Bridgman, A. Graham: my Navy recollections (May 11, 1989)

An interview/narrative of Arthur Graham Bridgman's experiences during World War II. Commodore Bridgman served with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Interview took place on May 11, 1989.

Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal

Interviewee: Bridgman, A. Graham

ABSTRACT: Commodore (E) A. Graham Bridgman Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Canadian Navy Cmdre. Bridgman graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1941 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He joined the RCNVR and was sent to HMS Kings as part of the first class, graduating as an Acting Probationary Temporary Sub-Lieutenant (E) RCNVR. Underwent intensive study of naval engineering - boilers, turbines, auxiliary machinery, etc. Joined HMS Despatch, an elderly cruiser, suitable for only warm climates (no heating). Ship repairs necessitated a return to Chatham Dockyard where Bridgman mistakenly contacted the Canadian Naval Mission in London and was returned to Canada. Joined HMCS Quinte (minesweeper), which went aground shortly after. Appointed to another sweeper (HMCS Clayoquot) for a few months. Became Engineer Officer to HMCS Stadacona, where the appointment of junior engineer officers to ships was undertaken. In addition he was responsible for all engineering personnel at Stadacona, especially in providing boiler-cleaning parties for naval vessels and very large ships that called at Halifax, occasionally as many as 900 stokers for the largest. Administrative difficulties occurred in forwarding personnel and pay related papers when stokers were sent particularly to Royal Naval vessels. The problem lasted in some cases for years. Joined HMCS Stonetown (Frigate) as Engineer Officer and found that he had only enough experienced hands to provide for one watch. This was the cause of much juggling to provide for some measure of efficiency through all watches. Workups at HMCS Somers Isles that did little for the engineering staff. They were part of a new escort group, C-8, in Londonderry, sailing for Fort St. John's. Finished the war on convoy duty. Claims that during the war, the engineering staff never quite caught up with the demands of the new ships. On their last convoy from Londonderry they came across a submarine on the surface, sailing to the UK to surrender. He was then sent to Ottawa and in 1946 Bridgman transferred to the RCN. An early duty was to return to their original owners yachts taken over by the wartime navy, accompanied by a considerable sum of money for refurbishing. In 1947 appointed chief engineer in HMCS Haida (Dest.). Posted ashore to convert the frigate HMCS Stonetown into a weather ship. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1948. In 1950 became the senior engineer in HMCS Ontario (Cruis.) under Capt. Hugh Pullen. In July 1952 as a commander (E) was sent to Ottawa to Naval Headquarters where he became involved in ship design and remained there for the rest of his career, except for two and a half years standing by HMCS Bonaventure (Lt. fleet carrier) building in Northern Ireland and as chief engineer serving in her from early 1957 to the summer of 1958. Returned to ship design. Concerned with the new destroyer escorts. There was a great shortage of draftsmen and technicians and thus the Naval Drawing Office in Montreal was established. Through CD Howe, who pressured the shipyards to hire draftsmen in the UK and lend them to the Navy, the drawing Office eventually had a staff of two hundred and fifty. Bridgman (1970) became Commodore in charge of technical services. Recounts some of the problems (financial) in building the new ships and how the rank structure in naval engineering was affected. Later, for two years, he was the deputy chief of the Operations Research Department (Defence Research Board). Gives an account of, in 1951, carrying Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh from Quebec to Charlottetown in Ontario and accidentally pumping the bunker fuel all over the upper deck. With many brooms and buckets of diesel oil the mess was cleaned up overnight so the Royal passengers, and the press, did not hear of this near catastrophe!

Rank: Commodore.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Bridgman, A. Graham
• Lawrence, Hal

Subject

• World War (1939-1945)
• Canada. Royal Canadian Navy
• Naval history
• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)

Language

• eng

Date created

• May 11, 1989

Relation

• Part of the Hal Lawrence collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Text

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 1 transcript (36 pages)

Geographic coverage

• Northern Ireland
• Québec--Montréal

Coordinates

• 54.5, -6.5
• 45.50884, -73.58781

Additional physical characteristics

• No audio recording held.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• reminiscences
• transcripts
• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)

Archival item identifier

• BAG_270

Fonds title

• Hal Lawrence collection

Fonds identifier

• SC066

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection

Technical note

• Technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Migration metadata by KD and MT. PDF. Technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

Rights

• This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/vfs9-tc66

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