|
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
George Griffiths was born 5 June, 1896 at Cambridge, England, 1st child of noted surgeon Dr. Joseph Griffiths, C.M.G. George's father was a doctor pre and post WW1 active also in Royal Army Medical Corps, and was a Colonel of same. King George C awared Dr. Joseph Grifftihs C.M.G. for or his services re UK hospitals for wounded soldiers 1914-18.
After his discharge from the Royal Navy, George moved with wife and child to Nova Scotia to take up farming at Berwick area. When the Second World War broke out George volunteered and served in the RCN serving Sep 1939 to Mar 1946.
George's daughter, Olwen (Griffiths) Jukes, served in the WRCNS.
Citation for award of O.B.E.
GRIFFITHS, George Humphrey, Commander, Officer - Order of the British Empire (OBE), RCN, HMCS DRUMHELLER - Awarded as per Canada Gazette 5 June 1943 of and London Gazette of 2 June 1943.
"This retired Royal Navy Officer, who joined the Royal Canadian Navy on the outbreak of hostilities, has been in command of His Majesty's Canadian corvettes in the North Atlantic for a considerable period, during which time his loyalty and enthusiasm have been an inspiration to those serving under him."
Citation for award of M.I.D.
GRIFFITHS, George Humphrey, Acting Commander, Mention in Despatches, RCN, HMCS DRUMHELLER - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 9 January 1943 and London Gazette of 1 January 1943
"Throughout his service in HMC Corvettes in the North Atlantic, this officer has displayed outstanding zeal, leadership and wholehearted devotion to duty."
Ships served in - Royal Navy: In
1909 George went to the Royal Naval College, Osborne; then in 1911 to the
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth * Appointed Midshipman Jan 1914 HMS TEMERAIRE - Appointed to TEMERAIRE Jan 1914 * Appointed SLt, RCN Jan 1916 HMS WISTARIA - Appointed to WISTARIA Feb 1916 HMS MARNE - Appointed to May 1917 * Appointed to Lt, RN Oct 1917 HMS TEMERAIRE - Appointed to TEMERAIRE Jan 1918. In Feb 1919 while serving in TEMERAIRE he suffered serious accident and was sent back to England where after nearly 1 year of being on sick list and invalided etc., the RN determined no further career service possible and moved him to their Retired List.
Ships served in - Royal Canadian Navy: * Listed as a LCdr, RCN (seniority 15 Feb 1926) (Navy List Oct 1939) HMC DOCKYARD HALIFAX - Appointed to HMC DOCKYARD HALIFAX, as Staff of Naval Superintendent, Dockyard, In charge of Chart Depot, 02 Sep 1939 (Navy List Nov 1939) HMCS BEAVER - Appointed to BEAVER 17 Mar 1941 as Commanding Officer (Navy List Jun 1941) HMCS STADACONA III - Appointed to STADACONA III for Disposal or Under Training 01 Aug 1941 (Navy List Aug 1941) HMCS DRUMHELLER - Appointed to DRUMHELLER 13 Sep 1941 as Commanding Officer (Navy List Dec 1941) * Appointed Acting Commander, RCN 01 Jul 1942 (Navy List Sep 1942) HMCS WOODSTOCK - Appointed to WOODSTOCK as Commanding Officer 19 Oct 1942 - 19 Jan 1943 (Blatherwick.net) * Appointed Commander, RCN (seniority 01 Jan 1943) (Navy List Mar 1943) NAVAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS OTTAWA - Appointed to NSHQ as Director of Operations (Navy List Aug 1943) Note: date of appointment not known but is sometime after March 1943 * Appointed Acting Captain, RCN (Navy List Dec 1943) HMCS AVALON - Appointed to AVALON as Chief of Staff 16 Oct 1944 (Navy List Nov 1944) * Appointment Terminated (Demobilized) 04 Mar 1946 (Navy List Apr 1946) * Reverted to Royal Navy Retired List (Navy List Jul 1946)
(GHG001) LCdr George Griffiths, March 1942, UK (GHG002) Capt George Griffiths with his daughter SLt Olwen Griffiths, WRCNS at HMCS AVALON, St. John's, Newfoundland, Summer 1945 // RCN Publicity photo post VE Day dated (unclear on back) either June or July 1945 (GHG003) Captain George Griffiths, Ottawa, Ontario - 25 Sep 1945 Note: Lt Olwen Griffiths was George's only child. In 1945 she married Lt. Andrew J. K. Jukes, RCNVR of Vancouver. They had 1 daughter and 1 son.
|
