Awards to the Royal Canadian Navy 
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 1       AWARDS to CANADIANS in the ROYAL NAVY before WORLD WAR ONE
                          (Biographies and Citations Follow)

        VICTORIA CROSS  (VC)


   LG           NAME            RANK         SERVICE   DECORATIONS      


02/01/1859+    HALL, William    Able Seaman     RN      VC

========================================================================




        KNIGHT GRAND CROSS ­ ORDER OF THE BATH (Military)   (GCB)


   LG            NAME                           RANK          SERVICE  DECORATIONS_____     


24/05/1873+     WALLIS, Provo William Parry     Vice Admiral    RN      GCB            (KCB)

19/06/1911+     DRURY, Charles Carter	        Admiral         RN      GCB GCVO KCSI  (KCB)

============================================================================================        KNIGHT GRAND CROSS ­ ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER   (GCVO)



        KNIGHT GRAND CROSS - - ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER


   LG        NAME                       RANK         SERVICE    DECORATIONS___________    __


23/04/1907+     DRURY, Charles Carter   Admiral         RN      GCVO KCB KCSI  (GCB)


============================================================================================




        KNIGHT COMMANDER ­ ORDER OF THE BATH (Military)   (KCB)


   LG          NAME                             RANK         SERVICE   DECORATIONS_____   ___


18/05/1860+     WALLIS, Provo William Parry     Vice Admiral    RN      KCB            (GCB)

14/03/1867+     BELCHER, Edward                 Vice Admiral    RN      KCB             (Kt)


=============================================================================================




        KNIGHT COMMANDER ­ ORDER OF THE BATH (Civil)   (KCB)


   LG          NAME                     RANK         SERVICE    DECORATIONS_________________


30/06/1905+     DRURY, Charles Carter   Vice Admiral    RN      KCB KCSI  (GCB GCVO)


=============================================================================================




        KNIGHT COMMANDER ­ MOST EXALTED ORDER OF THE STAR OF INDIA   (KCSI)


   LG          NAME                     RANK        SERVICE     DECORATIONS___________________


01/01/1903+     DRURY, Charles Carter   Rear Admiral    RN      KCSI      (GCB GCVO)


===============================================================================================




 



        KNIGHT BACHELOR   (Kt)


   LG           NAME                        RANK         SERVICE       DECORATIONS_______________



10/04/1824+	WESTPHAL, George Augustus      	Captain        RN         Kt

01/01/1843+	BELCHER, Edward	                Rear Admiral   RN           Kt CB	(KCB)


=================================================================================================




COMPANION ­ MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (Military)   (CB)


   LG         NAME                          RANK            SERVICE    DECORATIONS________

14/12/1841+	BELCHER, Edmund               Captain             RN             CB	(KCB Kt)

06/04/1852+	WATTS, George Edward          Rear Admiral        RN             CB

19/04/1901+	VAN KOUGHNET, Edmund Barker   Captain             RN             CB


==========================================================================================




COMPANION MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (Civil)   (CB)


   LG            NAME                          RANK        SERVICE       DECORATIONS______


01/01/1914+	de CHAIR, Dudley Rawson           Rear Admiral   	RN         CB MVO	(KCB KCMG)


==========================================================================================





MEMBER ­ ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER (4th Class)   (MVO)



   LG            NAME                         RANK          SERVICE   DECORATIONS__________


12/09/1905+	ASHE, Edward Percy               Captain         RN           MVO

16/06/1908+	de CHAIR, Dudley Rawson          Captain         RN           MVO (KCB KCMG CB)


===========================================================================================





BIOGRAPHIES of CANADIANS Awarded PRE­WW1 Honours in the ROYAL NAVY


ASHE, Edward Percy, Rear-Admiral - Member - Royal Victorian Order 4th Class (MVO) - RN - 
Awarded as per London Gazette of 12 September 1905 (no Canada Gazette).
Born in Quebec.

He joined the navy as a Naval Cadet RN 01/08/1866. He won a prize while at the Royal Naval College in 1882.

