Commodore WP Hayes, MID, CD, RCN (Retd) World Naval Ships Forums Archive

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Commodore WP Hayes, MID, CD, RCN (Retd) World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Commodore WP Hayes, MID, CD, RCN (Retd)

Posts 1 to 3

1. The Chief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral Dean Mcfadden, regrets to announce the passing of Commodore William Prine Hayes in Mahone Bay, NS on Tuesday, 4 August 2009. 2. Commodore Hayes distinguished himself in both his military and civilian careers and commitment to his community. 3. He was born 18 December 1919 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He attended schools there and entered the Royal Military College of Canada in 1937. 4. He left the college in 1939 to join the Royal Canadian Navy as a cadet. He began his service as a midshipman with the Royal Navy's Eastern Mediterranean Fleet. He served aboard HMS LIVERPOOL early in the Second World War. Action occurred when the fleet was returning to Alexandria in October 1940, having escorted a convoy to Malta. Excerpts from his midshipman’s journal describing the torpedoing of HMS LIVERPOOL are in the naval archives. On 11 November 1940, the Royal Navy launched the first all aircraft naval attack in history, flying a small number of aircraft from the carrier in the Mediterranean and attacking the Italian fleet at Taranto. They inflicted severe damage on the Italian fleet and helped to tip the balance of Mediterranean sea power in favour of the allies. In March 1941, he was aboard HMS YORK when it was torpedoed and sunk in Suda Bay. His midshipman’s journal, lost for many months, survived intact and arrived in the mail many months later. This account is also in the naval archives. In 1941, he took part in the evacuation of Greece and Crete and the Syrian campaign. He was serving in HMS ISIS when she was struck by a bomb. In 1942, he was appointed to HMCS IROQUOIS. He was assigned to convoys to the treacherous Northwest Russian port of Murmansk, and on 26 December 1943 he was part of the action that brought about the destruction of the German battleship SCHARNHORST. He was gunnery control officer in a number of night actions in the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel. He was twice mentioned in despatches in November 1944 and July 1945. 5. In the post war years, he attended the Royal Navy Staff College, the United States Naval War College Naval Command Course and the National Defence College. He commanded two destroyers, one of which was HMCS CAYUGA in the Korean Theatre in 1953, two destroyer squadrons, and the Atlantic Fleet. In 1960 he was commanding officer of HMCS COLUMBIA for her voyage to West Africa to represent Canada at Nigeria’s formal acquisition of independence. He was also Commandant of Royal Roads Military College, The Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces Staff College from 1971-1973. He was an Honorary ADC to the Governor General, The Right Honourable Roland Michener, from 1967 until he retired in 1973. 6. On retirement from the navy, Commodore Hayes was general manager of the Financial Post Conference Division for a brief period. He moved to Mahone Bay in June 1974 where he was once occupied with a small hobby farm operation. His other interests lead to his serving as president of the Royal Military College Club Of Canada, president of the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia in 1981. In 1978 he was instrumental in the formation of the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary (Coast Guard) Maritime Region and served as vice president. He was an honorary member of the Sir Archibald Macdonell Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Kingston, On. 7. Close to home, he served on the Board of Directors of Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg, 1980-1984. To recognize his involvement with the Mahone Bay 225th anniversary celebrations, he was made an honorary citizen of the town. 8. He was awarded the Centennial Medal in 1967. In May 1983 he received the honorary degree, Doctor Of Military Science from the Royal Military College of Canada. 9. Commodore Hayes is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Ironside, his sister, Mary Ellen Horne, daughter, Jane, sons, Fred and Jim, grandchildren, Nick, Dan, Kelly, Allison, Alexandra, Lydia and greatgranddaughter, Lily 10. A memorial service for Commodore Hayes will be held in St James Anglican Church, Edgewater Street, Mahone Bay, on Thursday, 13 August 2009 at 1100 to which all military attendees are welcome. Military members shall wear 1A with medals. 11. Commodore Hayes will be remembered for his outstanding dedication and leadership, his service to our navy, his country and community.

Thanks for posting this gfed. I was getting a bit lonely sitting here on my own and posting Obits. I hope that more members decide to contribute

[QUOTE=qprdave;68795]Thanks for posting this gfed. I was getting a bit lonely sitting here on my own and posting Obits. I hope that more members decide to contribute[/QUOTE]No worries, I will try to post any further Canadian naval obituaries I come across. I hosted the good Commodore once when I was a cadet at Royal Roads Military College. He was a very personable gentleman and proud of his legacy as the man who introduced the famous peacocks of Royal Roads, which he called Hayes' folly.

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