rear admiral june november officer played significant role commanded end war commander chief canadian northwest atlantic canadian command allied theatre operations world war world war early years end world war born nova scotia june father direct descendant scottish immigrants travelled mother simon mid level manager enterprises grew close water years age murray left join intake recruits halifax created winter naval college absolute hell uniforms arrived stood send home clothing case broke shortly time got college went skating play hockey great relief admiral murray immediately graduating january served royal_navy vessel duty protecting british interests mexican revolution aboard outbreak world war assigned protected cruiser largest ship world war classmates sent royal_navy cruiser hms good hope killed coast south_america november battle canadian service casualties world war murray served briefly february promoted aboard rainbow spent years world war assistant navigating officer january lieutenant set troop convoys atlantic german boats experience years later murray ended war north_sea aboard witnessed surrender german fleet scapa_flow wars world war murray served briefly newly commissioned hms calcutta distinguished british captain murray learned basic skills command eighteen years later served opposite murray receiving end convoys commander chief western approaches command following short tour aboard murray assigned aurora paid naval budget cuts married quebec october depleted ships serve point considered civilian career qualifying master foreign going vessel deciding remain armed forces murray joined colleagues spent inter war years alternating shore assignments training officer serving aboard royal_navy vessels murray case included tour turkey befriended lord hms queen elizabeth provided murray peers including distinct matters military royal_navy bias january murray promoted lieutenant commander spent years main training base murray returned tour aboard spent studying simulation exercise college murray broke new ground planning large convoys convoys regarded time normal time battle atlantic return canada january murray promoted commander senior naval officer notes lecture kingston continuing interest offensive merit convoys patrols evident institution system convoy requires protective forces instead patrolling focal areas vessels near ports narrow passages group ships forming convoy escorted armed escort capable dealing possible scale attack mean increase protective force necessary protective force definite concrete patrolling method convoy method possible enemy attack laying open attack possible destruction admiral murray june murray assigned year ottawa naval staff officer setting sea years leading small fleet east_coast destroyers bridge operational command point murray appointed new position halifax position combined commander east_coast halifax june murray sent work december started final tour royal_navy serving executive officer aboard battleship hms participated coronation fleet review august middle final year murray promoted captain eve world war royal_navy mobilized murray returned ottawa captain training world war outbreak world war appointed deputy chief naval staff position murray played key role build navy eventual wartime strength approximately vessels including crossing canada recruit retired royal_navy officers advocating small ship anti submarine investment strategy eventually successful march secret visit negotiate construction destroyers subsequently founding member working renewed friendship commander shortly assigned position senior officer canadian murray men work closely spring october went sea briefly captain effectively command canadian warships dispatched january serve convoy duty ashore murray given unusual title commodore commanding canadian ships closely admiralty planning atlantic strategy including resolution matters relating return canada promoted commodore june charge based important operational mandate given officer point command canadian destroyers british destroyers responsibility convoy escort new_york far transfer point escorts south iceland recognition increased role murray subsequently appointed rear admiral december conditions terrible winter groups worked day cycle entailed days away days away fresh bread days away fresh meat added northern end beat sunlight speak winter revert old rations time salt beef lime juice juice scare away admiral murray saint incident based newfoundland admiral murray hosted visit free french admiral acting orders admiralty murray gave temporary command french submarine assigned murray fleet passage halifax return took vessels controlled december raised free french flag islands interpreted territorial claim behalf general creating diplomatic incident france canada united_states seizure archipelago opposition canada great_britain united_states concerned pushing government openly pro german stance murray later asked account role adventure claimed murray awarded legion government france eminent services rendered cause free france time rallying inhabitants reorganized february september murray appointed headquarters halifax effective command armed ships direct result march agreed navy concentrate leaving canada cover north_atlantic april murray commander chief canadian northwest atlantic headquartered halifax commanded allied air naval forces involved convoy protection canada coast ireland end war germany order encourage captains merchant ships countries carry point attend briefing conference captains chief engineers departure winter worst told measures escort air cover taken protection safety knew knew knew spite brave words cent probably arrive ships probably half number arrive resolve admiral murray personal highlight period occurred september murray gave impromptu guided tour halifax british prime minister winston_churchill churchill family boarded halifax harbour return voyage united_kingdom following president roosevelt murray appointed commander order british empire king birthday honours companion order bath following year allies gained upper hand attacks convoys diminished escort cover reduced hard work planning organizing convoys ceased british participation convoy escorts withdrawn entirely canada left sole responsibility september murray moment singular pride came period largest convoy world war sailed new_york july merchant ships long tons arrived incident august day early retirement admiral murray blamed allowing sailors shore leave halifax day decision generally considered contributed acting prime minister canada responded quickly situation appointed justice chair disorders murray abruptly removed command day separate admiral appointed investigate naval participation disorders placed considerable blame navy particular admiral having exercised better control sailors celebrations ashore naval inquiry findings balanced finding riot caused factors including failure naval command murray felt responsibility lay mainly civil authorities halifax frustrated effectively placed navy trial providing officers opportunity defend asked court martial clear agreed government attempt leave admiral honour intact thing resultant halifax disturbances truly great services officer command forgotten people canada admiral assigned command concluding held feeling bitter country navy abandoned suddenly moment navy greatest accomplishment murray left canada united_kingdom september officially retired navy march later years murray remained active retirement qualifying lawyer november specialty maritime law represented british government accidental sinking involved local church served rural councillor school boards love sea kept alive keen membership racing captain years leadership role sea scouts coincidentally carried canada canadian sea cadet corps near home town named honour admiral murray murray stopped practising law care better ailing wife died following chance meeting greek cruise remarried august surgeon quickly came known british politics member ran unsuccessfully candidate municipal council elections turning attention spirited debate canadian military establishment media prime minister pearson opposed integration clearly feeling canada abandoned following halifax riot murray maintained ties canada visited participated 25th anniversary celebrations legacy died peacefully november ashes placed halifax september memory lived gunnery proficiency awarded annually early 1970s death number commemorative steps taken including placing memorial honour collection medals related naval artifacts halifax naming branch renaming new glasgow nova scotia admiral murray naming naval buildings including building quote months sea war work solid desk averaging hours day frequently job obtain greatest possible result relatively inexperienced personnel little opportunity step toes spread responsible job soon felt confident ability autumn young volunteer reserve officers seen salt water war took command manned men number white black keys piano peculiar note took experience taught find capable necessary chance confidence provide chance dealings young captains best opportunity find feet having success looked blessing bright young peoples accept kind responsibility admiral murray honours decorations
Leonard W. Murray