There Was No Naval Opposition To Us.
Heroes Remember
There Was No Naval Opposition To Us.
Transcript
Description
Mr. Welland discusses his deployment to Korea as captain of HMCS Athabascan, and describes doing primarily humanitarian intervention. He relates one incident wherein HMCS Athabascan provided naval bombardment to aid an American retreat.
Robert Welland
One of five children, Robert Welland was born in Oxbow, Saskatchewan on March 7, 1918. His parents immigrated to Canada from England, where his father had been an officer in the British Merchant Navy. Influenced by his father, Mr. Welland decided at the age of 14 that he would some day be a warship’s captain and an admiral. In 1936, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy, but had to go to England and join the Royal Navy in order to obtain officer training. His first active wartime service was aboard the F class destroyer, HMS Fame. Aboard her, he was involved in the rescue of survivors of the Athenia sinking, and the destruction of U-353. Mr. Welland then joined HMCS St. Laurent; she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation and the rescue of survivors from the Arindora Star torpedoing. In 1943, he assumed captaincy of HMCS Assiniboine; this vessel was involved both in convoy duty and harassing German shipping in the English Channel. Captain Welland remained in the Canadian Navy, and took HMCS Athabaskan into service during the Korean War, assisting in the NATO blockade there. He was later to become Commanding Officer of naval airbase CFB Shearwater, and his distinguished career saw him retire with the rank of rear admiral. He had fulfilled his boyhood dream! Mr. Welland later had great success as an entrepreneur, retiring at the age of 82.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 3:23
- Person Interviewed:
- Robert Welland
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Korean War
- Branch:
- Navy
- Units/Ship:
- HMCS Athabascan
- Rank:
- Second Lieutenant
- Occupation:
- Anti-submarine officer
Related Videos
There Was no Officer Training in Canada.
Mr. Welland discusses joining the Royal Navy as an officer in 1936 and learning his trade at sea. He gives a good description of celestial navigation.
The Athenia was Torpedoed on the First Day.
Mr. Welland describes seeing action on the first day of the war aboard HMS Fame, and assisting in the rescue of survivors from the torpedoed passenger vessel, Athenia.
It Meant Being in Bad Weather off Iceland.
Mr. Welland describes doing blockade duty aboard HMS Fame, transferring to HMCS St. Laurent, and participating in the dangerous evacuation at Dunkirk.
The Ammunition was Green
Mr. Welland offers an explanation for the seemingly easy fall of France to the German invasion.
She said “Try me!”
Mr. Welland describes how the English civilian population was equipped to fight a German land invasion, and goes on to describe British resolve in the face of bombing raids on London.
A destroyer’s crowded when no-one’s on board
Mr. Welland describes rescuing 800 plus people from the torpedoed Arindora Star, and both the tragedy and humour surrounding that rescue.
You Never See the Results of Your Work.
Mr. Welland describes a successful attack on a German submarine, and the attempted rescue of a crippled Royal Navy sloop.
Do You Think We’re Going to Win?
Mr. Welland describes receiving two DSC’s from Sir Vincent Massey, and their discussion about the outcome of the war.
It Was a Terrible Mistake
Mr. Welland describes taking advanced anti-sub training and being disappointed at being removed from combat duty to train other anti-sub personnel in Halifax.
I Had a Very Good Captain.
Mr. Welland expresses his gratitude to his captain, who had made it possible for Mr. Welland to take command of HMCS Assiniboine ahead of other candidates, after he himself had fallen ill.
The Successful Convoy Won the War.
Mr. Welland gives an excellent description of convoy duty, and of the importance of convoys to Allied success in the war.
All My Friends are Ex-Armed Forces.
Mr. Welland compares his friendships from civilian and military life, and elaborates on his respect for the military lifestyle.
Our Histories Are Twisted.
Mr. Welland makes a plea for more in-depth, accurate and non-partisan history curricula in Canada.
- Date modified: