Harold Taylor Wood Grant
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral Harold Taylor Wood Grant, (March 16, 1899 – May 8, 1965) was a Canadian naval officer and a post-war Chief of the Naval Staff.
Vice-Admiral Grant was born in 1899 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His parents were Lieutenant Governor MacCallum Grant
and Mrs. Grant.
at Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1914 to 1917.
, Grant was as a midshipman with HMS Leviathan
in February 1917. He served as Director of Canadian Naval Plans and Director of Naval Reserves. In 1938, he was appointed commanding officer of the destroyer HMCS Skeena
.
, Grant was a member of the command staff of the Atlantic Coast. Promoted to Captain in 1940, he became Director of Naval Personnel. He was commanding officer of the Royal Navy Cruiser HMS Diomede
in 1943.
for "gallantry and skill and good service in command of HMS Enterprise in an action with enemy destroyers". In the Bay of Biscay
, HMS Enterprise
and her sister ship, HMS Glasgow
took on 11 German destroyers. The two ships sank three German ships, damaged several other German ships and chased the rest of the German ships into a French port.
Grant was MID for his service during the D-Day invasion of Normandy June 1944.
Grant was awarded the Bronze Star by the United States of America for his actions during the naval bombardment of Cherbourg, France.
from 1947-1950. After retiring, he served as president of the Home Steamship lines at Montreal, Quebec. Grant died in Rockliffe Park, Ottawa, Ontario on May 8, 1965. He was 66 years of age. He was survived by his son John MacGregor and his daughters Sarah Grant and Mrs. Caroline Gill.
Vice-Admiral Grant was born in 1899 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His parents were Lieutenant Governor MacCallum Grant
MacCallum Grant
MacCallum Grant was a Canadian businessman and the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.Born in Hants County, Nova Scotia, the son of John Nutting and Margaret Grant, Grant was educated in Newport, Nova Scotia. He commenced his business career with S. A. White & Co, in 1873. He was a member of...
and Mrs. Grant.
Education
He studied at the Royal Naval College of CanadaRoyal Naval College of Canada
The Royal Naval College of Canada was a naval college set up in Canada by the Royal Navy; it existed from 1911 to 1922. The school educated about 150 students until it closed due to declining numbers and cuts from Ottawa. The aim of the college was to instruct recruits a course of study that...
at Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1914 to 1917.
World War I
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Grant was as a midshipman with HMS Leviathan
HMS Leviathan
Four ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Leviathan:* The first Leviathan was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line launched in 1750 as Northumberland, renamed in 1777 and sunk in 1780 in the Atlantic....
in February 1917. He served as Director of Canadian Naval Plans and Director of Naval Reserves. In 1938, he was appointed commanding officer of the destroyer HMCS Skeena
HMCS Skeena
Several Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Skeena. was a River class destroyer active from 1931–1944. was an St. Laurent class destroyer escort active from 1957–1993.-Battle honours:*Atlantic 1939-44*Normandy 1944...
.
World War II
At the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Grant was a member of the command staff of the Atlantic Coast. Promoted to Captain in 1940, he became Director of Naval Personnel. He was commanding officer of the Royal Navy Cruiser HMS Diomede
HMS Diomede
Four ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Diomede. A fifth was planned but never completed: was a 44-gun Fourth Rate two-decker launched in 1781 and wrecked in 1795. was a 50-gun fourth-rate built as HMS Firm but renamed in 1794 and launched in 1798. She was sold in 1815.*HMS Diomede was to...
in 1943.
Honours and awards
Grant was awarded the DSODistinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for "gallantry and skill and good service in command of HMS Enterprise in an action with enemy destroyers". In the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
, HMS Enterprise
HMS Enterprise
Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Enterprise while another was planned: was a 24-gun sixth-rate, previously the French frigate L'Entreprise, captured in May 1705. She was wrecked in October 1707. was a 44-gun fifth-rate launched in 1709...
and her sister ship, HMS Glasgow
HMS Glasgow
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Glasgow after the Scottish city of Glasgow: was a 20-gun sixth rate, previously the Scottish ship Royal Mary. She was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1707 and was sold in 1719. was a 24-gun sixth rate launched in 1745 and sold in 1756. was a...
took on 11 German destroyers. The two ships sank three German ships, damaged several other German ships and chased the rest of the German ships into a French port.
Grant was MID for his service during the D-Day invasion of Normandy June 1944.
Grant was awarded the Bronze Star by the United States of America for his actions during the naval bombardment of Cherbourg, France.
Postwar
Grant was promoted Rear Admiral in 1946. He served as Chief of the Naval StaffCommander Royal Canadian Navy
The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.-History of the post:...
from 1947-1950. After retiring, he served as president of the Home Steamship lines at Montreal, Quebec. Grant died in Rockliffe Park, Ottawa, Ontario on May 8, 1965. He was 66 years of age. He was survived by his son John MacGregor and his daughters Sarah Grant and Mrs. Caroline Gill.