James volunteered for the RCN on 10 Jun 1926 and commenced service on 15 Jun 1926. He was a Chief Stoker when he accepted a commission from the ranks (CFR) on 01 Apr 1945 and became an Acting Warrant Engineer. James received an honourable discharge on 10 Feb 1947.

Ships served in:  

HMCS PATRIOT - Served in PATRIOT 01 Aug 1926 - 30 Sep 1926 as a Sto 2c, RCN

HMCS PATRIOT - Served in PATRIOT 06 Jun 1927 - 14 Jun 1927 as a Sto 2c, RCN

HMCS PATRIOT - Served in PATRIOT 01 Jul 1927 - 31 Dec 1927 as a Sto 1c, RCN

HMS VICTORY - Served in VICTORY 01 Jan 1928 - 29 Feb 1928 as a Sto 1c, RCN

HMCS CHAMPLAIN - Served in CHAMPLAIN 01 Mar 1928 - 22 Apr 1930 as a Sto 1c, RCN

HMS DEHLI - Served in DEHLI 24 Jul 1931 - 04 Sep 1931 as a Sto 1c, RCN

HMCS SAGUENAY  - Served in SAGUENAY 23 Jun 1933 - 03 Dec 1935 as a A/L/Sto and L/Sto, RCN. Rated L/Sto 01 Feb 1934

HMCS SAGUENAY - Served in SAGUENAY 16 Jun 1936 - 21 Jul 1939 as a A/Sto PO and Sto PO, RCN.  Rated Sto PO 01 Jun 1937

HMCS GASPE - Served in GASPE 22 Jul 1939 - 24 Nov 1939

HMCS ASSINIBOINE - Served in ASSINIBOINE 25 Nov 1939 - 03 Dec 1939 as a Sto PO, RCN

HMCS GASPE - Served in GASPE   04 Dec 1939 - 08 Apr 1940 as a Sto PO, RCN

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Served in RESTIGOUCHE 09 Apr 1940 - 28 Nov 1940 as a Sto PO / Ch Sto, RCN.  Rated Ch Sto 01 Oct 1940

HMS CALLIOPE - Served in CALIOPE 09 Sep 1941 - 30 Sep 1942 as a Ch Sto, RCN

HMCS ATHABASKAN - Served in ATHABASKAN 04 Feb 1943 - 24 Aug 1943 as a Ch Sto, RCN

HMS COCHRANE - Served in COCHRANE 25 Nov 1943 - 31 Dec 1943 as a Ch Sto, RCN

HMS SAKE - Served in SAKE 15 Jul 1944 - 16 Aug 1944 as a Ch Sto, RCN

HMCS SCOTIAN - Served in SCOTIAN 13 Dec 1945 - 10 Feb 1946 as an A/Wt Engr*, RCN

HMCS WARRIOR - Served in WARRIOR as a Wt (E) 21 Mar 1946 - 28 Sep 1946 as an A/Wt Engr*, RCN

* Appointment Terminated - Services Complete - Pensioned 10 Feb 1947

(JS01) James Senior's service documents

Photos James A. Senior throughout his career in the RCN

(JS01) Stoker James Senior

(JS02-JS04) Stoker 1c / Leading Stoker James Senior

(JS05-JS06) Stoker Petty Officer James Senior

(JS07-JS09) Chief Stoker James Senior

(JS10-JS12)  Wt (E) James Senior - 1946

(JS13) Unknown group photo - possibly sea cadets. DND/RCN photo - Neg # 50533

(JS14) James Senior and his bride to be Myrtle Turner - 1928

(JS15) James Senior circa 1930-1934

(JS16) Sailors on unknown ship - possibly HMCS PATRIOT. Sto 2c James Senior, front, 2nd from right

(JS17) James Senior posing on car - date and location unknown

(JS18) James Senior circa 1930-1934

(JS19-JS20) Newspaper article on a motor vehicle accident in which John Pulley (left) and James Senior (right) were passengers.  Webmaster's note: While the article has John's surname as Pully, it has been confirmed with the Library and Archives of Canada that the correct spelling of his surname is Pulley.

