Biographical data

Biographical Data
Ponder, Russell Porter If you have images associated with this Person, please contact us at admin@nauticapedia.ca

Title	Commander (RCN(R))
Official Number	VR-0913; O-59670

Birth	08/09/1888	Death	03/07/1956
Place	London	Place	Langley Prairie
Area		Area	BC
Country	UK	Country	Canada

Titles
Honours	VRD.
Awards
Qualifications

Biography
In 1913 he was appointed as a Constable in the British Columbia Provincial Police. After his First World War service he re-joined the British Columbia Provincial Police on 01/07/1919 and was posted to Massett BC. In 1927 he was transferred to Vancouver BC by the Provincial Police. In 1938 he was elected as the President of the Naval Officers Association of British Columbia.

Military Service
He was appointed as an Ordinary Seaman RNVR April 1905. He was one of the initial sponsors of the formation of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve in Victoria BC in 1913. He was appointed as a Chief Petty Officer RNCVR 1914. He served in HMCS Shearwater I as an Instructor 1914. (He resigned from the RNCVR in 1915). He went to England where he joined the RNVR as a Sub-Lieutenant RNVR at the London Depot. He was appointed to HMS Excellent for a Gunnery Course in 1915. In 1916 he was appointed to HMS Alert as Additional for HMS Gadfly (shallow draft river gunboat). At Basra Iraq he was transferred to HMS Snakefly as First Lieutenant. At Bagdad Iraq he applied for the position as Chief of Police, but as this position was controlled by the army he was unsuccessful. He joned HMS Guide On (In command) on the Dover Patrol 1918. He was demobilized and returned to Victoria BC. (Transferred to the RCNVR). He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCNVR (With seniority dated 28/08/1924). He was appointed as the Commanding Officer Prince Rupert Half Company RCNVR 1924-27. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCNVR (With seniority dated 28/12/1929). He joined the Vancouver Division RCNVR in 1931. (He retired from the RCNVR). (Mobilized for World War Two Service). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 28/12/1929). He served in the RCN Barracks Esquimalt for Duty on Staff as Naval Provost Marshall 1939. He was appointed as a A/Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (WHA) (With seniority dated 15/12/1941). He was appointed as a RCN Barracks Esquimalt for Duty at HMCS Naden as Drafting Commander 1942. He served in HMCS Givenchy as Drafting Commander 1942. He was appointed as a Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 29/03/1945). (He was retired (services completed) 29/03/1945.) He was appointed as a Commander RCN(R) (Retired) (With seniority dated 29/03/1945).

Military Service

He was appointed as an Ordinary Seaman RNVR April 1905. He was one of the initial sponsors of the formation of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve in Victoria BC in 1913. He was appointed as a Chief Petty Officer RNCVR 1914. He served in HMCS Shearwater I as an Instructor 1914. (He resigned from the RNCVR in 1915). He went to England where he joined the RNVR as a Sub-Lieutenant RNVR at the London Depot. He was appointed to HMS Excellent for a Gunnery Course in 1915. In 1916 he was appointed to HMS Alert as Additional for HMS Gadfly (shallow draft river gunboat). At Basra Iraq he was transferred to HMS Snakefly as First Lieutenant. At Bagdad Iraq he applied for the position as Chief of Police, but as this position was controlled by the army he was unsuccessful. He joned HMS Guide On (In command) on the Dover Patrol 1918. He was demobilized and returned to Victoria BC. (Transferred to the RCNVR). He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCNVR (With seniority dated 28/08/1924). He was appointed as the Commanding Officer Prince Rupert Half Company RCNVR 1924-27. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCNVR (With seniority dated 28/12/1929). He joined the Vancouver Division RCNVR in 1931. (He retired from the RCNVR). (Mobilized for World War Two Service). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 28/12/1929). He served in the RCN Barracks Esquimalt for Duty on Staff as Naval Provost Marshall 1939. He was appointed as a A/Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (WHA) (With seniority dated 15/12/1941). He was appointed as a RCN Barracks Esquimalt for Duty at HMCS Naden as Drafting Commander 1942. He served in HMCS Givenchy as Drafting Commander 1942. He was appointed as a Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 29/03/1945). (He was retired (services completed) 29/03/1945.) He was appointed as a Commander RCN(R) (Retired) (With seniority dated 29/03/1945).

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

Anecdotes
He was one of the initial sponsors of the formation of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve in Victoria BC in 1913.

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; McKee, Fraser M. (1973); Longstaff, F.V. (1957); http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/royal-canadian-navy-1910-1941-ledger-sheets/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=10993&;
Last update
2015-11-11 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Ponder, Russell Porter