He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant RN on 17/12/1872. Lieutenant RN on 30/01/1877.
Qualified as a Gunnery Officer.
Served in the Egyptian War.
H.M.S. Thalia as First Lieutenant.
H.M.S. Philomel as First Lieutenant in 1883. He was promoted to Commander RN in 30/06/1891. He was promoted to Captain RN in 30/06/1899.
Served in the South African War. He was promoted to Commodore RN? And Rear-Admiral RN? He retired on 08/04/1907 under the Order-in-Council dated 08/12/1903. (Details from John MacFarlane)

Naval Cadet RN - - - - - 01 August 1866
Sub-Lieutenant RN - - 17 December 1972
Lieutenant RN - - - - - -30 January 1877
Commander RN - - - -- 30 June 1891
Captain RN - - - - - -- - 30 June 1892
Rear Admiral RN - - - - - - - - - - 1905
Retired --- - - - - - -- - - 08 April 1907

MEDALS of Rear-Admiral Edward Percy ASHE, MVO:

MVO (4th) - Egyptian Medal 1882 - Khedive's Bronze Star - South African War Medal 1903.


* * * * *


BELCHER, Edward, Captain - Commander ­ Order of the Bath (Military) (CB) - Royal Navy

  • - Awarded in 1841.
    Born in Nova Scotia.
    Entered the Royal Navy at age 13 (1812).
    Promoted Lieutenant in 1817.
    Promoted to Commander 1829.
    He was made a full Admiral in 1872.


    BELCHER, Edward, Rear-Admiral, CB - Knight Bachelor (Kt) - Royal Navy

  • - Awarded as per London Gazette of 1 January 1943 (no Canada Gazette).


    BELCHER, Edward, Vice-Admiral, Sir, Kt, CB - Knight Commander ­ Order of the Bath (Military) (KCB) - Royal Navy - Awarded in as per London Gazette of 14 March 1867 (no Canada Gazette).


    MEDALS of Admiral Sir Edward BELCHER, KCB, Kt:

     KCB ­ Kt ­ CB ­ Arctic Medal (search for Franklin 1852)


    * * * * *


    de CHAIR, Dudley Lawson Stratford, Captain - Member - Royal Victorian Order 4th Class (MVO)

  • - Royal Navy / HMS Cochrane - Awarded as per London Gazette of 16 June 1908 (no Canada Gazette).
    Born: Lennoxville, Quebec.
    Commanding Officer of HMS Cochrane when awarded MVO. He was President of the Interallied Naval
  • Commission for the disposal of enemy vessels in 1922.
  • In 1923, he was made Governor of New South Wales a post he held until 1930.
  • He was awarded the KCMG in 1933 for this term as Governor of New South Wales.

    Captain Royal Navy - - - - - - 1902
    Rear­Admiral Royal Navy- - - 1912
    Vice­Admiral Royal Navy -- - 1917
    Admiral Royal Navy - - - - - - 1920



    de CHAIR, Dudley Lawson Stratford, Rear-Admiral, MVO - Commander - Order of the Bath (Civil) (CB)
  • - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 1 January 1914 (no Canada Gazette).



    de CHAIR, Dudley Lawson Stratford, Rear-Admiral, CB, MVO - Knight Commander - Order of the Bath (KCB) - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 1 January 1916 (no Canada Gazette).

    MEDALS of Admiral Sir Dudley Lawson de CHAIR, KCMG, KCB, MVO, RN:

     KCB ­ KCMG ­ CB (civil) ­ MVO (4th) ­ Egypt Medal with clasp ALEXANDRIA ­ 1914/15 Star ­ British War Medal ­ Victory Medal with MID ­ Queen Victoria - Diamond Jubilee Medal ­ King George V Coronation Medal ­ Chevalier Legion d'Honour France ­ Distinguished Service Medal (USA) ­ Khedives Star 1882.
    His medals were stolen from St. Osyth's Priority, England in April 1986


    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * *


    DRURY, Charles Carter, Admiral - Knight Commander - Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (KCSI)
  • - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 1 January 1903 (no Canada Gazette).
    Born: Rothesay, New Brunswick.
    Commander­in­Chief of His Majesty's Naval Forces in the East Indies".
    Commander­in­Chief Mediterranean Fleet
    Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty 1903 ­ 1908.

