Willson, William Herbert: my Navy recollections (September 12, 1984)
PublicABSTRACT: Cmdr. W.H. Willson, D.S.C. Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 1) (Casual remarks for a few seconds) Cmdr. Willson was born in Calgary (c. 1920). Several years as a sea cadet. Wrote exam for entry to RCN as a Cadet. Joined HMS Frobisher, the cadet training cruiser (Jan. '37) after the obligatory visit to Grieves for uniforms. Good description of the famous Cadet Gunner, Mr. Margot. Willson scared rigid. Anecdote of an Indian cadet who replied "Muslim" when asked his religion but the RN had only two choices, Roman Catholic or Church of England. On paper, he became C. of E.! Cruise to the West Indies. Considerable sickness, one cadet dying of spinal meningitis. Banned from going ashore in Bermuda (the 'Bermuda Incident') but finally some cadets were taken to hospital in Puerto Rico. Second cruise to the Mediterranean. Last cruise in HMS Vindictive (cruiser) during which time they met friendly German naval cadets. As a Midshipman joined HMS Cumberland (cruiser) on the China Station. Later in HMS Dorchester where the sub of the gun-room had a poor opinion of Canadians who had no idea of the Classics and ordered that books on the subject were to be bought and read. Shanghai in 1938 and relations with the Japanese (e.g. the British had some small ports, islands, etc. "under lease", not always recognized by the Japanese navy. War declared in Sept. 1939 and Willson was returned to Canada in the Empress of Canada (CPR). Joined HMCS Skeena as a Sub. Lieut. Sailed to the UK at the time of Dunkirk although due to an accident during a fuelling causing a flood of oil they did not participate in the evacuation of the army. Convoy duty. Recounts story of man lost overboard. (Cassette 1, Side 2) Quite complimentary about Lt. Cmdr. J. C. Hibbard although didn't like Hibbard's "social side". Upon reflection also feels that Cdr. "Chummy" Prentice also very good. Speaks of convoy SC 42 under Hibbard and his reactions in the battle. Critical of continuous action stations when nobody got any sleep. In ASW all ranks didn't need to be at action stations. (Continued on Sept. 25) After leave in Canada Willson joined HMCS St. Clair (destroyer). Tried to maintain RCN discipline but often baulked by the more easy going RCNR captain but things were easier in the ship after a ship's dance was organized and Willson had a drink with some of the crew. Quite critical of the old former U.S. destroyers--many mechanical faults. Re-appointed to HMS Skeena. Comments on the use of the Battle Trainer ashore at Halifax. Appointed captain of HMS Kootenay (destroyer) in 1944. Good account of ASW tactic developed by Lt. Cmdr. Ken Dyer in order to attack submarines ahead of the convoy being escorted. Before joining Kootenay, Lt. Cmdr. Willson commanded HMCS Niagara (destroyer) 1943-44. Account of the Niagara grounding in harbour on her first trip to sea. Participated in a blockade Cape Breton to Channel-Port aux Basques. Describes a scheme whereby German P.O.W.'s tried to build a radio and contact submarines at sea. P.O.W.'s escaped and eventually recaptured. Torpedo attack on Niagara who responded with depth charges. He was not supposed to react against the submarine since it broke up the carefully laid plans to recapture the P.O.W.'s (which was done) and sink the sub. In March 1944 took command of Kootenay and left for the Invasion of Europe. Describes some U-boats sinking during English Channel operations. Suggests that of the roughly thousand U-boats sunk, the Canadians sunk only 30 odd, not very much! Partly due to lower standard of equipment in Canadian ships. Willson's opinion that the Admiralty did not pass sufficient ASW transmissions to the Canadians cf. RN captains, McIntyre and Walker, the "aces". Willson rec'd a DSC for the second submarine sinking in the Bay of Biscay. (In company with Ottawa (Cmdr. Prentice)) The third submarine in shallow water sunk by a method of hooking a depth charge to a wire and dragging it up against the submarine where it was exploded. Returns to a tale of the Battle Trainer in Liverpool and the tremendous effort made by Capt. Roberts RN in mapping the wrecks in the English Channel. An advocate of searching and recording the bottom of the sea-bed to establish more efficient ASW tactics for shallow waters. In mid-1945 returned to Halifax. The ship was returned to England to return Canadian troops (300 per trip) to Quebec--made three trips. Much equipment became surplus and was destroyed at the end of the war--including food jettisoned at sea. Demoted from A/Lt. Cmdr. to Lieutenant due largely to his strong complaint that he had to volunteer for the Pacific War and eventually came face-to-face with the Minister. Informed that he would not be allowed to resign and appointed to the West coast in the Seamanship School. (Cmdr. W.H. Willson: Post-war Career) Comments on post-war manpower problems at HMCS Naden. Later in Ottawa in the Directorate of Naval Intelligence at the Russian and Eastern European desk. Many problems blending fleet operations and intelligence, in fact, non-existent in many cases. Almost nothing received of solid information. Sent to the RN Staff College, and the Univ. of London School of Slavonic Studies. Staff at RMC 1950-53. Posted to the West Coast and secondly to command of HMCS Crusader and promotion to Commander. Later in Training Command and Commander of HMCS Naden. Ottawa, Dep. Director of Manning--problems with officers who could not be promoted since there was simply not positions for those of higher rank. Appointed to command HMCS Ottawa (DDE). Tried innovative navigation aid. Monitored the Russian fishing fleet off the Grand Banks as well as suspected submarine radio transmissions. On the West coast as the first captain of the new HMCS Terra Nova (DDE). Organized better use of radio for his tactical operations and despite complaints from Ottawa but with support of R/Adm. Pullen was able to inaugurate new users. Altered his high definition Sperry radar so that just a certain sector could be "observed". Against regulations but it did shield the ship's radar transmissions from possible detection by an enemy further out to sea. In 1960 returned to Ottawa as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence. A good team but dominated by the Dept. of Foreign Affairs who did not approve of military operational intelligence. Thought it dangerous!
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
An interview/narrative of William Herbert “Bill” Willson's experiences during World War II. Commander Willson served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on September 12, 1984.
Rank: Commander. Medals and Honours: D.S.C.
Interviewee: Willson, William Herbert “Bill”
- In Collection:
- 3 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 35.68536, 139.75309
- Original sound recording on two audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- WWH_293
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- April 27, 2017
- 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 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
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