Biographical Data

Rayner, Herbert Sharples

Personal Image

Photo Credit: RCN Crowsnest Magazine

 
 
Title Vice-Admiral (RCN)
Official Number O-61345
 
Birth 16/01/1911 Death 30/05/1976
Place Clinton Place Ottawa
Area ON Area ON
Country Canada Country Canada
 
Titles
Honours DSC & Bar. M.I.D. (Two times), Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (France), Croix de Guerre avec Palme en Bronze (France)
Awards
Qualifications idc. ndc.
 
Biography
After his naval service he was active in the RCN Benevolent Fund. He was the Director of Administration for the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa in 1967. He was the Secretary of the Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.
 
Military Service
He was appointed as a Naval Cadet RCN (With seniority dated 07/09/1928). (He initially joined as a Paymaster Cadet.) H.M.S. Erebus for Training (Special Entry No. 25) 1928. He was appointed as a Midshipman RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1930). He served in H.M.S. Revenge for Training. He served in H.M.S. Warspite for Training. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN. He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/04/1933). He served in HMCS Champlain 1933. He served in H.M.S. Vernon for RN Torpedo Officer Long Course 1935. He served in H.M.S. Renown 1936. He served in HMCS Skeena (I) 1937. He served in HMCS Skeena (I) (In command) 1940. He served in HMCS St. Laurent (I) (In command) 1940. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/04/1941). He served as Staff Officer Operations to Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast 1942. He served in HMCS Huron (I) (In command) 1943. He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1944). He served in NSHQ as Director of Plans 1944. He was appointed as an A/Captain RCN 1945. He served in HMCS Stadacona as Captain (D) Halifax 1945. He served in HMCS Nootka (II) (In command) 1946. He served in HMCS Stadacona as Officer Commanding RCN Air Section Dartmouth 1947. He was appointed as a Captain RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1948). He served as Commandant Canadian Services College Royal Roads 1948. He served in National Defence College Staff Course 1949. He served in NDHQ as Secretary to Chiefs of Staff Committee 1950. He was appointed as an A/Commodore RCN 1951. He served as Coordinator of Joint Staff 1951. He was appointed as a Commodore RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1951). He served in HMCS Magnificent (In command) 1953. He served in NHQ as Naval Assistant to Chief of Naval Staff 1955. He was appointed as a Rear-Admiral RCN (With seniority dated 27/05/1955). He served in NHQ as Chief of Naval Personnel 1955. He served in HMCS Naden as Flag Officer Pacific Coast and as Senior Officer in Command and as Maritime Commander Pacific 1957. He served in NHQ as Chief of Naval Staff 1960. He was appointed as a Vice-Admiral RCN (With seniority dated 01/08/1960). He served in NHQ as Chief of Naval Staff 1960-64. (He was retired in 1964. ) (He was qualified as a Torpedo Officer.)
 
Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features
 
Anecdotes
He was awarded the DSC on 11/03/1941 for "courage and enterprise in action against enemy submarines." He was awarded a Bar to the DSC on 28/08/1944 for "good service in action with destroyer force." He retired early when his position disappeared when a single defence staff under a single Chief of Defence Staff was created in 1964. He was the eighth and last Chief of the Naval Staff.
 
References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Blatherwick, John (1992); MacFarlane, John M. (1994); Canada's Admirals and Commodores (3rd ed.) (2016);
Last update
2017-02-04 00:00:00

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