Percy W. Nelles
Encyclopedia
Percy Walker Nelles, CB
(7 January 1892–13 July 1951) was a flag officer
in the Royal Canadian Navy
and the Chief of the Naval Staff
from 1934 to 1944. He oversaw the massive wartime expansion of the RCN and the transformation of Canada into a major player in the Battle of the Atlantic. During his tenure U-boat
s raided the Gulf of St. Lawrence
, Canadian Northwest Atlantic
command was created, and the RCN was providing up to 40% of all escort forces in the North Atlantic. His handling of the RCN's war effort had its opponents however, and he was removed from his post as Chief of the Naval Staff in January, 1944. He was sent to London as Overseas Naval Attaché, coordinating the RCN operations for Operation Overlord
. He retired in January 1945 as a full Admiral
.
and the Royal Canadian Navy. As Midshipman
he served aboard . Over the next 10 years he would rise from the rank of Sub-Lieutenant to the rank of Captain
as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff.
On 18 March 1930 he was appointed executive officer aboard the recently refitted Danae class cruiser
. In the summer of 1930 Dragon set off from HMD Bermuda
on a three month tour of South America's Atlantic and Pacific coasts. After having rounded Cape Horn
her captain, L.H.B. Bevan, died unexpectedly. Nelles then assumed temporary command of the Dragon. After consultation with the Admiralty
, Nelles was appointed acting captain and continued Dragons tour, being the first RCN officer to command a Royal Navy vessel.
In 1940, Rear Admiral
Percy W. Nelles, then chief of naval staff, led a group of Royal Naval College of Canada alumni who met with Angus Lewis Macdonald
, then naval minister to discuss opening a college to train naval officers for the postwar navy and for civilian employment in the merchant marine. The college was to be similar to the Britannia Royal Naval College
at Dartmouth
and to the former RNCC. In 1940, Angus Lewis Macdonald explained to the House of Commons "it will be a proud day for this country, when our Canadian naval effort will be directed by Canadian men, trained in Canada and operating in ships built in this country."
In November 1940, the Hatley Park and grounds
was purchased by the Royal Canadian Navy for $75,000 to house a Naval Training Establishment, later Royal Roads Military College
, now Royal Roads University
. In 1942, at the official opening of the Royal Roads Military College, Vice-Admiral Percey Nelles, Chief of Naval Staff said: "While you are here, work hard and play hard, and make yourself tougher than any enemy you will ever meet.”
Nelles was the highest ranking officer in the Royal Canadian Navy
until January 1944, at which point he was relieved of his duties by the Minister of National Defence for the Naval Service, Angus Lewis Macdonald
, following numerous conflicts regarding the management and training of Canadian naval officers. Rather than being publicly dismissed from duty, Nelles was transferred to Great Britain and given the post of Senior Canadian Flag Officer Overseas (SCFO(O)), a largely administrative position with little involvement in naval operations.
Corps 'ADMIRAL NELLES' was formed in 1941 to honour the Chief of Naval Staff. This cadet unit, located in Brantford, ON, and is currently under the command of Lieutenant(N) R. Anstey, CD with approximately 70 cadets. Additionally, the barracks at Naden, CFB Esquimalt
, is named in his honour, called Nelles Block. Cadets at Royal Roads Military College were awarded the Nelles Trophy for athletics (running).
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(7 January 1892–13 July 1951) was a flag officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
in the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
and the Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
from 1934 to 1944. He oversaw the massive wartime expansion of the RCN and the transformation of Canada into a major player in the Battle of the Atlantic. During his tenure U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s raided the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Battle of the St. Lawrence
The Battle of the St. Lawrence involved a number of submarine and anti-submarine actions throughout the lower St. Lawrence River and the entire Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Strait of Belle Isle and Cabot Strait from May-October 1942, September 1943, and again in October-November 1944...
, Canadian Northwest Atlantic
Canadian Northwest Atlantic
Canadian Northwest Atlantic Command was the zone of operations during the Battle of the Atlantic that stretched from north of New York City to 47 degrees west. It was set up at the Atlantic Convoy Conference, held in Washington DC from 1-12 March 1943, and placed under the command of Rear-Admiral...
command was created, and the RCN was providing up to 40% of all escort forces in the North Atlantic. His handling of the RCN's war effort had its opponents however, and he was removed from his post as Chief of the Naval Staff in January, 1944. He was sent to London as Overseas Naval Attaché, coordinating the RCN operations for Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. He retired in January 1945 as a full Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
.
