruction of two German Merchant vessels "Hermonthis" and "Munchen"
Education: RN College of Canada (1911-); psc
1913
-
1914
HMCS Niobe; Naval Service Headquarters
1915


HMCS Diana (for duty at NSHQ); HMCS Margaret; HMCS Canada; Executive Officer, HMCS Grilse; HMCS Niobe
1916


HMS Drake; HMS Manners
28.08.1917


HMS Princess Royal
1919


HMS Pegasus (aircraft carrier); North Russia Relief Force (Bolshevik Revolution); HMS President
05.01.1920


navigation course [HMS Dryad]; RN College, Greenwich
01.11.1920


First Lieutenant, HMCS Patriot
1920


Navigation Officer, HMCS Aurora
08.11.1921


HMS Guelph (additional to NSHQ)
1923


District Intelligence Officer, NSHQ
1923


Flag Lieutenant to Commodore Hose at Imperial Conference
1924


Assistant Navigating Officer, HMS Repulse (Special Service Squadron)
1924


Assistant Navigating Officer, HMS Hood
1925


First Class Ship Course, HMS Dryad
1925


Navigating Officer, HMS Weymouth
1926


HMS Champion
17.08.1926
-
01.01.1928
Commanding Officer, HMCS Patrician
01.03.1928
-
14.08.1928
Commanding Officer, HMCS Vancouver
26.09.1928
-
1930
HMCS Stadacona
1930


RN Staff Course
20.12.1930
-
(02.1931)
additional & Staff Officer (Operations), HMS Renown (battle cruiser)
24.06.1931


Commanding Officer, HMCS Naden & Senior Naval Officer, Esquimalt
27.05.1932
-
(01.1934)
Naval Staff Officer, NSHQ [HMS Stadacona]
23.05.1934
-
05.05.1936
Commanding Officer, HMCS Saguenay (destroyer) & Commander (D) Eastern Division [also 01.05.1935-02.05.1936 Captain (D) Canadian Division for exercises]
1936


Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor-General of Canada
03.06.1936
-
(02.1937)
Commander-in-Charge RCN Barracks, Halifax [HMCS Stadacona]
31.10.1938
-
(08.1939)
Commander-in-Charge RCN Barracks, Esquimalt [HMCS Naden]
04.12.1940
-
19.12.1941
Commanding Officer, HMCS Prince Henry (armed merchant cruiser)
01.02.1942
-
(02.1943)
Captain Commanding Canadian Ships and Establishments in United Kingdom Waters for Administrative Control (CCCS) [HMCS Niobe] (initially also Commanding Officer, HMCS Niobe)
06.1943
-
(06.1944)
Commanding Officer, HMS Atheling (escort carrier)
(05.1945)


still serving with the RN
(07.1945)


no posting listed
01.11.1945
-
03.1946
Commanding Officer, RCN Barracks, Esquimalt [HMCS Naden]
15.03.1946


Naval Member Canadian Joint Staff Washington
1947
-
22.03.1949
Senior Canadian Liaison Officer London & Commanding Officer, HMCS Niobe
Aitkens,
John Ormonde
J.O. Aitkens
?
-

died between 10.2004 and 10.2005
Midsh. (E)
01.05.1942 [O-1380]
A/S.Lt. (E)
01.01.1944
S.Lt. (E)
01.08.1944
A/Lt. (E)
?, seniority 01.08.1944
Lt. (E)
02.10.1946, seniority 01.08.1944
Lt.Cdr. (E)
1954?, seniority 01.08.1952
Canadian Forces Decoration CD
> 01.1956
< 07.1961
?
Education: psc
05.05.1942
-
(08.)1943
engineering course, RN Engineering College, Keyham [HMS Drake] [lent to RN]
23.09.1943
-
(12.1943)
HMS Matchless (destroyer) [lent to RN]
(04.1944)
-
(06.1944)
no appointment listed
(05.1945)


lent to RN
(07.1945)


no appointment listed
(04.1946)


HMS Nelson (battleship) [lent to RN] *
(07.1948)


no appointment listed
17.01.1949
-
(05.1950)
HMCS Ontario (light cruiser)
15.10.1951
-
(05.1953)
HMCS Crescent (destroyer)
(04.1955)


Naval Service HQ, Ottawa [HMCS Bytown] *
(01.1956)


HMCS Bytown *
(07.1961)


Naval Service HQ, Ottawa [HMCS Bytown] *
(02.1963)


