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 Rear Admiral Desmond William Piers - Chester, NS, Canada Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 44° 32.195 W 064° 14.421
20T E 401456 N 4932220
Rear Admiral Piers was a lifelong serviceman, serving in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1932 to 1967. For courageous service in the Battle of the Atlantic he received the Distinguished Service Cross.
Waymark Code: WMRYNF
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/23/2016
Views: 3
Born in Halifax on June 12, 1913 and raised in the town of Chester, he passed away on November 1, 2005 in Halifax after a distinguished navy career. His career, both in the navy and afterward, is outlined in detail on his memorial, text from which follows.
The memorial consists of a large black granite slab mounted on the shore of Chester Harbour at the point where Queen and South Streets intersect. On the rear of the slab is inscribed a quote from Psalm 107: Verses 23 - 30. The memorial was placed by the Admiral Desmond Piers Naval Association, the Royal Canadian Naval Association and friends, and dedicated June 2, 2007.
REAR ADMIRAL DESMOND WILLIAM PIERS
DSC, CM, CD, D.SCMIL, KLJ, R.C.N. RETIRED
1913-2005
REAR ADMIRAL DESMOND PIERS, AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS "DEBBY"
WAS BORN IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA 12 JUNE 1913. HE ATTENDED THE ROYAL
MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA 1930-1932 AND SERVED IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1967 AFTER 35 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.
AFTER LEAVING THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE ADMIRAL PIERS SERVED WITH THE ROYAL NAVY UNTIL 1937, FOLLOWED BY SERVICE IN HMC SHIPS SAGUENAY, RESTIGOUCHE AND ASSINIBOINE. IN 1941 HE WAS APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER OF HMCS RESTIGOUCHE AND SERVED AS THE SENIOR OFFICER OF ACN ESCORT GROUP CC4. DURING THIS PERIOD HE EARNED RECOGNITION AS ONE OF OUR NAVY'S MOST PROMISING YOUNG NAVAL OFFICERS. IN 1944 HE ASSUMED COMMAND OF HMCS ALGONQUIN.
ADMIRAL PIERS SERVED AT SEA THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
WHILE IN COMMAND OF ALGONQUIN HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY AND, IN OPERATIONS WITH THE BRITISH HOME FLEET, HE ESCORTED CONVOYS TO RUSSIA. IN 1943 HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR HIS COURAGEOUS SERVICE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC.
FOLLOWING THE WAR ADMIRAL PIERS SERVED IN: HMCS MAGNIFICENT; NAVAL HEADQUARTERS AS DIRECTOR NAVAL PLANS AND OPERATIONS; NATO SACLANT HEADQUARTERS NORFOLK, VIRGINIA; AND THE NATIONAL DEFENSE COLLEGE KINGSTON, ONTARIO. HE THEN RETURNED TO SEA IN COMMAND OF HMCS QUEBEC, SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE FIRST CANADIAN ESCORT SQUADRON AND IN 1956, AS SENIOR CANADIAN OFFICER AFLOAT, ATLANTIC. HE LATER ASSUMED THE POSITION OF COMMANDANT ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE.
FROM 1960 TO 1962 HE SERVED AS ASSISTANT CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF (PLANS) IN NAVAL HEADQUARTERS AND, AFTER PROMOTION TO REAR ADMIRAL IN 1962, HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE POSITION OF CHAIRMAN, CANADIAN JOINT STAFF, WASHINGTON, DC.
IN 1982 ADMIRAL PIERS WAS APPOINTED TO THE "ORDER OF CANADA (CM)". ALSO 18 1982 HE WAS MADE AN "HONOURARY DOCTOR OF MILITARY SCIENCE" BY THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA.
IN 2004 HE WAS AWARDED THE "KNIGHT OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR
(FRANCE)", FRANCE'S HIGHEST AWARD FOR BRAVERY IN MILITARY ACTION.
AFTER RETIREMENT ADMIRAL PIERS CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY AND HIS COMMUNITY IN NUMEROUS VOLUNTARY CAPACITIES. IN 1977 HE WAS APPOINTED AGENT GENERAL OF NOVA SCOTIA IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE.
REAR ADMIRAL PIERS CROSSED THE BAR 1 NOVEMBER 2005
READY AYE READY 
Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: [Web Link]
Location: Cherste Harbour waterfront
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