Harold Taylor Wood Grant
| Harold Taylor Wood Grant | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 16, 1899 Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Died |
May 8, 1965 (aged 66) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Allegiance |
 Canada |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Canadian Navy |
| Years of service | 1914–1951 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
Chief of the Naval Staff HMCS Ontario HMS Enterprise HMS Diomede HMCS Skeena |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Canadian Forces Decoration Mentioned in Despatches Bronze Star Medal (United States) |
Vice Admiral Harold Taylor Wood Grant CBE, DSO, CD (March 16, 1899 – May 8, 1965) was a Canadian naval officer and a post-war Chief of the Naval Staff.
Early life
Grant was born in 1899 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Lieutenant Governor MacCallum Grant and Laura MacNeill Parker Grant. He had one sister and five brothers, one of whom was John Moreau Grant. He studied at the Royal Naval College of Canada at Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1914 to 1917.
Career
First World War
During the First World War, Grant was as a midshipman with HMS Leviathan in February 1917. He served as Director of Canadian Naval Plans and Director of Naval Reserves. In 1938, he was appointed commanding officer of the destroyer HMCS Skeena.[1]
Second World War
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Grant was a member of the command staff of the Atlantic Coast. Promoted to Captain in 1940, he became Director of Naval Personnel. He was commanding officer of the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Diomede in 1943.[2] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for "gallantry and skill and good service in command of HMS Enterprise in an action with enemy destroyers".
In the Bay of Biscay, HMS Enterprise and fellow light cruiser, HMS Glasgow took on 11 German destroyers. The two ships sank three German ships, damaged several other German ships and chased the rest of the German ships into a French port. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his service during the D-Day invasion of Normandy June 1944. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the United States for his actions during the naval bombardment of Cherbourg, France.[1]
Post-war
Grant was promoted rear admiral in 1946. He served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 1947 to 1951. After retiring, he served as president of the Home Steamship lines at Montreal, Quebec. Grant died in Rockliffe Park, Ottawa, Ontario on May 8, 1965. He was 66 years of age. He was survived by his son John MacGregor and his daughters Sarah Grant and Caroline Gill.[3]
References
- 1 2 Richard Howard Gimblett, Michael Whitby, Peter Haydon `The admirals: Canada's senior naval leadership in the twentieth century`
- ↑ Bernd Horn, Stephen John Harris, Warrior chiefs: perspectives on senior Canadian military leaders
- ↑ Canada veterans' hall of valour
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Howard Reid |
Chief of the Naval Staff 1947–1951 |
Succeeded by Rollo Mainguy |
| Directors of the Naval Service |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Chiefs of the Naval Staff | ||
| Commanders, Maritime Command | ||
| Chiefs of the Maritime Staff | ||
| Commanders of the Royal Canadian Navy | ||