Stirling, Michael Grote: my Navy recollections (May 22 - July 3, 1980)
An interview/narrative of Michael Grote Stirling's experiences during World War II. Rear-Admiral Stirling served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on May 22, 29, June 5, 12, 26 and July 3, 1980.
Interviewee: Stirling, Michael Grote, b. 1915
Rank: Rear-Admiral.
Interviewer: Thackray, William S.
ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral Michael Grote Stirling Royal Canadian Navy Stirling_M_0189_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born on June 29, 1915, Stirling joined the R.C.N. in 1933 by direct entry from Shawnigan Lake School, Vancouver Island. Joined H.M.S. Frobisher (training cruiser) in England. Explains routine. Cruises to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Baltic Seas. Final examinations established seniority in rank. Process of selecting naval specialty. Joined H.M.S. Sussex (cruiser) as a midshipman. Describes uniform and duties which sometimes required careful and discreet handling. (45:00) Gunroom life aboard Sussex. Details and extreme care of ship when they transported the Duke of Gloucester to Australia. Stirling_M_0189_02.mp3 Remained in Australia for a year. As a descendent of the first governor of western Australia, Midshipman Stirling took part in centennial celebrations. New Zealand. Civil Administration of South Pacific Islands. Suez Canal Zone; ship uncomfortably hot. Ethiopian War in progress. Haifa, Palestine where he served ashore in an armoured train. Participated in the neutrality patrol off the Spanish coast during the Civil War. Feels that the Canadian government would not have approved had they known. (40:00) Stirling_M_0189_03.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 2) Anecdote, contraband runners. Describes sub-lieutenant's courses at Greenwich, including busy social life. Joined his first Canadian ship, H.M.C.S. Skeena (destroyer), then visiting Acapulco, Mex., under the command of Capt. V.G. Brodeur. Became navigating officer and, for a time, gunnery officer. Comments on the small prewar Navy and the friends he made from all ranks. Gives an account of the Royal Visit of 1939, training, drill, receiving new colours, Stirling_M_0189_04.mp3 marching from Beacon Hill Park to H.M.C.S. Naden where the colour was trooped for the first time. Ordered to Halifax just before the war. Appointed to H.M.C.S. St. Laurent (destroyer); first wartime convoy from Halifax. Became first lieutenant (1940) in H.M.C.S. Assiniboine (destroyer). Posted to the long signals course at Portsmouth, Eng., then in H.M.S. Victory where the original Victory was still flagship. Heavy courses in visual and wireless communications. In Aug. 1941 moved to a large country house which became H.M.S. Mercury (training school). (48:00) Stirling_M_0189_05.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) Appointed to the destroyer, H.M.S. Onslow of the Home Fleet. Terrible weather north of Scapa Flow, Iceland, etc. Participated in one convoy to Murmansk. Commando raid to Vargso and Maloy in Norway. Posted to Naval Headquarters, Ottawa in 1942. Signals staff officer in Halifax in 1943. Problems of teaching old signal hands new tricks! To Londonderry (1945) to command H.M.C.S. St. Laurent. Almost immediately into refit. Stirling_M_0189_06.mp3 Appointed to command H.M.C.S. Crusader, then building on the Clyde. Critical of Canadian government for asking the Canadian forces to volunteer for the war against Japan. Quite unnecessary political interference, in his opinion. Crusader payed off. First lieutenant of H.M.C.S. Naden and then of H.M.C.S. Stadacona (shore bases). Captain of H.M.C.S. Nootka II for a few months. Problems with the gearing of the new Tribal class destroyers then building. Appointed communications officer with the Canadian/U.S. Joint Staff in Washington. Promoted to commander in Jan. 1949, Director of Naval Communications in Ottawa. (48:00) Stirling_M_0189_07.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 2) Duties and experiences. Executive officer in H.M.C.S. Ontario (cruiser). Visits by royal personages. Discipline and powers of punishment. Day-to-day administation of the ship required constant inspection of most compartments of the ship. (45:00) Stirling_M_0189_08.mp3 Heavy use as a training ship. Cruised around South America. First visit of a Canadian naval vessel to Buenos Aires. President Peron visits. Crew exhausted by the necessity of keeping ship immaculate and the constant round of social functions. Promoted to SACLANT (Supreme Allied Command, Atlantic) at Norfolk, Va. Stirling_M_0189_09.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 1) Relations with N.A.T.O. countries. After two years, in command of H.M.C.S. Cornwallis (new-entry training base), then to the west coast in command of the 2nd Canadian Escort Squadron, in the destroyer H.M.C.S. Crescent. Cruise to the Far East with five destroyers. Long cruises essential for effective training purposes. (45:00) Stirling_M_0189_10.mp3 Naval member of directing Staff at National Defence College, Kingston. Valuable input from the civil service. Tours to Europe. Promoted to commodore, in H.M.C.S. Bonaventure (light fleet carrier). Comments on aircraft and anti-submarine exercises. Chief of Naval Personnel as a rear admiral. Details of cost of Bonaventure refit. Greatly concerned with retaining trained men in the navy; wives were always a problem, particularly if spouses married when rather young. (50:00) Stirling_M_0189_11.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 2) Personnel was a very taxing business, often due to the lack of qualified people. The Promotion Board was a difficult task. Navy could not believe the fact of integration. Prime Minister did not interfere with Paul Hellyer's approach. Appointed Maritime Commander, Pacific. Hellyer probably achieved his ends by confusing his opposition and, for the navy in particular, by its lack of an effective political power base. Stirling_M_0189_12.mp3 Describes his resignation over the unification issue. Worked for the University of Victoria Foundation. Asked by W.A.C. Bennett to be Agent-General for British Columbia in London, Eng. Describes work and conditions of appointment. Good relations with Premier David Barrett. Held appointment for more than six years. Retired at own request upon reaching sixty years of age. (47:00)
- In Collection:
- 12 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Three original sound tape reels (ca. 540 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 6 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- SMG_189
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- May 4, 2010
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2010. 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
