Ross, Stirling MacNeil: my Navy recollections (July 21, 1986)

An interview/narrative of Stirling MacNeil Ross's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant Ross served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on July 21, 1986.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Interviewer: Aylward, Rick

Interviewee: Ross, Stirling MacNeil, b. 1929

ABSTRACT: Lieut. Cdr. Stirling MacNeil Ross Royal Canadian Navy Ross_S_0124_01.mp3 Ross_S_0124_02.mp3 Born on Dec. 4, 1929. Came from a military family; father was a trooper in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in South Africa and later in the Canadian Expeditionary Force for four years, returning to Canada as a major. In the Second World War his father was a government postal expert who organized the Canadian postal services for the Army in England and later in Italy. Lieut. Cdr. Ross joined the Navy through Royal Roads Military College in 1948. Chose to join the Ordnance Branch in 1950 and attended the Royal Military College for one year before changing to the Marine Engineering Branch. Midshipman in 1951 and posted to H.M.S. Indomitable (fleet aircraft carrier). Discusses the rank of midshipman, living conditions, status, etc. Previous seatime had been in H.M.C.S. Ontario (cruiser) as a cadet. Comments on the influence of the Royal Navy on the R.C.N. which at the time was undergoing a considerable expansion. (20:00) Enrolled in the Royal Naval Engineering College, H.M.S. Thunderer. This course consisted of two years of engineering basics, followed by one year at sea to obtain an engine room watchkeeping ticket, then one year of specialization. The year at sea was spent with the Mediterranean Fleet where, for two cruises, Lord Mountbatten was aboard his ship. In 1955 returned to the R.C.N. and appointed to H.M.C.S. Magnificent (light fleet carrier) as a lieutenant. Anti-submarine role developed during this period. Became a training officer aboard H.M.C.S. Cape Breton (fleet support vessel) which was the apprentice training ship. In 1959 returned to sea in H.M.C.S. Ste. Therese (frigate) in which officer cadets were given experience. Posted to the Fleet School in Halifax. (55:00) Last sea appointment in H.M.C.S. Terra Nova (destroyer). (60:00) Returned to university to obtain M.B.A. and posted to Ottawa to the Directorate of Ship Maintenance. Effects of integration; some aspects began early and were reasonably acceptable. Unification, however, upset all ranks. Remarks about Adm. Landymore who, he believes, did his best for integration, but could not support unification. (15:00) Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, D.C. Explains purpose and turbulence of U.S. political scene in the early seventies. In 1973 posted to Victoria as quality assurance officer at Dockyard. Retired in 1974. (30:00)

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Aylward, Rick
• Ross, Stirling MacNeil, b. 1929

Subject

• Military history
• Naval history
• World War (1914-1918)
• Canada. Royal Canadian Navy
• World War (1939-1945)

Language

• eng

Date created

• July 21, 1986

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 2 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• England
• British Columbia--Victoria

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 48.4359, -123.35155

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical repository

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

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

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

Genre

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

Archival item identifier

• RSM_124

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• July 18, 2007

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, 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 2007. 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/h0jb-ja57

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