John O'Brien (admiral)
Vice Admiral John Charles O'Brien OC, CD (16 December 1918 – 24 March 1996) was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 1966 to 1970.
John O'Brien | |
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Born | 16 December 1918 Hove, Sussex |
Died | 24 March 1996 Ottawa, Ontario |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() ![]() |
Years of service | 1935–1973 |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands held | HMCS Bonaventure Maritime Command NATO Defense College |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards | Officer of the Order of Canada Canadian Forces Decoration |
Career
O'Brien joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1935.[1] He was in action off Norway in 1939, commanded a small boat at the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, served as a Signals Officer for the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 during the Second World War.[1] He became Director Naval Training in 1955, Director Naval Communications in 1957 and Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure in 1959.[1] He went on to be Naval Member of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1961, Senior Canadian Officer Afloat (Atlantic) in 1964 and Commander Maritime Command in 1966.[1] His last appointment was as Commandant of the NATO Defense College in Rome in 1970 before retiring in 1973.[1]
O'Brien married Stephanie Frances Swire; she died on 2 October 2006.[2]
Awards and decorations
Obrien's personal awards and decorations include the following:
Ribbon | Description | Notes |
![]() | Order of Canada (OC) |
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![]() | 1939–1945 Star |
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![]() | Atlantic Star |
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![]() | Africa Star |
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![]() | Italy 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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![]() | Special Service Medal |
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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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![]() | Order of Merit of the Italian Republic |
References
- O'Brien, John Charles The Nauticapedia
- Obituary: Stephanie Frances O'Brien The Telegarph, October 2006
- "The Governor General of Canada List". Gouvernment of Canada.
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by William Landymore |
Commander Maritime Command 1966–1970 |
Succeeded by Henry Porter |