Adams, Kenneth F.: my Navy recollections (October 17, 1983)
PublicRank: Rear Admiral. Medals and Honours: War Cross (Greece)
ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral Kenneth F. Adams Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 1) Born in Victoria in 1903. Attended the Royal Canadian Naval College, Esquimalt. The Navy reduced in size so Adams not accepted after graduation in 1922. Joined Merchant Navy, first in a salvage tug then Imperial Oil Tankers where he rose to Second Officer, later was a tugboat captain. Joined the Naval Reserve as a Sub-Lieutenant and in 1928 was accepted in the RCN as a Lieutenant. Sent for a year to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and on technical courses at Portsmouth. Two year posting to a Royal Navy cruiser, HMS Calypso in the Mediterranean. Subsequently appointed Navigating Officer in HMCS Skeena (Cmdr. V.G. Brodeur), a destroyer then building in England. After commissioning Skeena sailed for Halifax, then to Esquimalt (1931). Comments on Lieut. H.N. Lay. Much coastal navigation, in which Adams was an expert. Posted to England in 1933. Incomplete course, broken ankle as Physical and Recreational Instructor but appointed to HMS Cairo as PT Officer of the Home Fleet Destroyer Command (27 destroyers). Returned to Halifax to supervise Royal Military College cadets looking to the RCN as a career. First Lieutenant in HMCS Champlain (Cmdr. R.E.S. Bidwell) (destroyer), a ship much damaged by rust. Exercises with the RN American and West Indies Squadron but no anti-submarine training. To England to commission HMCS St. Laurent as First Lieut. and the only officer who had some anti-submarine training. Comments on early preparations for war. Appointed to command HMCS Venture (training schooner). In 1939 was Executive Officer HMCS Stadacona (shore base). (Cassette 1, Side 2) Offers an account of Ventures' construction including seizure by the Sheriff of Digby county and subsequent passage to Halifax with Adams as captain and Deputy Sheriff! Purchase of yachts in the US for coastal patrols. Great stress at Stadacona with new entries flooding in and subsequently the manning of ships. In 1941 in command of HMCS Prince David (armed merchant cruiser - AMC), formerly one of the "Lady" ships of the Cdn. National Railway. Stationed in Bermuda with a routine of 21 days at sea, three in port. Comments on the sinking of the British AMC, HMS Voltaire, by a German AMC. Sent to Saint Lucia for a rest and to keep an eye on Vichy French shipping in Martinique. Other patrol experiences including attempting to shadow a German AMC and towing a disabled British ship 1,000 miles to Bermuda. (Cassette 2, Side 1) Appointed captain of HMCS Assiniboine in 1943 with a brief interlude as captain of HMCS Ottawa, relieving the ill captain, Cmdr. H.F. Pullen. Assiniboine rammed a U-boat but failed to destroy her. Further anti-submarine training at Derby House in Liverpool. Assiniboine refitted with the latest anti-submarine and navigational equipment in England. In a letter to Canadian Naval Headquarters, Adams complained at lengths about the general lack of modern equipment in HMC ships. Caused a furore, ordered to Ottawa where V/Adm. Percy Nelles appointed him Director of War-time Training. He established a Fleet Equipment and Co-ordinating Authority that streamlined the acquisition and fitting of modern equipment. New winter training schedules led to the creation of HMCS Somers Isles, a "working-up" base in Bermuda. Several months later became captain of HMCS Iroquois (Tribal-class destroyer). Originally on the "Monster Run", meeting inbound troopships. Now based in Scapa Flow, Adams was senior officer of three Canadian Tribal destroyers. Attacked coastal shipping off Norway and in 1945 joined a Murmansk convoy. Escorted Prince Olaf to Norway on 14 May, 1945. (Cassette 2, Side 2) Guarded the German cruisers Prince Eugen and Nurnberg moving from Copenhagen to Wilhelshaven. Later transported released Canadian POWs to Halifax. Appointed commanding officer of Stadacona for a short time. Captain of HMCS Uganda (cruiser) in 1946. Much training of Ordinary Seamen. Mainguy Report. Returns in time to comments on the Halifax riots in 1945. Mention R/Adm. L.W. Murray and V/Adm. H.T.W. Grant. Next to Ottawa as Director of Naval Reserves and Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel. Later became commanding officer of Naval Divisions (Reserve) in Hamilton, Ont. Retired five years later. Speaks of Brooke Claxton, Minister of National Defence, who started the integration of common defence functions. Later Unification caused much unhappiness which was ignored by the Prime Minister. SEE ALSO: R/Adm. Adam's hand-written account (75 pp.), (photocopy) of his career. This adds much to the interview by Hal Lawrence, particularly of naval service in the ten years proceeding WWII. Unfortunately this account ends with Adams' appointment to HMCS Iroquois near the end of the war.
An interview/narrative of K. F. Adams's experiences during World War II. Rear Admiral Adams served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on October 17, 1983.
Interviewee: Adams, Kenneth F., b. 1903
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
- In Collection:
- 4 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recording on two audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- AKF_254
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- March 1, 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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