Vice Admiral Andrew Laurence Collier CMM DSC CD (June 3, 1924 – January 3, 1987) was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 14 June 1977 to 30 June 1979.
Andrew Collier | |
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| Nickname(s) | Andy |
| Born | June 3, 1924 Kamloops, British Columbia |
| Died | January 3, 1987 (aged 62) Victoria, British Columbia |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ |  Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Forces Maritime Command |
| Years of service | 1946–1980 |
| Rank |  Vice-Admiral |
| Commands held | HMCS Skeena Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron Canadian Flotilla (Atlantic) Maritime Forces Pacific Maritime Command |
| Awards | Order of Military Merit Distinguished Service Cross Canadian Forces' Decoration |
Early years edit
Collier was born in Kamloops and raised in Salmon Arm, where his family was prominent in the grocery business.[1][2]
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Collier joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and completed his training in 1945.[1] He became Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMCS Skeena in 1960, Captain Sea Training on the staff of the Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1962 and Director Naval Plans at the National Defence Headquarters in 1964.[1] He went on to be Director International Plans in 1965, Commander Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron in 1966 and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Training in 1967.[1] After that he became Deputy Chief of Staff (Combat Readiness) in 1970, Commander Canadian Flotilla (Atlantic) in 1972 and Senior Liaison Officer (Navy) on the Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1973.[1] His last appointments were as Chief of Maritime Operations in 1974, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in 1975 and Commander Maritime Command in 1977, in which role he argued for more ships,[3] before retiring in 1979.[1]
Awards and decorations edit
Collier's personal awards and decorations include the following:
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| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
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Order of Military Merit (CMM) |
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Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) (DSC) |
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1939–1945 Star |
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Atlantic Star |
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Canadian Volunteer Service Medal |
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War Medal 1939–1945 |
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Korea Medal |
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Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea | |
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United Nations Service Medal Korea |
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Canadian Centennial Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal |
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Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
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Later career edit
He was appointed Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1980 and served as president of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation 1984–1987. He died in Victoria.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g "Collier, Andrew Laurence". www.nauticapedia.ca.
- ^ "City of Salmon Arm Community Heritage Register". www.salmonarm.ca. 10 Feb 2010. p. 35.
- ^ Retiring admiral makes last plea for more ships Ottawa Citizen, August 1, 1979
- ^ "Order of Military Merit List". The Governor General of Canada. 11 June 2018.
- ^ Distinguished Service Cross: Canada Gazette of 22 December 1951 "On 5 December 1950, HMCS Cayuga lead the six destroyers up the estuary known as the Daido-ko to the port of Chinnampo. The channel up the Daido-ko is narrow, tortuous and shallow plus had been heavily mined by the North Koreans. Lt Collier was navigating officer on HMCS Cayuga on this dangerous passage at night. Collier made 132 fixes, most of them by radar, showing the position of the ship in relation to the channel marker buoys and nearby landmarks, and the accuracy of his navigation undoubtedly played a large part in ensuring the success of the entire operation to evacuate Chinnampo."