(JS21) Two unknown sailors on the roof of a building - possibly at HMCS Stadacona, Halifax

(JS22) Sailors behind what appears to be the accommodations building at HMCS Stadacona - 1927

(JS23) James Senior, standing, 1st on left - Ralph Pattison, standing, middle

(JS24) Four sailors behind what appears to be the accommodations building at HMCS Stadacona - 1927. Ralph Pattison, Standing, left

(JS25) James Senior (right) and friend, Halifax, 1927  (13) James Senior (left), Mrs. Yiman (?sp), George - during training at HMS Victory - 1932

(JS26) James Senior - c 1933-1936. Location unknown (circa 1936-1939)

(JS27) Unknown River Class destroyer

(JS28-JS29) His Majesty The King inspects the Royal Guard - date and location unknown

(JS30) Newspaper article on James Senior's draft to the Barracks at HMCS Stadacona

(JS31) W.O.'s Dinner - 1946 - Possibly on board HMCS Warrior

Poems (below) from the collection of James Senior

Note: some of these poem were written by James Senior, some collected from other sources

(JS32) A Destroyer at Sea

(JS33) A Sailors Life on a Destroyer

(JS34) Why Have We A Bad Name

(JS35) Discontented

(JS36) The Tale of Old China

(JS37) When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted

(JS38) Even As You And I

(JS39) The Sailors Prayer

(JS40) Prelude (To Departmental Ditties)

(JS41) Murder At Sea

(JS42) Fluent Speaker

(JS43) That Son of Mine

(JS44) Her Infinite Variety

(JS45) The Virginity

(JS46) In This Corner

(JS47) Blondewards To The Sea

(JS48) If . . . . . . 

(JS49) Insane At Sea

(JS50) Musings On A Star-Shell

(JS51) Tied To His Job

(JS52) Fire Fighting / Damage Control - Breathing Equipment in the RCN circa 1940s (Training Document) - Miner's Safety Appliance (M.S.A.) / A.N.S. Salvus Self Contained Set / M.S.A. Hose Mask / Patt 230

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

(JS53) HMCS CHAMPLAIN entering Willemstad Harbour, Netherlands Antilles, 1934.  In the winder of 1934, HMCS SKEENA, HMCS SAGUENAY, HMCS CHAMPLAIN and HMCS Vancouver took part in Winter exercises off South America.

(JS54) HMCS CHAMPLAIN, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 1928

(JS55) HMCS CHAMPLAIN - undated

(JS56) HMCS CHAMPLAIN - undated

(JS57-JS58) HMCS CHAMPLAIN'S mascot circa 1930

(JS59) Onboard HMCS CHAMPLAIN circa 1928-1930

( JS60) HMCS CHAMPLAIN (left) and HMCS SAGUENAY (right) in the graving dock, Saint John, NB - date unknown

(JS61-JS62) Graving dock view from stern - SAGUENAY (left), CHAMPLAIN (right)

HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS63) HMCS SAGUENAY entering Willemstad Harbour, Netherlands Antilles, 1934 - In the winter of 1934, HMCS SKEENA, HMCS SAGUENAY, HMCS CHAMPLAIN and HMCS VANCOUVER took part in Winter exercises off South America

(JS64) SAGUENAY sailors ashore - Front left, James A. Senior, front right believed to be Herbert E. Dowling. Sailors in back unknown

(JS65) SAGUENAY sailors ashore - James Senior, standing, left

(JS66) HMCS SAGUENAY D79 entering Miami, Florida, USA Apr 1935

(JS67) HMCS SAGUENAY and HMCS Champlain, Miami, Florida, USA

(JS68) HMCS SAGUENAY and HMCS Champlain, Miami, Florida, USA

(JS69) Sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY on the beach on Saint Lucia, Eastern Caribbean - 1935.  James Senior, back row, centre

(JS70) Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY, Haiti, 1935

(JS71) Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY pulling in a shark off Haiti - 1935

(JS72) Sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY enjoying a drink ashore - James Senior on the right

(JS73) James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1936. Note the iceberg in the background

(JS74) James Senior relaxing on the upper decks on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1936

(JS75) HMCS SAGUENAY 5-oared whaler crew, 1936 - James Senior front right

(JS76) HMCS SAGUENAY 5-oared whaler crew, 1936.  L-R: Senior, unknown, Glover, unknown, unknown, Racine

(JS77) HMCS SAGUENAY 5-oared whaler crew, 1936 - James Senior, front, left

(JS78) Ship's whaler taking crew from HMCS SAGUENAY ashore to the beach - 1936.  James senior 2nd row furthest right

(JS79-JS82) R&R on the beaches in the sunny south - 1936.  Sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY on the beaches

(JS79) SAGUENAY sailors on the beach - James Senior falling, location unknown

(JS80) at La Guaira, Venezuela

(JS81) at La Guaira, Venezuela - James Senior, foreground

(JS82) at La Guaira, Venezuela - James Senior, centre

(JS83-JS87) R&R on the beaches in the sunny south - 1936.  Sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY on the beaches