HMCS Fraser (destroyer) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Armstrong,
Edgar Lorne
E.L. Armstrong
?
-
08.1989 still alive
A/S.Lt.
? [0-2780]
S.Lt.
21.03.1924, seniority 30.04.1923
Lt.
30.04.1925
Lt.Cdr.
30.04.1933 (retd 23.08.1934; own request)
T/Cdr. (retd)
01.07.1942
Cdr. (retd)
13.09.1942
A/Capt. (retd)
?
Capt. (retd)
30.09.1945
1920s?


joined RN
1924
-
(01.1925)
HMS Titania (submarine depot ship) (China) (for submarines)
1926
-
(07.1927)
First Lieutenant, HMS L 33 (submarine) (China)
27.04.1929
-
(08.1929)
First Lieutenant, HMS L 52 (submarine)
18.08.1930
-
(02.1931)
Commanding Officer, HMS H 27 (submarine)
19.03.1930
-
(04.1930)
HMS Lucia (submarine depot ship) (Atlantic Fleet) (for submarines)
18.08.1931
-
(01.1934)
HMS Kent (cruiser)
1940s?


transferred to the RCN
(04.1940)
-
(06.1944)
HMCS Stadacona
22.02.1945
-
08.08.1945
Commanding Officer, HMCS Assiniboine (destroyer)

 
B

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Bell-Irving,
Brian
B. Bell-Irving
?
-
04.03.1958
Cadet
01.09.1943 [0-5756]
A/S.Lt.
05.03.1947
S.Lt.
?, seniority 21.03.1947
Lt.
20.11.1949
Lt.Cdr.
?
01.09.1943
-
(05.1945)
Royal Canadian Naval College



served MTBs ?
(07.1948)


Royal Navy
?
-
(05.1950)
HMCS York (Toronto Naval Division) *
03.05.1952
-
(05.1953)
HMCS Magnificent (for miscellaneous duties)
15.08.1955
-
(01.1956)
HMCS Venture
?
-
04.03.1958
served in Canadian Naval Aviation (killed while flying F2H-3 Banshee aircraft 126333)
* indexed, but not listed as such
Bidwell,
Roger Edward Shelford
R.E.S. Bidwell


Son of Rt Rev. Edward John Bidwell, sometime Bishop of Ontario, and Mary (Morris) Bidwell. Came to Canada 09.1903. Married 02.08.1924, Mary Grafton Bothamley; two sons, one daughter.
14.09.1899
Peterborough (UK)
-
02.11.1968
[Halifax, NS ?]
Cadet
1915 [0-6410]
Midsh.
15.02.1918
S.Lt.
15.12.1919
Lt.
15.03.1921
Lt.Cdr.
15.05.1929
Cdr.
01.07.1939
A/Capt.
12.1941
Capt.
01.01.1943
Cdre.
01.01.1949
R.Adm.
12.11.1951 (retd 01.06.1958)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
13.06.1946
HM's birthday 46
CD
1946
& 2 Bars
Officer of the Legion of Merit (USA) LM
03.08.1946
*
British War Medal; Victory Medal; 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence Medal; CVSM with Clasp; 1939-1945 War Medal; King George V Jubilee Medal; King George VI Coronation Medal; EIIR Coronation Medal

* For exceptionally meritorious conduct while serving as Chief Staff Officer to Rear Admiral L.W. Murray, Royal Canadian Navy, in connection with the operations of Task Force TWENTY-FOUR from 13 September 1941 to 30 September 1942. He was in constant communication with Commander Task Force TWENTY-FOUR and his staff in connection with the planning of operations in the operational control of the combined surface forces of Task Force TWENTY-FOUR. His outstanding grasp of escort of convoy and Anti-submarine Warfare Techniques, his unremitting energy, and his intelligent and co-operative attitude were most important factors in the successful operations conducted by Commander Task Force TWENTY-FOUR.

