Andrew Collier

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Andrew Collier
NicknameAndy
Born(1924-06-03)June 3, 1924
DiedJanuary 3, 1987(1987-01-03) (aged 62)
AllegianceFile:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
BranchFile:Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Canadian Navy
File:Naval ensign of Canada.svg Canadian Forces Maritime Command
Service years1946–1980
RankFile:Canada-Navy-OF-8-collected.svg Vice-Admiral
CommandsHMCS Skeena
Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron
Canadian Flotilla (Atlantic)
Maritime Forces Pacific
Maritime Command
AwardsOrder of Military Merit
Distinguished Service Cross
Canadian Forces' Decoration

Vice Admiral Andrew Laurence Collier CMM DSC CD (June 3, 1924 – January 3, 1987) was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 14 June 1977 to 30 June 1979.

Early years

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Collier was born in Kamloops and raised in Salmon Arm, where his family was prominent in the grocery business.[1][2]

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Collier joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and completed his training in 1945.[1] He became Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMCS Skeena in 1960, Captain Sea Training on the staff of the Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1962 and Director Naval Plans at the National Defence Headquarters in 1964.[1] He went on to be Director International Plans in 1965, Commander Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron in 1966 and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Training in 1967.[1] After that he became Deputy Chief of Staff (Combat Readiness) in 1970, Commander Canadian Flotilla (Atlantic) in 1972 and Senior Liaison Officer (Navy) on the Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1973.[1] His last appointments were as Chief of Maritime Operations in 1974, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in 1975 and Commander Maritime Command in 1977, in which role he argued for more ships,[3] before retiring in 1979.[1]

Awards and decorations

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Collier's personal awards and decorations include the following:


Ribbon Description Notes
File:Order of Military Merit (Canada) ribbon (CMM).jpg Order of Military Merit (CMM)
  • Appointed Commander (CMM) on 20 June 1977[4]
File:UK Distinguished Service Cross BAR.svg Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) (DSC)
  • Citation for Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)[5]
File:Ribbon - 1939-45 Star.png 1939–1945 Star
  • WWII 1939-1945
File:Ribbon - Atlantic Star & Clasp.png Atlantic Star
  • WWII 1939–1945 with France & Germany Clasp
File:Canadian Volunteer Service Medal BAR 2.svg Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • WWII 1939–1945 with Overseas Service bar
File:Ribbon - War Medal.png War Medal 1939–1945
  • WWII 1939-1945
File:Korea Medal.svg Korea Medal
  • 1950-1953
File:CAN Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea.svg Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg United Nations Service Medal Korea
  • 1950-1954
File:Canada100 ribbon.png Canadian Centennial Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 1967
File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 1977
  • Canadian version
File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with two bars.svg Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of services

Later career

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He was appointed Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1980 and served as president of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation 1984–1987. He died in Victoria.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Retiring admiral makes last plea for more ships Ottawa Citizen, August 1, 1979
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Distinguished Service Cross: Canada Gazette of 22 December 1951 "On 5 December 1950, HMCS Cayuga lead the six destroyers up the estuary known as the Daido-ko to the port of Chinnampo. The channel up the Daido-ko is narrow, tortuous and shallow plus had been heavily mined by the North Koreans. Lt Collier was navigating officer on HMCS Cayuga on this dangerous passage at night. Collier made 132 fixes, most of them by radar, showing the position of the ship in relation to the channel marker buoys and nearby landmarks, and the accuracy of his navigation undoubtedly played a large part in ensuring the success of the entire operation to evacuate Chinnampo."