(JS83) Unknown sailor posing on the beach.  Location unknown

(JS84) James Senior posing on the beach. Location unknown

(JS85) sailor by ship's whaler at Saguramus Bay

(JS86) James Senior by ships boat with an armload of coconuts at Saguramus Bay

(JS87) James Senior, left - location unknown

Note:  Saguramus Bay is Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad

(JS88-JS91) R&R on the beaches in the sunny south - 1936.  Sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY on the beaches

(JS88) at Saguramus Bay - James Senior, centre, anchor

(JS89) at Saguramus Bay

(JS90) Fresh Water Club, Barbados

(JS91) Barbados - James Senior, front, right

Note:  Saguramus Bay is Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad

(JS92) Alongside somewhere down south - 1936.  Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY under the ships awning, escaping the sun and heat - laundry hanging to the left of the gun turret

(JS93) Dhobey (laundry) day on HMCS SAGUENAY - James Senior on the right

(JS94) James Senior (standing) on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS95) James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1936

(JS96) James Senior (front) hiking in Haiti circa 1936

(JS97) Catch-of-the-Day. HMCS SAGUENAY, Ecuador, 1936

(JS98) Unknown sailor off of HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS99) A couple sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY sight-seeing

(JS100) HMCS SAGUENAY alongside - date and location unknown

(JS101) Unknown sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY with young girl in front of house - date and location unknown

(JS102) The dedication of the Vimy Memorial.  HMCS SAGUENAY provided the Royal Guard - 1936

(JS103) Canadian Lines

(JS104) German Lines 09 Apr 1917

(JS105) Moroccan Memorial

(JS106) Vimy Ridge - with direction sign to Arras

(JS107) Vimy Ridge - No Man's Land

(JS108-JS109) Trenches at Vimy Ridge

(JS112) Unknown Petty Officer on HMCS SAGUENAY circa 1937-1938

(JS113) Unknown sailor on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS114) Unknown sailor on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS115) Unknown sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS116) Unknown sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY - one has an injured knee

(JS117) Unknown sailor from HMCS SAGUENAY - note the RCNVR cap tally

(JS118) Sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY - date and location unknown

(JS119) Sailor off HMCS SAGUENAY resting during maintenance of the graves at Croque, NFLD.  The French navy and RCN went there until the early 1970’s to do maintenance on the small French cemetery located there. The cemetery is still there but maintained by the local residents now.

(JS120) Unknown sailors from HMCS SAGUENAY ashore - date and location unknown

(JS121) Unknown HMCS SAGUENAY Stoker

(JS122) Newspaper article - HMCS SAGUENAY and HMCS SKEENA sail for the Coronation Review for King George the VI - 1937

(JS123) Crossing the Line Certificate - Equator - 1330 hrs 04 Feb 1938 - HMCS SAGUENAY D79 for James A. Senior, RCN

(JS124) King Neptune's Court

(JS125-JS127) Crossing the Line Ceremony on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS127) Officers of HMCS SAGUENAY being initiated into King Neptune's Realm

(JS128-JS131) HMCS SAGUENAY D79 transiting the Panama Canal, Jan 1938

(JS132) Stoker Petty Officer James Senior in the Andes Mountains, Peru - 1938

(JS133) HMCS SAGUENAY at anchor off Paita, Peru - 1938

(JS134) Unknown River Class destroyer at anchor of Callao, Peru - 1938

(JS135) Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY - possibly during the 1939 Spring Cruise

(JS136) Three Petty Officers on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1939.  James Senior - centre

(JS140) Unknown River Class destroyer - photo taken from HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS141) Unknown warship following astern of HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS142) Gun shoot - unknown ship firing forward guns - photo taken from HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS143) James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY, Bermuda, date unknown

(JS144) PO James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY

HMCS GASPE J94

(JS149) James Senior (left) and unknown sailor on icy decks on HMCS GASPÉ J94 - 1939

(JS150) James Senior on HMCS GASPÉ J94 off Halifax circa 1938-1939

HMCS ATHABASKAN G07

(JS151) Newspaper article on HMCS ATHABASKAN G07

HMCS WARRIOR

Mar-Oct 1946

(JS152-JS153) HMCS WARRIOR open to public - location unknown

(JS154-JS157) Flight deck operations on HMCS WARRIOR

(JS159-JS162) Flight deck operations on HMCS WARRIOR

(JS163-JS165) When things don't go so smoothly ..... a damaged aircraft is craned off the ship to a waiting barge

Photos and documents courtesy of Robert (Bob) Senior

Crossed the Bar Index

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