Hon. DCL King's Univ., Halifax, NS, 1951

 

Education: Bishop's College School, Lennoxville, PQ, and St Albans School, Brockville, Ont.; Royal Naval College of Canada, Halifax, NS (1915-1917; 6th term)
1918


served European War
12.03.1918
-

HMS Canada [for training]
1919
-

HMS Barham [for training]
1921
-

HMCS Aurora
20.11.1922
-

HMS Malaya



course for officers qualifying in Torpedoes [HMS Vernon]



Torpedo Officer, HMS Nelson
11.01.1926
-

HMCS Stadacona (depot ship, Halifax, NS)
05.11.1928
-
(08.1929)
Torpedo Officer, HMS Tiger (battlecruiser) (Atlantic Fleet)
19.09.1929
-

Commanding Officer, HMCS Armentieres (minesweeping trawler)
18.12.1929
-
(02.1931)
Torpedo Officer, HMCS Naden (depot ship, Esquimalt)
1931
-

First Lieutenant, HMCS Vancouver
25.05.1932
-
06.06.1932
Commanding Officer, HMCS Saguenay (destroyer)
1933
-

Commanding Officer, HMCS Armentieres (trawler)
22.06.1934
-
12.1935
Assistant to Director of Operations and Training, Naval Service HQ, Ottawa [HMCS Stadacona]
11.12.1935
- 25.11.1936 Commanding Officer, HMCS Champlain (destroyer)
17.02.1937
-
07.12.1937
Commanding Officer, HMCS St Laurent (destroyer)
11.01.1938
-
(10.1938)
staff course, RN Staff College, Greenwich [HMS President]
02.01.1939
-
(08.1939)
Staff Officer (Operations) to Commander-in-Chief RN East Indies [HMS Norfolk, later HMS Gloucester]
10.06.1940
-
(1941)
Director of Operations Division, Naval Service HQ, Ottawa [HMCS Stadacona]
1941


Staff Officer, Newfoundland
03.07.1941
-
(08.)1942
Chief Staff Officer to the Commodore Commanding Newfoundland Force [HMCS Avalon]
24.04.1943
-
(04.1944)
Chief of Staff to Commander-in-Chief Canadian North-West Atlantic [HMCS Stadacona (RCN base, Halifax, NS)]
10.04.1944
-
16.01.1946
Commanding Officer, HMS Puncher (escort carrier)
02.1946
-
12.1946
Director of Naval Air Division, Naval Service HQ, Ottawa [HMCS Bytown]
1947


Imperial Defence College, London
1948
-
1949
staff, National Defence College, Kingston, Ont.
07.07.1949
-

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) (Air) and Member of Naval Board, Naval Service HQ, Ottawa [HMCS Bytown]
1951


Commodore RCN Barracks, Esquimalt [HMCS Naden]
23.11.1951
-
1957
Flag Officer Atlantic Coast (Canada) [HMCS Stadacona]
[Commanded Canadian Squadron at Spithead Coronation Review, 1953]
29.01.1953
-
1957
also Commander, Canadian Atlantic (Sub-Area) NATO
Brodeur,
Victor Gabriel
V.G. Brodeur

Son of Hon. L.P. Brodeur, PC, KC, LLD; married 1st, 1915, Doris Fages (decd); two sons; 2nd, 1938, Dorothy Whitfield Kennard.
17.09.1892
Beloeil, Que.
-
06.10.1976
Vancouver, BC
Cadet
08.10.1909 [0-8970]
Midsh.
21.10.1910
S.Lt.
14.01.1913
Lt.
14.01.1915
Lt.Cdr.
14.01.1923
Cdr.
25.01.1927
Capt.
01.01.1936
Cdre. 1st cl.
10.01.1940
R.Adm.
01.07.1942 (retd 08.03.1947)
Companion of the Order of the Bath CB
01.01.1946
New Year 46
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
02.06.1943
HM's birthday 43
Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA) LM
05.10.1946
services to US
Commandeur, Legion d'Honneur (France) LegH
27.11.1946
?
Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France) CdeG
27.11.1946
?
Education: Montreal; Imperial Defence College (1936)
1909


entered RCN
1921


qualified Gunnery at Whale Island
14.10.1938
-
31.12.1939
Captain-in-Charge HMC Naval Establishments Esquimalt [HMCS Naden] & Commanding Officer Coast of British Columbia
01.01.1940
-
1940
Captain-in-Charge, HMC Naval Establishments Esquimalt [HMCS Naden] & Commanding Officer, Pacific Coast
04.09.1940
-
06.1942
Canadian Naval Attaché, Washington
06.1942
-
08.1943
Naval Member Canadian Joint Staff, US
01.09.1943
-
01.08.1946
Commanding Officer, Pacific Coast [HMCS Burrard]

 
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Creery,
Wallace Bourchier
W.B. Creery
Married (02.12.1922, Vancouver) Monica Reid A. Hutchison (born 27.06.1899).
22.02.1900
-
04.02.1987
Capt.
01.07.1942 [0-16700]
Adm.
?
       

