Biographical Data
Willson, Robert Ashton Photo Credit: RCN Crowsnest Magazine

 

Title	Commander (MARS)
Official Number	U-79474; O-78649

 

Birth	30/12/1932	Death	10/11/2021
Place	Bracebridge	Place	Toronto
Area	ON	Area	ON
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

 

Titles
Honours
Awards
Qualifications	psc.

 

Biography

 

Military Service

He was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) RCN(R) 1951. He served in HMCS Star for UNTD 1951. (He was released.) (Short Service Appointment). He was appointed as a Midshipman RCN (With seniority dated 01/09/1953). He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1955). He served in HMCS Niobe for General Education and Warfare Course Royal Naval College Greenwich 1955. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1955). He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/03/1957). He served in NHQ for Special Duty at RCAF Station Centralia on RCN Selection Board as Naval Counsellor 1959. He served in HMCS Venture for Academic Courses 1962. He served in HMCS Stadacona for Second Long Weapons course 1962. He served in HMCS Restigouche. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1967). He was appointed as a Commander (MARS) (With seniority dated 01/07/1974). He served in HMCS Annapolis (II) (In command) 1975-77. (He was released.)

 

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

 

Anecdotes

After retirement, he served 11 years as Captain (Manager) of the Historic Naval Ship Haida at Ontario Place and was instrumental in having her recognized as a National Historic Monument. He was a founding member and first Executive Director of Friends of HMCS Haida, a member of NOAC Toronto, the Naval Club of Toronto, the UNTD Association, RCL Branch 165, and the Historic Naval Ships Association. For several years, he was editor of Anchor Watch, the quarterly journal of HNSA and BUMPH, the quarterly newsletter of NOAC Toronto.

 

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Bill Clearihue (Nominal List UNTD)
Last update
2021-11-22 00:00:00

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