Nixon, C. P.: my Navy recollections (August 1, 1986)
PublicRank: Captain. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Cross
An interview/narrative of C. P. Nixon's experiences during World War II. Captain Nixon served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on August 1, 1986.
ABSTRACT: Captain C.P. Nixon, D.S.C. Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 1) Joined the Navy in 1935 which was understandably a family choice. His father was RN and joined the RCN as commander of the new RCN College in Halifax. Some comment on the Roman Catholic and Protestant parts of the RCN and both Nixon and Lawrence agree that the separation of personnel for church services was not really a good idea. Speaks of his father and naval officers who knew him as well as naval and army officer ancestors. In 1935 he wrote his civil service exams as part of the process for selection as a naval cadet. Spent a year in HMS Frobisher, the training cruiser. Usual cruiser, speaks of the cadet gunner in Frobisher and of officers who influenced them. One felt part of a social as well professional "club". (Cassette 1, Side 2) Sea time was invaluable. RN training was extremely important, if for no other reason than the RCN did not have proper facilities for doing that. Moves ahead to Midshipman time in HMS Exeter (cruiser) in the West Indies and South America. Exercises with the whole squadron in the West Indies, sometimes joined by four Canadian destroyers. Sub-Lieutenant's courses in Portsmouth finishing in the summer of 1939. Requested an anti-submarine course before leaving for Canada and when Nixon joined HMCS St. Laurent on the West Coast he was the only officer aboard who had any anti-submarine training. Just before war was declared they were ordered to Halifax. Upon arrival they refuelled and escorted the first trans-Atlantic convoy HX1 and were on convoy runs until May, 1940. Anecdote of zigzagging with the convoy. (Cassette 2, Side 1) Nixon speaks of Lt. Cmdr. A.M. Hope ("Boomer") and very flatteringly of his successor, Lt. Cmdr. Harry DeWolf. In May 1940 they were told to leave post haste for England as the evacuation of Dunkirk was under way. One of three destroyers sent -- St. Laurent (DeWolf), Restigouche (Lay) and Skeena (Hibbard). A great respecter of Lt. Cmdr. DeWolf and of Lay for first class management efforts at N.D.H.Q. Comments also on Hibbard, Rutherford, Stubbs. Sent to Saint-Valery-en-Caux supposedly to evacuate the 51st Highland Division. No Highlanders but took off a few French soldiers and returned under German shell-fire. In return they fired at the Germans thus St. Laurent became the first RCN ship to fire in anger. Picked up an amazing number (861) German and Italian P.O.W.'s from the Arandora Star which had been torpedoed, so many that St. Laurent was slightly unstable! Captain changed to A/Lt. Cmdr. Herbie Rayner. Comments on Rayner including the fact that initially he was not a good ship-handler. Much convoy work in 1940/41. Attacked an Italian submarine -- damaged but able to return to base. Picked up some survivors of HMS Forfar (AMC) ex Montrose (C.P.R.) Begins an anecdote about an ill fellow officer who insisted on staying aboard despite near constant action stations. (Cassette 2, Side 2) Describes air raids on Liverpool, including putting part of the crew ashore to help fight fires. In the spring of 1941 they returned to Halifax and found that many of the ships company were to be transferred, two or three at a time to new corvettes in order to provide some experience to an un-trained crew. A month's leave; describes a "short-hop" flight across Canada via T.C.A. Returned to St. Laurent where, after six months they received a new captain, Cmdr. "Shakey" Armstrong. Uneventful six months on convoy duty (no attacks, mid '41 to April '42). Appointed to HMCS Chaudiere (destroyer) in command, in the fall of 1943. Work-ups at Scapa Flow then to Londonderry. Attended Tactical School, both against U-boats and later, E-boats. Returns to commissioning of Chaudiere in Portsmouth where the commander-in-chief was invited aboard. Originally some misfits in the crew but eventually was very efficient. (Cassette 3, Side 1) Became part of a support group (hunter/killer group). Met an American group who thought Chaudiere was a U-boat and opened fire (twice) but they were not hit. However the group brought U-744 to the surface to surrender. Chaudiere took several prisoners back to Derry. Prior to the Invasion they formed part of Escort Group Eleven, five Canadian destroyers, Ottawa, Gatineau, St. Laurent, Kootenay, and Chaudiere under command of Commander Douglas Prentice. This group took part in the sinking of three U-boats. Later joined by the frigate Swansea. Anecdote about Chummy Prentice. Returns to other U-boat sinkings: U-61 and U-985, although the latter not credited until after the war. No survivors. (Cassette 3, Side 2) Chaudiere was in the Bay of Biscay, June to August 1944 for anti-submarine and anti-E-boat attacks. Drove off two E-boat attacks -- against part of the Invasion Fleet. Later patrols in the Irish Sea and then to Iceland where very bad weather caused HMCS Skeena to run aground which Nixon discusses and also of the subsequent Board of Inquiry and Court Martial. Buried Skeena's dead on Iceland. Returned to Halifax for refit. Nixon left the ship in April 1945. Prior to that they were visited by Admiral Murray. Discusses. Both Nixon and Lawrence lament the fact that the Canadian Navy served under direct British control rather than Canadian when in the Eastern Atlantic and adjoining waters. There should have been more Canadian operational control. Nixon recounts some of the happenings in Esquimalt, the Naval College and his father the Captain -- the first naval occupant of the present Admiral's House. After Chaudiere, was appointed captain of the new HMCS Crescent building in Scotland. They visited the Channel (Islands) then to the West Coast of Canada for a year.
Interviewee: Nixon, C. P.
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
- In Collection:
- 6 sound recordings (MP3)
- 45.41117, -75.69812
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recordings on three audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- NCP_281
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- November 17, 2014
- 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. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2014. 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
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