 
D

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Davidson,
Geoffrey Huntley
G.H. Davidson
?
-
Lt.
01.06.1939 [0-18160]
A/Lt.Cdr.
?
02.07.1942
-
03.12.1942
Commanding Officer, HMCS Annapolis (destroyer)
Davy,
Arthur Cecil Montague
G.H. Davidson
Son of Richard Montague and Katharine Josephine (Cudlip) Davy.
Married (02.09.1926) Isobel Muriel, daughter of late Iltyd Thomas; one son, one daughter.
11.10.1902
Westmount, Que.
-
Midsh.
01.09.1920 [0-18580]
A/S.Lt. (E)
01.01.1923
S.Lt. (E)
?, seniority 01.01.1923
Lt. (E)
01.10.1924
Lt.Cdr. (E)
01.10.1932
Cdr. (E)
30.06.1937
A/Capt. (E)
1939
Capt. (E)
01.07.1943
Cdre. (E)
01.01.1950 (retd 17.10.1955)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
13.06.1946
15.06.1946
*
CVSM and Clasp; 39/45 War Medal; EIIR Coronation Medal; CD and 2 Bars.

* Captain Davy has served at Naval Service Headquarters since November 1939, during which time he has given of his best efforts in meeting the many problems of Naval shipbuilding and in keeping abreast of modern developments as representative on various technical committees. As Director of Shipbuilding, this Officer was faced with the momentous task of early organization and development of his directorate, and in rendering cheerful assistance to Canadian shipyards and manufacturers with their multitude of problems. Captain Davy never wavered from the tasks assigned to him, and the repaid commissioning of Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy, are in great part, due to the tireless efforts of this Officer.
Education: Westmount, Que., public schools; "The Grove", Lakefield, Ont.; Royal Naval Colleges of Canada (Halifax & Esquimalt) (Eighth Term, 1917-1920)
01.09.1920


HMS Emperor of India (battleship) (for training)



HMS Orion
18.05.1923
-
(08.1923)
HMS Ajax (battleship) (for ER training)
1923
-
1924
RN College, Greenwich
08.05.1924
-
(01.)1925
qualifying for engineering duties, RN Engineering College, Keyham [HMS Vivid]
17.09.1925
-
(05.1926)
HMS Ramillies (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet)
30.03.1927
-
(07.1927)
HMS Wallace (flotilla leader) (Atlantic Fleet)
10.02.1928
-
28.05.1931
HMCS Vancouver (destroyer)
29.05.1931
-
14.07.1931
HMCS Stadacona
15.07.1931
-
17.04.1933
Naval Service HQ [HMCS Stadacona]
18.04.1933
-
18.06.1933
Supervisor new construction, HMC Dockyard Halifax
19.06.1933
-
15.07.1935
Engineer Officer, HMCS Skeena (destroyer) & as Engineer Officer (D), Western Division
16.07.1935
-
02.01.1938
HMCS Stadacona (RCN base, Halifax)
03.01.1938
-
06.11.1938
Director of New Construction [HMCS Stadacona (RCN base, Halifax)]
07.11.1938
-
(08.1939) Assistant to Chief Engineer, HMC Dockyard Esquimalt [HMCS Naden]
07.09.1939
-
(05.1945)
Assistant Chief of Naval Engineering Development and Director of Shipbuilding and Director of Naval Engineering Development, Naval Service HQ, also: Assistant Chief of Naval Engineering and Construction, Naval Service HQ
02.07.1946


HMCS Givenchy for HMC Dockyard (Esquimalt) as Deputy Superintendent and Engineer Superintendent and as Commanding Officer
03.07.1947


Naden for HMC Dockyard Esquimalt as Superintendent and Command Engineer Officer
1948
-
1949
National Defence College of Canada, Kingston (Course 2)
08.1949


Deputy Chief of Naval Technical Services and Engineer-in-Chief
FRSA
De Wolf,
Henry George
"Harry"
H.G. De Wolf

Son of late Henry George De Wolf, Bedford, NS; married 1931, Gwendolen Fowle, daughter of Thomas St George Gilbert, Somerset, Bermuda; one son (one daughter deceased).
26.06.1903
Bedford, NS
-
18.12.2000
Ottawa, Ont.
Cadet
22.09.1918 [0-19460]
Midsh.
01.09.1921