Hanington, Daniel Lionel: my Navy recollections (May 11, 1985)
Rank: Rear Admiral. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Cross
ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral Daniel L. Hanington D.S.C. Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 1) In July 1940 joined HMCS Brunswicker as a midshipman RCNVR. A month later was sent to sea in the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Rajputana (ex P&O), eight old 6-in. guns, the captain a retired RN officer. Early convoy work: Halifax-Bermuda-mid-ocean then return to Halifax (Nov. 1940). Early corvettes with wooden guns, real ones fitted later. Comments on more or less luxurious cabins in former ocean liners. Excellent training included cargo storage as well as gunnery and navigation. On patrol in the Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland. Torpedoed (13 Apr. 1941) in the engine room and several hours later torpedoed again on the opposite side. Speaks of casualties. A dozen or more hours in a life boat. Spotted by a flying boat from Iceland, in response to an emergency wireless transmitter. Discipline in the boat was excellent and commanded by an engineer sub-lieutenant (former yachtsman). Rescued by a British destroyer and taken to Reykjavik. Telegraphed home "Sunk, Saturated, Saved" Love Dan. Survivor's leave. Mentions fast reaction to unexpected alarm-clock and loud noises. (Cassette 1, Side 2) Joined HMCS Skeena (L/Cmdr. J.C. Hibbard) for a short time. Then to HMCS Kenogami (Lt. Cmdr. R. (Cowboy) Jackson). Comments on the Skeena XO, Lt. Larry Rutherford. Referring to Convoy SC42 he recalls poor navigation equipment that resulted in some peculiar situations, particularly after a five-day snow storm. Officers, including Hibbard in Skeena excessively tired (as much as 72 hrs. without sleep). Picked up Kenogami and sailed to Scotland with ninety eight survivors, a crew of fifty eight, and no food but hardtack, canned tomatoes and bully beef for the last three days. The cook was a German survivor from U-501, who was put to work (Lawrence interjects his story of picking up survivors and delivering them to Kenogami). Hanington mentions that he spent the next two and a half years on the mid-ocean run. Comments on the use of the Gladstone Plot and later the Welland Plot and difficulties navigating corvettes with no really up-to-date equipment (cf. RN equipment). Partly blames Naval Headquarters and the lack of efficient staff officers. Comments on the low state of training of seaman in corvettes - easier in the destroyers who had a large component of pre-war petty officers. A very uncomfortable time spent on corvettes and hard work. (Cassette 1, Side 2) Some time spent on Sub. Lt. courses at HMCS King in Halifax and the exploits of a few on the course. Posted then to HMCS Wetaskiwin (Lt. Cmdr. G.H. Windeyer RCN an ex RN officer, a somewhat mercurial officer). Sank U-boat refers to Marc Milners history. Good plotting by Hanington after the U-boat had been "lost" resulted in the final sinking by Skeena. Refit at Galveston, Texas at the end of 1943. Six weeks later was drafted to New Waterford (frigate) under Teddie Buggs (Acting Cmdr. W.E.S. Briggs DSC) and the XO, Ruddle Brown sometime in the English Channel. With HMCS Annan when she sank U-1006. Recounts the story of the U-1003, firing two torpedoes at New Waterford but they failed due to faulty pistols! Comments on entering Scapa Flow using the new 271 radar - in a blinding snowstorm. Account of an RN attack (HMS Cam) on a sunken ammunition ship causing it to blow up directly under the attacker which caused every member of the crew to be injured, some very seriously. New navigation equipment including "Decca" and Loran" and stories of the navigation directing efforts of Wrens in England. Returned to Halifax just before VE-Day. Comments that very few of ship's crew were involved in the Halifax riot. (Cassette 2, Side 2) Sent to the UK to commission HMCS Crusader (A/Lt. Cmdr. M.G. Stirling RCN) who Hanington considers a very fine captain - cool and efficient among other attitudes. No further interview held here.
Interviewee: Hanington, Daniel Lionel, b. 1921
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
An interview/narrative of Daniel Lionel Hanington's experiences during World War II. Rear Admiral Hanington served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on May 11, 1985.
- In Collection:
- 4 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 32.30444, -64.75167
- Original sound recordings on two audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- HDL_258
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- April 15, 2013
- 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 2013. 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
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hanington_D_0258_01.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Hanington_D_0258_02.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Hanington_D_0258_03.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Hanington_D_0258_04.mp3 |
|
|
|
Hanington_D_0258.jpg |
|