Hibbard, James C.: my Navy recollections (June 6 - August 14, 1983)
PublicAn interview/narrative of James C. Hibbard's experiences during World War II. Rear-Admiral Hibbard, D.S.C. served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on June 6, 7, 13, 27, July 2, 7 and August 14, 1983.
ABSTRACT: Rear-Admiral James C. Hibbard, D.S.C. and Bar Royal Canadian Navy (Reel 1, Side 1) Born the youngest of two sons of an Anglican minister on March 26, 1908 in the province of Quebec. Both brothers were officers in the navy. Joined the Quebec City half-company, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and in summer 1925 went to sea for the first time. He was accepted as a cadet, Royal Canadian Navy (R.C.N.) and in 1926 sent to England for training. Placed in the hands of Gieves, the naval tailors, and proceeded to join H.M.S. Erebus (monitor), the direct-entry training ship. Quickly introduced to proper social customs of the mess: no political discussion, no ladies' names mentioned, formal dress and dining. (45:00) Living conditions, routines, attitudes. As a midshipman in 1927 joined H.M.S. Emperor of India (battleship), an older coal-burning vessel. As members of the gun room, midshipmen came under the command of a sub-lieutenant who ruled very firmly. Limited monthly wine account and disciplined meals were the norm. Acted as the captain's "doggie" for nearly a year. Found that some messages from the captain and others were sometimes difficult to deliver and failure to do so resulted in stoppage of leave. Participated in a great deal of small boat work. In charge of a steam picket boat, occasionally using his own money in order to maintain it at a high level of smartness. (45:00) (Reel 1, Side 2) On-the-job training fostered teamwork and loyalty to the ship. Describes coaling ship: everybody worked, butter smeared on neck and ears so that coal dust could be more easily removed. A twenty-four-hour job, slept on deck, cleaned ship immediately after coaling finished. Three months special study for sub-lieutenants exams. When successful, pay became four dollars per day and he was posted to Greenwich for courses. Returned to Canada in 1931 after five years training, posted to H.M.C.S. Vancouver (destroyer) at Esquimalt. (Reel 2, Side 1) Met his future wife in Victoria. Promoted to lieutenant, Jan. 1932. Married. Comments on Sunday church parade, captain's inspection. Navy life hardly affected by the Depression except that money was a little short. Sent to England on course and then served as first lieutenant in destroyer, H.M.S. Bulldog. Mentions the "first lieutenants' union" in which all first lieutenants decided upon the standards to be maintained in the flotilla. In 1936 served on patrol off Spain as part of the non intervention patrol. (45:00) Returned to Canada as second-in-command of H.M.C.S. Venture (schooner) which he considered a considerable "comedown". In 1938 posted as first lieutenant to H.M.C.S. Restigouche (destroyer). When new colours were presented to the R.C.N. in 1939 by the King, Lt. Hibbard was the colour officer. At Esquimalt, when war was declared in 1939, Canadian ships were fully prepared. (Reel 2, Side 2) Describes convoys, usual fifty to sixty ships proceeding fairly slowly, the orders required, the commodore, the escorts. Limited asdic coverage. Surface attacks by U-boats. Escort composition and deployment. Serious gales, navigational problems, approaching enemy submarines. Captain of H.M.C.S. Skeena (destroyer). Convoy SC 42. Attacks, escorts, tactics required. Details of the three-day battle. Ships sunk. Escorts attempted to force submarines under the surface where their speed was slow. Eventually hunter/killer groups were formed to sink submarines while escorts proceeded with the convoy. General comments. Poses the question why submarines did not concentrate their attacks against the escorts. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.). Admires the qualities of both naval and merchant seamen. (Reel 3, Side 1) Returns to an account of H.M.C.S. Venture in the training of young seamen. Fine concept, but too close to war to produce the required numbers adequately. In 1942 appointed ashore in Halifax to train crews for the Battle of the Atlantic. Comments on his experienced staff, all "battle trained". Took ships to sea and exercised crews and the ships. Initiated the "battle trainer", developed ashore, after a particularly ineffective training exercise at sea. Explains principle, usage, effectiveness for officers and men. Mentions the relationship with the Halifax civilian population was only fair; the city was feeling the strain of large numbers of seamen. Appointed captain of H.M.C.S. Iroquois (Tribal class destroyer). There had been a little unrest in the ship, but it was quickly squelched by the first voyage to Murmansk. Convoy escort to north Russia from Aug. 1943 to Jan. 1944. At Christmas 1943 a major battle developed. The Germans attacked the convoy with the battle cruiser, Scharnhorst. In command of a division of four destroyers attempting to encircle the Scharnhorst, but the German ship turned away. Celebrated Christmas in Murmansk, puzzled by the suspicious attitude of the Russians. In Jan. 1944, as part of the Tenth Flotilla in the English Channel, they were to prevent the Germans' use of the coastal waters and later, from escaping from French ports. Remained there, working from Plymouth, until Sept. 1944. (60:00) (Reel 3, Side 2) Describes the Tenth Flotilla, four Canadian, two British, two Polish destroyers. Operated in the Bay of Biscay and close to the French Coast at night. Reads signal recording successes in the five months, Apr. 15 to Sept. 15. Thirty-five ships and one submarine sunk, fourteen damaged. Iroquois participated in twenty-two "kills" and four damaged. Superior radar equipment often caused Iroquois to be the leading ship. Commander Hibbard was one of the first to fight a battle from an operations room rather than from the bridge. In fighting a radar-directed battle fire was opened at close range, four to six thousand yards. Sent a party ashore to the French Ile d'Yeu and, in effect, liberated it, appointing an interim