Biographical Data

Piers, Desmond William

Personal Image

Photo Credit: RCN Official Photo

 
 
Title Rear-Admiral (RCN)
Official Number O-59210
 
Birth 12/06/1913 Death 01/11/2005
Place Halifax Place Halifax
Area NS Area NS
Country Canada Country Canada
 
Titles
Honours CM. DSC. KCLJ.
Awards DMSc (Hon) (RMC) 1978. He was made a Freeman of the City of London 1978.
Qualifications psc; ndc;
 
Biography
He was appointed as the Agent-General for Nova Scotia in the UK and Europe 1977-79. He was appointed as a Freeman of the City of London in 1978, He served as the Chairman of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (NS Division.)
 
Military Service
He was appointed as an Officer Cadet 1930-32. He served in the Royal Military College of Canada 1930. He was appointed as a Naval Cadet RCN 1932 (Special Entry No. 32). He was appointed as a Midshipman RCN (With seniority dated 01/09/1933). He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant RCN (Appointed 01/01/1936) (Later back-dated to Sub-Lieutenant with seniority of 01/11/1935). He served in HMCS Saguenay 1937. He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 26/09/1937). He served in HMCS Restigouche (I) 1938. He served in HMCS Assiniboine (I) 1940. He served in HMCS Restigouche (I) (In command) 1941. He was appointed as an A/Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/10/1944). He served in HMCS Stadacona on Staff of Captain (D) Halifax 1944. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 26/03/1944). He served as Escort Group Commander 4th Canadian Escort Group. He served in HMCS Algonquin (I) (In command) 1944. He was appointed as an A/Commander RCN 1946. He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1947). (With seniority dated HMCS Magnificent as Executive Officer 1948. He served in the RN Staff College 1949. He served as Director Naval Plans and Operations NDHQ 1949. He was appointed as a Captain RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1951). He served in the National Defence College 1951. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff (Personnel and Administration) Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic 1952. He served as Naval Member of the Directing Staff National Defence College of Canada 1953. He served in HMCS Quebec (In command) 1955. He served in HMCS Algonquin (I) (In command) and Commander First Canadian Destroyer Squadron1956. He was appointed as a Commodore RCN (With seniority dated 31/07/1957). He served as Senior Canadian Officer Afloat Atlantic 1956. He served in NHQ on Attachment as Commandant Royal Military College 1957. He was appointed as an Hon. AdC to Governor General 1957. He served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans, Operations and Intelligence) NDHQ 1960. He was appointed as a Rear-Admiral RCN (With seniority dated 27/08/1962). He served as Chairman Defence Liaison Staff Washington DC and Canadian Representative on NATO Military Committee 1962-66. (He was retired 1967). (He was awarded the DSC on 02/06/1943 for "vigorous leadership and aggressive attack" as senior officer of convoy escort groups while in command of HMCS Restigouche.)
 
Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features
 
Anecdotes
 
 
References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; MacFarlane, John M. (1994); Blatherwick, John (1992); Canada's Admirals and Commodores (3rd ed.) (2016);
Last update
2017-02-04 00:00:00

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