Naval career
Percy Nelles had an illustrious career serving with both the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the Royal Canadian Navy. As Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
he served aboard . Over the next 10 years he would rise from the rank of Sub-Lieutenant to the rank of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff.
On 18 March 1930 he was appointed executive officer aboard the recently refitted Danae class cruiser
Danae class cruiser
The Danae or D-class was a class of light cruiser built for the Royal Navy at the end of World War I and that survived to see service in World War II.-Design:...
. In the summer of 1930 Dragon set off from HMD Bermuda
Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
HMD Bermuda was the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic between American independence and the Cold War. Bermuda had occupied a useful position astride the homeward leg taken by many European vessels from the New World since before its settlement by England in 1609...
on a three month tour of South America's Atlantic and Pacific coasts. After having rounded Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
her captain, L.H.B. Bevan, died unexpectedly. Nelles then assumed temporary command of the Dragon. After consultation with the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, Nelles was appointed acting captain and continued Dragons tour, being the first RCN officer to command a Royal Navy vessel.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Percy W. Nelles, then chief of naval staff, led a group of Royal Naval College of Canada alumni who met with Angus Lewis Macdonald
Angus Lewis Macdonald
Angus Lewis Macdonald, PC, QC , popularly known as 'Angus L.', was a Canadian lawyer, law professor and politician from Nova Scotia. He served as the Liberal premier of Nova Scotia from 1933 to 1940, when he became the federal minister of defence for naval services...
, then naval minister to discuss opening a college to train naval officers for the postwar navy and for civilian employment in the merchant marine. The college was to be similar to the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
at Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
and to the former RNCC. In 1940, Angus Lewis Macdonald explained to the House of Commons "it will be a proud day for this country, when our Canadian naval effort will be directed by Canadian men, trained in Canada and operating in ships built in this country."
In November 1940, the Hatley Park and grounds
Hatley Park National Historic Site
Hatley Park National Historic Site is located in Colwood, British Columbia in Greater Victoria. It is the site of Hatley Castle, a Classified Federal Heritage Building. Since 1995, the mansion and estate have been used for the public Royal Roads University...
was purchased by the Royal Canadian Navy for $75,000 to house a Naval Training Establishment, later Royal Roads Military College
Royal Roads Military College
Royal Roads Military College was a Canadian military college located in Hatley Park, Colwood, British Columbia near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The facility is currently being used as the campus for Royal Roads University, a public university that offers applied and professional academic...
, now Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
. In 1942, at the official opening of the Royal Roads Military College, Vice-Admiral Percey Nelles, Chief of Naval Staff said: "While you are here, work hard and play hard, and make yourself tougher than any enemy you will ever meet.”
Nelles was the highest ranking officer in the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
until January 1944, at which point he was relieved of his duties by the Minister of National Defence for the Naval Service, Angus Lewis Macdonald
Angus Lewis Macdonald
Angus Lewis Macdonald, PC, QC , popularly known as 'Angus L.', was a Canadian lawyer, law professor and politician from Nova Scotia. He served as the Liberal premier of Nova Scotia from 1933 to 1940, when he became the federal minister of defence for naval services...
, following numerous conflicts regarding the management and training of Canadian naval officers. Rather than being publicly dismissed from duty, Nelles was transferred to Great Britain and given the post of Senior Canadian Flag Officer Overseas (SCFO(O)), a largely administrative position with little involvement in naval operations.
Legacy
Royal Canadian Sea CadetsRoyal Canadian Sea Cadets
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in the local...
Corps 'ADMIRAL NELLES' was formed in 1941 to honour the Chief of Naval Staff. This cadet unit, located in Brantford, ON, and is currently under the command of Lieutenant(N) R. Anstey, CD with approximately 70 cadets. Additionally, the barracks at Naden, CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
, is named in his honour, called Nelles Block. Cadets at Royal Roads Military College were awarded the Nelles Trophy for athletics (running).
Honours and decorations
- Companion of the Order of the Bath - January 1943
- Legion of Merit-Degree of CommanderLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(USA) - 3 August 1946 - Legion d'Honneur-Commandeur (France) - 27 November 1946
- Croix de Guerre avec Palmes en BronzeCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(France) - 27 November 1946 - Order of St Olav, 1st class (Norway) - 1 December 1948