governor. Describes a night action against two destroyers escorting a small convoy. In two nights completely emptied the ship of ammunition. Awarded Bar to the D.S.C. Returned to Halifax in March 1945 after voyages to Norway and Russia. Speaks of his admiration for the German submarine service. Returned to North America in the Queen Mary carrying the badly wounded. Spent several hours each day visiting the wounded -- no complaints from them! A sobering, but uplifting experience. Appointed Captain D at Halifax, effectively having under command all ships at that base. Discusses the Halifax riot on V-E Day. Lack of planning part of the cause. Believes that the pubs and liquor stores should have remained open. Unfairly, the navy received most of the blame, but soldiers and civilians were major participants. Compares Halifax to the more serious riot in San Francisco where a much greater amount of damage was done. Federal politicians there did not become involved and the navy refused to accept any blame, saying that it was a matter for the civil authorities to control. (45:00) (Reel 4, Side 1) Prepared to send a naval squadron to the Pacific. Protested the need to volunteer. At the same time was demobilizing ships very quickly and without proper safeguards for the ammunition. Warned Ottawa of this dangerous operation. When some ammunition exploded he ordered the north section of Halifax evacuated and all ships that were able, put to sea. As a result of warnings given, the government took the entire responsibility for damage that occurred. Reads from the Halifax Chronicle. Appointed deputy chief of personnel in Ottawa. First inkling of integration in the forces occurred under Brooke Claxton, the Minister of National Defence. In his opinion Claxton was a fine man who let the military carry out government policy. In spring 1947 appointed to command H.M.C.S. Ontario (cruiser) -- a wonderful job. Valuable and complicated big-ship administrative training offered to the navy through ships of this size. Very keen to work with the Americans and personally arranged exercises about which Ottawa did not want to know, there being no direct political arrangement in place. Eventually became a common and officially acceptable part of naval training. Appointed to the National War College, Washington, D.C. for the year 1949/1950. Promoted to commodore and chief of naval personnel. The navy troubled by plans for expansion due to the Korean War. Insufficient trained members of the officer corps was a major concern. The account jumps ahead to Paul Hellyer and unification. Promoted to rear-admiral in 1953 and flag officer, Pacific. Visited Hawaii in order to emphasize Canadian/United States co-operation. Stump-Hibbard Agreement signed, which is now part of the U.S./Canadian Defence agreement. Persuaded the Minister of National Defence that the agreement was in the best interests of Canadian sovereignty. Early retirement in 1956 due to poor health. (90:00) (Reel 5, Side 1) Speech to the crew of H.M.C.S. Terra Nova (destroyer escort) on the twentieth anniversary of her commissioning (June 27, 1979). Speaks of the importance of the man in the Navy: what one does and how one does it; it is the effort that counts; be careful of criticism; loyalty to all aspects of life. Second speech, May 9, 1970. Battle of the Atlantic. Reads signal from German naval headquarters ordering the cessation of hostilities. Mentions the record of the U-boat, merchant ships, and the spirit of those who participated. Fall of France, H.M.C.S. Skeena, defence of the South Coast of England, tales of ships sinking, convoy SC 42, etc. Iroquois and the actions in the North and off the French Coast. (45:00) (Reel 6, Side 1) Reads a speech to the mayors of British Columbia, in conference at Victoria (1955). The importance of maritime trade and defence. The submarine as a weapon. National and international security are part of the same thing. Conflict continues partly due to differing concepts of justice between people, but it must be controlled. Events must be thought about very thoroughly. The primary role of the Canadian navy remains, and is the most effective, in anti-submarine warfare. Speech ends. Upon retirement spent seven months on a trip around the world. Visited many foreign dignitaries whom he had met during his career. Discusses unification at some length. Thinks that Rear-Admiral W.M. Landymore may have been the best naval officer in the history of the Canadian navy. Reads message to Capt. David Groos of the parliamentary defence committee. Deplores the lack of requests for advice to senior officers of the services, but recognizes that the government may have already made up its mind. (52:00) Claims that all the best senior officers left the services, leaving the weaker ones behind. Lunched with Paul Hellyer in 1978 and put the question to him, why was he now a Conservative. Received an ineffective answer. Comments that he knew and liked Prime Minister Mike Pearson, but that he (Pearson) did not know what was going on in the domestic scene. Thinks that integration was very good, but that unification seriously damaged the forces. Claims that Paul Hellyer told him that the unification of the services was a mistake. Lists a few civilian boards of which he is a member. Philosophy of naval service. Control of the sea is vital. Mentions requirement to volunteer for the Pacific war. In 1947 the Mainguy Report pointed out serious deficiencies. Political influence deemed to be a crime by the navy. Reads letter to his member of parliament in which he deplores the lack of integrity of many politicians. (37:00)
Rank: Rear-Admiral. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and bar
Interviewer: Main, Chris D.
Interviewee: Hibbard, James C., b. 1908
- In Collection:
- 19 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Six original sound tape reels (ca. 720 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 10 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- HJC_208
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- September 14, 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
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