Vice Admiral Ralph Lucien Hennessy DSC, CD (4 September 1918 – 13 June 2014) was a senior officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Ralph Hennessy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 September 1918 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 13 June 2014 (aged 95) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service | Royal Canadian Navy |
| Years of service | 1935–1970 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | HMCS Assiniboine HMCS Gatineau HMCS Micmac Atlantic Coast Royal Canadian Navy |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Canadian Forces' Decoration |
Naval career
editHennessy joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a cadet in 1935.[1] He served in the Second World War[2] in command of the destroyers HMCS Assiniboine, HMCS Gatineau and HMCS Micmac.[1][3] He went on to be Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel in 1960, Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1963 and Chair of Military Manpower in 1964.[1] His last role was as Principal Naval Adviser from 1966 to 1968.[1]
Awards and decorations
editHennessy's personal awards and decorations include the following:
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
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Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) |
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1939–1945 Star |
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Atlantic Star |
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Defence Medal (United Kingdom) |
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Canadian Volunteer Service Medal |
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War Medal 1939–1945 |
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Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
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Canadian Centennial Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal |
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125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal |
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Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
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Commissionaires Long Service Medal |
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References
edit- ^ a b c d "Vice-Admiral Ralph Lucien Hennessy, DSC, CD" (PDF). Blatherwick. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Obituary: Ralph Hennessy's storied life at sea". Ottawa Citizen. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Ralph Lucien Hennessy DSC, RCN". Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette". 22 December 1942.
For gallantry and distinguished services before the enemy.
The action in which HMCS Assiniboine sank U-210 on 6 August 1942 in the North Atlantic while protecting Convoy SC 94 is described in Chapter 14 of The Canadian Naval Chronicle 1939–1945. Hennessy was First Lieutenant on HMCS Assiniboine at this time.