Town, Richard: my experience as a Canadian Defence Attaché (March 14, and 24, 2017)

ABSTRACT: This audio recording provides an overview of Captain Town’s career in the Royal Canadian Navy. The interview covers the breadth of his career, from his first experience as a Sub-lieutenant on the Athabaskan, to commanding the HMCS Annapolis where he led one of the first mixed gender crews. Career highlights also include acting as the On-Scene Commander for the search and recovery operation of the crash of SWISSAIR Flight 111. It also includes his experience as the Chief of Staff, NATO Standing Naval Force during the arms embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The oral history also features stories of his time as a Canadian Defence Advisor when he was posted to Australia and New Zealand for five years from 2003-2008. He related his his experiences with military diplomatic relations. Audio Time Codes 0:00–4:38 His decision to join the Royal Canadian Navy and his first training experiences. 5:38–7:40 His Experiences on the HMCS Athabaskan as a First Rank Sub Lt, 1974. 12:00:17–14:30 His promotion path & experience as Commander of the HMCS Annapolis. 14:40-27:00 Leading one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first integrated crews on the west coast. 27:20-29:00 His role as the Chief of Staff, NATO Standing Naval Force with Admiral Rodriguez (Portuguese Navy). 29:40-34:56 A witness to a naval force display by NATO to apply pressure to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which led to the Dayton Peace Accord (1995). 37:00– 44: 30 On his role as the Executive Secretary to three Commanders of the Royal Canadian Navy: Vice Admirals Mason, Garnett and Maddison. (1996-1998) 01:03:38–01:23:00 His Experience as the Commander of HMCS Preserver, specifically when he served as the On Scene Commander for Search and Recovery Mission of Swissair Flight 111 in 1998. 1:24:50 – 1:31:00 His role as the Chief of Staff Westcoast; features his work on outreach to Indigenous communities for the Navy’s recruitment program. 1:33:38 – 1:47:00 His experience as a Defence Advisor Role, specifically with military bilateral relations with the Australian and New Zealand military. 1:48:00- 1:57:00 His observations of the Attaché Training Program including security preparedness. 1:57:00 –2:01:02 On being watched by other foreign governments. 2:02:00-2:11:00 The attaché network, and relationships with foreign attachés. 2:18:00 –2:24:00 His relationship with the High Commissioner. 2:26:00 –2:35:00 On the sales function of a Defence Advisor; the Australian/New Zealand Defence Acquisition Process and Defence priorities. 2:36:00 – 2:40:00 His experience in Canadian Military Relations with the Australian Military. 2:44:00 – 2:49:00 His work as an attaché with the Australian military intelligence. 3:00:00 – 3:08:38 The attaché role in New Zealand, and observations of their military. 3:24:00—3:31:00 The insight he gained from the attaché role./His assessment of Canada’s Defence Policy, and Canada’s military power status among Australian and New Zealand military. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 14:40-27:00 Leading one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first integrated crews on the west coast. 2:26:00 –2:35:00 On the sales function of a Defence Advisor; the Australian/New Zealand Defence Acquisition Process and Defence priorities.

An interview/narrative of Richard Town's experiences with the Canadian Armed Forces. Captain Town served as a Defence Attaché. Interview took place on March 14 and 24, 2017 in Victoria, B.C.

Interviewer: Currie, Heather

Interviewee: Town, Richard

Rank: Captain.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Town, Richard
• Currie, Heather

Subject

• Naval history
• Armed Forces--Officers
• Canada. Royal Canadian Navy
• Military history

Language

• eng

Date created

• March 14, 2017 to March 24, 2017

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 1 sound recording (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Yugoslavia
• British Columbia--Victoria

Coordinates

• 48.4359, -123.35155
• 44, 19.75

Additional physical characteristics

• Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)
• reminiscences
• sound recordings

Archival item identifier

• TR_849

Fonds title

• Military oral history collection

Fonds identifier

• SC141

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection

Date digitized

• March 14, 2017

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 170 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2017. 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/s0j0-1930

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Visibility	Actions
	SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail		Public	Press to Select an action Download
	Town_R_0849_01		Public	Press to Select an action Download