James Wood (Canadian admiral)

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James Wood
Born(1934-08-29)29 August 1934
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Died2 March 2020(2020-03-02) (aged 85)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Royal Canadian Navy
Canadian Forces
Years of service1951–1987
Rank Vice-Admiral
Commands heldHMCS Ojibwa
First Canadian Submarine Squadron
HMCS Protecteur
Maritime Command
AwardsCommander of the Order of Military Merit
Order of Saint John
Canadian Forces' Decoration

Vice Admiral James Crilly Wood CMM CD ( 29 August 1934 - 2 March 2020) was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 29 July 1983 to 3 July 1987.

Career[edit]

Wood joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1951.[1] He became Commanding Officer of the submarine HMCS Ojibwa in 1967, a staff officer in the Directorate of Equipment Requirements at the National Defence Headquarters in 1970 and Commander of the First Canadian Submarine Squadron in 1972.[1] He went on to be Deputy Chief of Staff (Sea) in 1974, Commanding Officer of the supply ship HMCS Protecteur in 1976 and Deputy Chief of Staff Plans in 1977.[1] After that he became Senior Maritime Liaison Officer to The Netherlands in 1979, Director General Maritime Doctrine and Operations at the National Defence Headquarters in 1980 and Chief of Maritime Doctrine and Operations in 1983.[1] His last appointment was as Commander Maritime Command in 1983, in which role he demanded at least six more frigates to meet Canada's NATO commitment,[2] before he retired in 1987.[1]

He died on 2 March 2020 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[3]

Awards and decorations[edit]

Wood's personal awards and decorations include the following:



Ribbon Description Notes
Order of Military Merit (CMM)
  • Appointed Commander (CMM) on 23 December 1983[4]
Order of St John
  • Appointed Officer in 1987
Canadian Centennial Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 1967
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 1977
  • Canadian version
Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of service
  • He was a qualified Submariner and as such wore the Canadian Forces Submariner Dolphins

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Wood, James Crilly The Nauticapedia
  2. ^ New naval boss says spirit of alliance not upheld Ottawa Citizen, November 26, 1983
  3. ^ "James Wood". Halifax Chronicle Herald. 5 March 2020.
  4. ^ "The Governor General of Canada List". Gouvernment of Canada. 11 June 2018.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander Maritime Command
1983–1987
Succeeded by