Herbert Rayner

Herbert Rayner
Born 16 January 1911
Clinton, Ontario
Died 30 May 1976(1976-05-30) (aged 65)
Ottawa, Ontario
Allegiance  Canada
Service/branch  Royal Canadian Navy
Years of service 1928-1964
Rank Vice-Admiral
Commands held HMCS Skeena
HMCS St. Laurent
HMCS Huron
HMCS Nootka
Naval Air Section, HMCS Stadacona
Canadian Services College Royal Roads
HMCS Magnificent
Maritime Forces Pacific
Royal Canadian Navy
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Distinguished Service Cross

Vice Admiral Herbert Sharples Rayner DSC & Bar (16 January 1911 - 30 May 1976) was a Royal Canadian Navy officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 1960 to 1964.

Career

Rayner joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1928.[1] He served in the Second World War as Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMCS Skeena and then of the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent during 1940, as Staff Officer Operations to the Commander Atlantic Coast from 1942 and as Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMCS Huron from 1943 before becoming Director of Plans in 1944.[1] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "courage and enterprise in action against enemy submarines in the Western Approaches" and a bar to his DSC for an action "against four German destroyers trying to break through to attack the Allied invasion fleet off Normandy".[2]

He went on to be Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMCS Nootka in 1946, Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Section at the shore establishment HMCS Stadacona in 1947 and Commandant of the Canadian Services College Royal Roads in 1948.[1] After that he became Secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee in 1950, Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent in 1953 and Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff 1955.[1] His last appointments were as Chief of Naval Personnel in 1955, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in 1957 and as Chief of the Naval Staff from 1960 until retiring in 1964.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rayner, Herbert Sharples The Nauticapedia
  2. Herbert Rayner Home from the War
Military offices
Preceded by
Harry DeWolf
Chief of the Naval Staff
1960-1964
Succeeded by
William Landymore
(as Commander Maritime Command)
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