Hibbard, James Calcutt: my Navy recollections (November 21, 1983 - March 6, 1984)
PublicABSTRACT: Rear Admiral J.C. Hibbard, D.S.C. Royal Canadian Navy Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (Cassette 1, Side 1) R/Adm. Hibbard joined the Quebec Half-Company RCNVR in 1924. Some difficulty in persuading Francophones to join the Reserve. Planned to go to McGill but was accepted as a Naval Cadet 1 Sept. 1926. Joined the monitor HMS Erebus for training. Graduated as midshipman. Appointed to HMS Emperor of India, a coal-burning battleship. Comments on the sometimes difficult life of a snottie but had great help from much of the crew. Exercises in the Mediterranean. Passed for Sub-Lieutenant and to Greenwich for training. Comments on Mountbatten. Favourable remarks about training with the Royal Navy (5 years) and the importance of tradition. Joined HMCS Vancouver (destroyer). In 1932 covered British interests during a revolution in San Salvador. (Cassette 1, Side 2) Mentions some of his captains in HMCS Vancouver. Speaks of "forward thinking" and refers to his own during the war when captain of HMCS Iroquois (destroyer) and fought Channel actions from his operation room or plot!* Hibbard appointed First Lieutenant in HMCS Champlain. Sent to England where he served in three RN destroyers as First Lieutenant, one of which was based at Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Bay of Biscay and near the Spanish border -- part of the Non-Intervention Patrol -- Spanish Civil War. Also served in the Mediterranean Fleet where, after 1937, training for war was underway. Shocked to find himself posted to HMCS Venture (schooner) for a time as First Lieutenant. To England with W.B.L. Holmes (Captain) and Hibbard (First Lieutenant) to pick up HMCS Restigouche which was brought to the West Coast. In 1939 was Officer for the Colours when King George VI came to Victoria and presented new colours to the RCN at Beacon Hill Park. After the war started Hibbard was sent to England to pick up HMCS Assiniboine (G.C. Jones, Captain). After short service in the West Indies, made captain of HMCS Skeena. To England, May 24, 1940 in Skeena. Involved with evacuating British troops from France (not Dunkirk). Comments on sinking of HMCS Margaree by the freighter Port Fairy. Much local work for Skeena then in port for a boiler-clean. Convoy work to "20 West" then returned to Canada in March/April 1941. Anecdotes. (Cassette 2, Side 1) Repeats his disappointment at being posted to HMCS Venture. 1941, Skeena was based in Newfoundland: Halifax, Newfie, and Iceland -- the mid-ocean escort group. Comments that Canadian Navy not as well-trained as they should have been, but as well trained as they could have been. More ships than trained men, and both against very well-trained submariners. SC42, a convoy of sixty-five ships, ten square miles in size, escort was one destroyer, Skeena, and three corvettes, Kenogami, Orillia and Alberni and later Chambly and Moosejaw joined. Hibbard acquitted himself very well although fifteen ships were sunk, but there might have been more. Appointed Training Commander in Halifax. Vital training of ships and crews resulted in the Battle Trainer invented by Hibbard (see documents on file). The first Trainer (1942) was soon followed by a second. Both very effective in training ships and men. A Command Course was later added, and a Tactical Table. In 1942 appointed C.O. of HMCS Iroquois in the UK. (Cassette 2, Side 2) There had been an "incident" aboard Iroquois and the Canadian government wanted to bring the ship back to Canada but Hibbard persuaded the Admiralty that Iroquois should stay in the UK. The crew were told that there would be no leave for six months and they sailed to Murmansk, re-opening the temporarily closed convoy route. Iroquois prepared to join an attack on the German Scharnhorst (battle cruiser) but the German turned away from the convoy. Joined the Tenth Flotilla in Plymouth in 1944 in order to attack German shipping off France (report of ships sunk see docs. attached). Refit in Halifax -- Mar. '44 and returned to the English Channel in July 1944. Nightly patrols off the French coast. Gives an account of an attack by four destroyers led by Hibbard in Iroquois. Comment on the WRENs of the signal station, etc. Tells how Hibbard became "Emperor" of the Île d'Yeu, met Marie