Rollo Mainguy
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral Edmond Rollo Mainguy, OBE
, CD
, RCN
(11 May 1901 - 29 April 1979) was a Canadian naval officer.
He was born in Victoria, British Columbia
in 1901 and attended the Royal Naval College of Canada
during World War I
.
With the start of World War II
he took command of HMCS Assiniboine and then HMCS Ottawa
before being promoted to Captain and taking overall command of RCN destroyers in Halifax in 1941. In 1942 he was appointed acting Commodore
and took command of RCN destroyers in Newfoundland
, quickly followed by an appointment to Ottawa as Chief of Naval Personnel. He returned to active duty as the commanding officer of HMCS Uganda in 1944. As a part of British Pacific Fleet
Uganda took part in the Okinawa
campaign before being controversially recalled back to Canada
.
In the post-war years Mainguy was appointed Flag Officer Pacific Coast in 1946, Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1948, and was the head of the commission that investigated the RCN insubordination incidents of 1949 before becoming Chief of the Naval Staff
in 1951.
He retired from the RCN in 1956 as a Vice-Admiral. He died in 1979.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
, RCN
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...
(11 May 1901 - 29 April 1979) was a Canadian naval officer.
He was born in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1901 and attended the Royal Naval College of Canada
Royal Naval College of Canada
The Royal Naval College of Canada was a naval college set up in Canada by the Royal Navy; it existed from 1911 to 1922. The school educated about 150 students until it closed due to declining numbers and cuts from Ottawa. The aim of the college was to instruct recruits a course of study that...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
With the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he took command of HMCS Assiniboine and then HMCS Ottawa
HMCS Ottawa
Four Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Ottawa. was C class destroyer commissioned as in the Royal Navy before serving with the Royal Canadian Navy from 1938-1942....
before being promoted to Captain and taking overall command of RCN destroyers in Halifax in 1941. In 1942 he was appointed acting Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
and took command of RCN destroyers in Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
, quickly followed by an appointment to Ottawa as Chief of Naval Personnel. He returned to active duty as the commanding officer of HMCS Uganda in 1944. As a part of British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
Uganda took part in the Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
campaign before being controversially recalled back to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In the post-war years Mainguy was appointed Flag Officer Pacific Coast in 1946, Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1948, and was the head of the commission that investigated the RCN insubordination incidents of 1949 before becoming Chief of the Naval Staff
Commander Royal Canadian Navy
The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.-History of the post:...
in 1951.
He retired from the RCN in 1956 as a Vice-Admiral. He died in 1979.