For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

 

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

Ninian (Cupey / QP) Bannatyne

 

Commander (E), O-4220, RCN

 

Born: 1889, New Romney, Kent, England

 

Died: 25 Jan 1962, Oregon, USA

 

BANNATYNE, Ninian - was born in New Romney in Kent, England in 1889. His father was a sea captain sailing out of Liverpool. He came to Canada in the early part of the century to work on a horse ranch around Calgary but returned to England after suffering a broken knee. Following his return to England from the Calgary experience he apprenticed as a maritime engineer at Cammell Laird Engineering and Shipbuilding (a company still in existence and still training apprentices). He then returned at the outbreak of WW1 to join the RCN. On 13 Jul 1919 Ninian married Jessie Elizabeth Campbell (age 21) in Cape Breton, NS. Jessie was born in Tatamagouche, NS to William and Annie Campbell. After his first naval service period the family moved to Montreal and he worked for an engineering firm. He suffered a fall and a brain hemorrhage in Montreal, something which affected him the remainder of his life. He re-enlisted for service at the start of WW2. After WW2 the family once again returned to Montreal and then he and his wife moved to St. Sauveur, Quebec. After the death of his wife he went to live with his daughter in Montreal. He passed away January 25th, 1962 while visiting another daughter in Oregon.

 

His awards and decorations are: WW1: the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal.  WW2:  Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM), the War Medal 1939-1945.

 

Ships served in: (World War I)

* Listed as an Acting Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, RNCVR (seniority 14 Aug 1914) (Navy List Nov 1914)

HMCS NIOBE - Served in Niobe 1914-1915 as an Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, as a Senior Watchkeeper 

HMCS RAINBOW - Appointed to Rainbow 01 Jan 1916 as an A/Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (Navy List Jan 1917)

HMCS LANSDOWNE (Depot ship) - Appointed to Lansdowne 21 Aug 1917 as an A/Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (Navy List Dec 1917)

HMCS STADACONA (Auxiliary Patrol Ship) - Appointed to Stadacona 30 Nov 1917 as an A/Engineer Lieutenant, RCN, Add'l (Navy List Mar 1918)

HMCS SEAGULL (Patrol Depot Ship) - Appointed to Seagull 01 May 1918 as an A/Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (navy List May 1918)

HMCS CANADA - Appointed to Canada 22 Nov 1918 as an A/Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (Navy List Mar 1919)

HMCS NIOBE - Appointed to Niobe as an Engineer Lieutenant, RCN, 15 Jun 1919 (Navy List Jun 1919)

HMS VICTORY - Appointed to Victory 10 Sep 1919 an an Engineer Lieutenant, RCN, add'l (Navy List Oct 1919)

HMS RESOLUTION - Served in Resolution following a Royal Navy course for turbines, internal combustion and oil fuel in 1919 (service memoirs of Cdr Bannatyne)

HMCS GUELPH - Appointed to Guelph 08 May 1920 as an Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (Navy List Jul 1920)

HMCS AURORA - Appointed to Aurora 01 Nov 1920 as an Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (Navy List Nov 1920). Commissioning crew. Served in Aurora 1920-1922. Re-appointed to Aurora 01 Jul 1922 as an Engineer Lieutenant, RCN (Borne in Guelph for charge of Aurora and Submarines) Aurora was paid off 30 Jun 1922 and placed in charge of Caretakers. (Note:  OIC for Aurora, CC-1 and CC-2)

 

Ships served in: (World War II)

HMC DOCKYARD HALIFAX - Appointed to HMC Dockyard 25 Sep 1939 as an Engineer LCdr, RCN (seniority 01 Jan 1924) (Navy List Oct 1939)

NAVAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS OTTAWA - Appointed to NSHQ 12 Apr 1940  as a LCdr (E), RCN, Resident Overseer, Saint John, NB (Navy List Apr 1940). Appointed to HMCS Dockyard Halifax as a LCdr (E), RCN, Overseeing Duties, Saint John, NB. (Navy List Dec 1940)

RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN Barracks Halifax 03 Nov 1941 as an A/Cdr (E), RCN, Add'l (Navy List Dec 1941)

HMC DOCKYARD HALIFAX - Appointed to HMC Dockyard Halifax 16 Feb 1942 as an A/Cdr, RCN, Resident Naval Overseer, New Brunswick) (Navy List Apr 1942)

HMCS STADACONA (Depot Ship Halifax) - Appointed to Stadacona 30 Mar 1943) as a Cdr (E), RCN for Staff of Engineer Captain (Supervising Naval Engineer Maritimes for duty with sea-going ships) (Navy List Aug 1943)

HMCS STADACONA (Depot Ship Halifax) - Appointed to Stadacona 15 Oct 1943 as a Cdr (E), RCN as Staff of Commodore, Superintendent Halifax (Navy List Feb 1944)

HMCS STADACONA (Depot Ship Halifax) - Appointed to Stadacona 16 Oct 1944 as a Cdr (E), RCN as Staff of Command Engineer (Navy List Nov 1944)

* Appointed Terminated, Services completed 30 Mar 1945 as a Cdr (E), RCN (Navy List Mar 1945)

 

Commander Ninian Bannatyne

Ninian Bannatyne -2nd from left onboard HMCS RAINBOW

Photos courtesy of Michael Price

 


 

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