Gaston, whom he knew when based in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and formally "liberated" the island. Attacked German shipping. Eight ships sunk in one location by the destroyers of Tenth Flotilla. (Cassette 3, Side 1) Mentions that one of the guns on the stern of HMCS Haida "cooked-off" killing a number of the gun's crew (gun so hot that the next shell to be loaded exploded before the breech was closed). Made an honorary chief of the Iroquois Indians. Met a German U-boat officer after the war in Baden-Baden. In 1945 became Captain "D" in Halifax. Comments on the VE-Day riot. Lays considerable blame for the riot on Halifax -- many civilians involved, too. Some comment on civil/military attitudes and understanding. Feels that the requirement to volunteer for the war in the Pacific contributed to low morale and a breakdown in authority. Ships' ammunition temporarily stored ashore blew up, due to too rapid de-commissioning of ships despite Hibbard's warning protests to Ottawa. Appointed Deputy Chief of Personnel (DCNP) in Ottawa, Christmas 1945. Some comments on job -- repeated in the post-war summary (which see). Ends about half way through Cass. 3, Side 1. Post-war Interview with R/Adm. Hibbard: As DCNP had much to do with the transfer of RCNVR officers into the RCN. Also re-organizing the naval reserve. Appointed Captain of HMCS Ontario (cruiser) June 30, 1947. In an aside comments on HMCS Uganda (cruiser) and her return from the Pacific war. Shortly after taking command of Ontario the ship underwent some unrest. The executive officer transferred out of the ship. (Cassette 3, Side 2) Speaks of a number of cruisers and co-operating with the US Navy, all on a local basis and told Ottawa afterwards (Ottawa wanted a low profile due to early worries re Russia). In 1950 became Chief of Naval Personnel and in 1951 promoted Commodore. Before that attended the National War College in Washington D.C. for a year. Dealt with foreign policy at a high level. Korean War. Ottawa decisions regarding naval expansion. Some problem with the army expansion. Organized Junior Officers Technical and Leadership Course (JOTL) and placed Martin Ellis (ex-schoolmaster officer) as Training Officer. Resisted efforts to recruit RN officers for the RCN. Started the Regular Officer's Training Plan at the universities after a major "sales job". Speaks of his relationship with Brooke Claxton (Min. of Nat. Defence) and early Integration. As Chief of Naval Personnel made an inspection trip to Japan and Korea (see attached docs). Feels that naval training produces good citizens. Appointed Flag Officer Pacific Coast. R/Adm. Hibbard forced to retire early after considerable treatment for "Barry Syndrome" a neurological problem (hands and feet became numb and required some fairly constant movement to ease the problem). Comments on the Armed Services Centre. Important to have civilian participation. Health deteriorating somewhat so in June 1955 it was time to go. (Cassette 4, Side 1) -- only 10-12 mins. Returns to an account when in command of HMCS Iroquois that V/Adm. Nelles wanted to visit the ship just as Hibbard was preparing to take three days leave. Chief of Staff Capt. "D" of the flotilla advised him to take his leave -- get a rest (thinks Nelles may have not forgiven him). Short comments by both Lawrence and Hibbard on Unification. R/Adm. Landymore had correct approach. Approves of R/Adm. Jeffrey Brock's book (Vol. II).
Interviewee: Hibbard, James Calcutt, b. 1908
Rank: Rear Admiral. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Cross; Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (France); Croix de Guerre avec Palme en Bronze (France); King Haakon VII Cross of Liberation (Norway)
An interview/narrative of James C. Hibbard's experiences during World War II. Rear Admiral Hibbard served with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Interview took place on November 21, 22, 23, 28 1983 and March 2, 3, 4 and 6, 1984.
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
- In Collection:
- 7 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recordings on four audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- HJC_259
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- April 16, 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
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