    Joined Royal Navy Royal Navy -1859
    Sub-Lieutenant Royal Navy - - - 1865
    Lieutenant Royal Navy - - - - - - 1868
    Commander Royal Navy - - - - -1875
    Captain Royal Navy- - - - - - - - 1885
    Rear­Admiral Royal Navy - - - - 1899 - (Second Sea Lord)
    Admiral Royal Navy- - - - - - - - 1908


    DRURY, Charles Carter, Rear-Admiral, Sir, KCSI - Knight Commander - Order of the Bath (Civil) (KCB) - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 30 June 1905 (no Canada Gazette).

    "Awarded for outstanding services as Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty."


    DRURY, Charles Carter, Rear-Admiral, Sir, KCB, KCSI - Knight Grand Cross - Royal Victoria Order (GCVO) - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 23 April 1907 (no Canada Gazette).

    "Awarded for outstanding services as Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty."



    DRURY, Charles Carter, Admiral, Sir, GCVO, KCB, KCSI - Knight Grand Cross - Order of the Bath (GCB) - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 19 June 1911 (no Canada Gazette).


    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * *


    HALL, William, Able Seaman - VICTORIA CROSS (VC) - Royal Navy / HMS Shannon
  • - Awarded as per London Gazette of 2 January 1859 (no Canada Gazette).
  • Born: Horton's, NS. Captain of the Foretop of HMS Shannon and served in the Naval Brigade.
  • He was the first black to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
  • Hall stayed with the Royal Navy, serving on four other ships, and finally returned to Nova Scotia with
    the rank of Petty Officer in July of 1976.
  • He was the son of a rescued slave and died in Hantsport, Nova Scotia, in 1904.
  • He was buried in an unmarked grave, but in 1947 the Hantsport Branch of the Canadian Legion erected
    a cairn to his memory.

    "Lieutenant (now Commander) Young, late gunnery officer of Her Majesty's Ship "Shannon," and Able­Seaman William Hall, "Captain of the Foretop" of that Vessel, were recommended by the late Captain Peel for the Victoria Cross, for their gallant conduct at a 24­Pounder gun brought up to the angle of the Shah Nujjiff, at Lucknow, on the 16th November, 1857." His action is deemed largely responsible for the relief of Lucknow."

    MEDALS of Petty Officer William HALL, VC, RN:

  •  VC (Blue Ribbon) ­ India Mutiny ­ Crimea ­ Turkish Crimea.


    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _* * * * *


    VAN KOUGHNET, Edmund Barker, Captain - Companion - Order of the Bath (Military) (CB) - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 19 April 1901 (no Canada Gazette).
    Born at Lennoxville, Quebec.

    Midshipman - RN 1864
    S/Lieutenant - RN 1869
    Lieutenant -- - RN 1873
    Commander - RN 1885
    Captain - - - - RN 1894


    Awarded for services in South Africa.


    MEDALS of Captain Edmund Barker VAN KOUGHNET, CB, RN:

     CB (Military) ­ Red River (Fenian Raid Bar 1866­65) ­ Egyptian Medal 1884­85 ­ Queen's South African Medal ­ Khedive's Bronze Star


    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _* * * * *


    WALLIS, Provo William Parry, Rear-Admiral - Knight Commander - Order of the Bath (Military) (KCB)
  • - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 18 May 1860 (no Canada Gazette).
  • Born at Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1791.
  • To acquire seniority in the Royal Navy, his father had his name placed on the books of several different
    ships sailing from Halifax starting when he was four years old (1795).
  • He actually entered the RN in 1804 on board the "Cleopatra".
  • He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1809 and served on the HMS "Shannon" when she engaged the
    American Naval Vessel "Chesapeake" on 1 June 1813. The Captain was seriously wounded and the
    1st Lieutenant killed. Thus he took command of the Shannon and brought the "Chesapeake" back to
    Halifax.
  • For this action, he was promoted Commander on 9 July 1813.
  • Ccommanded "HMS Niemen" on the Halifax station 1824 ­ 1826.
  • Commanded "HMS Madagascar" in the West Indies 1838 ­ 1839.
  • Commanding "HMS Warspite" in the Mediterranean 1843 ­ 1846.
  • He was promoted Rear­Admiral in 1857 and appointed Commander­in­Chief on the south­east coast of South America.
  • He was promoted to Vice­Admiral in September 1870 and should have retired after 53 years of actual service.
  • However, to prevent two Admirals from dying as paupers, a special clause in the retirement scheme of 1870
    provided that those officers who had commanded a ship during the French war should be retained on the active
    list. The few days Wallis was in command of the "Shannon" qualified him to remain on the active list until he died.
  • He was thus promoted Admiral in 1873 and Admiral-of-the-Fleet in 1877.
  • He died in 1892 with a combined service from the time his name first appeared on the books of an RN Ship of 96 years!

    Name on the Royal Navy books 1795
    Joined RN 1804
    Lieutenant 1809
    Commander 1813 (9 July 1813)
    Rear-Admiral 1857
    Rear­Admiral of the United Kingdom 1869
    Vice­Admiral of the United Kingdom 1870
    Admiral 1873
    Admiral­of­the­Fleet 1877
    Died as Admiral-of-the-Fleet 1892

    "For services as Commander­in­Chief on the south­east coast of South America."


    WALLIS, Provo William Parry, Vice-Admiral, Sir, KCB - Knight Grand Cross - Order of the Bath (Military) (GCB) - Royal Navy - Awarded as per London Gazette of 24 May 1873 (no Canada Gazette).



    Medals of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo William Parry WALLIS, GCB, RN:

     GCB - Naval General Service Medal 1793­1841 with Bar SHANNON WH CHESAPEKE.


    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _* * * * *


    WATTS, George Edward, Vice-Admiral - Companion - Order of the Bath (Military) (CB) - Royal Navy
  • - Awarded in 1852 (London Gazette date not found).
    Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Served out of Halifax for many years.
    Vice­Admiral (1856).


    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _* * * * *


    WESTPHAL, George Augustus, Captain - Knight Bachelor (Kt) - Royal Navy
  • - Awarded as per London Gazette of 10 April 1824 (no Canada Gazette).
    Born: Preston, Halifax County, Nova Scotia.
    Served on "HMS Victory" at battle of Trafalgar (1805)
  • Midshipman Royal Navy 1798
    Rear­Admiral Royal Navy 1851
    Vice­Admiral Royal Navy 1857
    Admiral Royal Navy 1867

    Sir George Augustus Westphal was born March 27, 1785 in Preston, Nova Scotia, and entered the Navy as a Midshipman at the age of 13 in 1798, serving in HMS Porcupine under Captain Fitzherbert Evans. He also served as Masters Mate on the North American & West India Station until Jan. 1803. He joined HMS Amphion the ensuing March and sailed in the frigate for the Mediterranean with Lord Nelson, and upon their arrival joined the HMS Victory. They pursued the combined fleets of France and Spain to the West Indies and back. Westphal was only 20 at the Battle of Trafalgar where he fought with Nelson in HMS Victory. He was wounded in the same hour as Nelson and was carried to the cockpit immediately after him. They laid him near the great commander and while the surgeon was busy looking after Nelson, someone had rolled up Nelson's coat and made a pillow of it for George. It happened that the blood from his wound drenched the coat and stuck to his face as it congealed so that when the surgeon came to attend to him, he had to cut it away. These fragments of Nelson's coat were treasured by Westphal all his life. Years later, when Nelson's coat was offered for sale and the Admiralty wished to buy it for Greenwich Hospital to be placed among the relics there, Westphal was asked to identify it. He assured them that if part of the epaulette was missing the coat might be bought as genuine. And so it was, as we may see it to this day among the Nelson relics at Greenwich. (From the newsletter ‘Ensign’, Naval Museum of Alberta.)

    * * * * *

* * * * *