In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 


 

James Albert Senior

 

Chief Stoker, 21198, RCN

 

Acting Warrant Engineer, O-66004, RCN

 

Born: 01 Mar 1907, Altringham, Cheshire, England

 

Died: 01 Mar 1976

 

James volunteered for the RCN on 10 Jun 1926 and commenced service on 15 Jun 1926. He was a Chief Stoker when he accepted a commission from the ranks (CFR) on 01 Apr 1945 and became an Acting Warrant Engineer. James received an honourable discharge on 10 Feb 1947.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS STADACONA - Enlisted 15 Jun 1926 as a Stoker 2nd Class, RCN

HMCS PATRIOT - Drafted to PATRIOT 01 Aug 1926

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 01 Oct 1926

HMCS PATRIOT - Drafted to PATRIOT 06 Jun 1927

* Rated Stoker 1st Class, RCN 15 Jun 1927

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 15 Jun 1927

HMCS PATRIOT - Drafted to PATRIOT 01 Jul 1927

HMS VICTORY - Drafted to VICTORY 01 Jan 1928

HMCS CHAMPLAIN - Drafted to CHAMPLAIN

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 23 Apr 1930

HMS DEHLI - Drafted to DEHLI 24 Jul 1931

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 05 Sep 1931

HMS VICTORY - Drafted to VICTORY 01 Jan 1932

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 18 Jun 1932

* Rated Acting Leading Stoker, RCN 01 Feb 1933

HMCS SAGUENAY  - Drafted to SAGUENAY 23 Jun 1933

* Rated Leading Stoker, RCN 01 Feb 1934

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 04 Dec 1935

* Rated Acting Stoker Petty Officer 01 Jun 1936

HMCS SAGUENAY - Drafted to SAGUENAY 16 Jun 1936

* Rated Stoker Petty Officer, RCN 01 Jun 1937

HMCS GASPE - Drafted to GASPE 22 Jul 1939

HMCS ASSINIBOINE - Drafted to ASSINIBOINE 25 Nov 1939

HMCS GASPE - Drafted to GASPE 04 Dec 1939

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Drafted to RESTIGOUCHE 09 Apr 1940

* Rated Chief Stoker (Temporary), RCN 01 Oct 1940

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 29 Nov 1940

* Rated Chief Stoker, RCN 01 Dec 1940

HMS CALLIOPE - Drafted to CALLIOPE 09 Sep 1941

HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 01 Oct 1942

HMCS ATHABASKAN - Drafted to ATHABASKAN 04 Feb 1943

HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 25 Aug 1943

HMS COCHRANE - Drafted to COCHRANE 25 Nov 1943

HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 01 Jan 1944

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 13 Jan 1944

HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 05 Apr 1944

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 14 Jul 1944

HMS SAKER - Served in SAKER 15 Jul 1944

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 17 Aug 1944

* Promoted to Acting Warrant Engineer (Star), RCN 01 Apr 1945

HMCS SCOTIAN - Appointed to SCOTIAN 13 Dec 1945 Add'l on staff of Chief Superintendent Halifax for duty with Chief Engineer

HMCS SCOTIAN - Appointed to SCOTIAN 01 Feb 1946 Add'l for duty in HMC Dockyard with Man. Eng. Dept.

HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA 11 Feb 1946 Add'l for passage to U.K.

HMCS NIOBE - Appointed to NIOBE 11 Mar 1946 Add'l for courses

HMCS WARRIOR - Appointed to Warrior 21 Mar 1946

HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA 29 Sep 1946, Add'l for Pension Leave

HMCS NIOBE- Appointed to NIOBE 13 Nov 1946 Add'l for Balance of Pension Leave

HMCS NIOBE - Appointed to NIOBE 29 Nov 1946 Add'l for discharge

* Appointment Terminated - Services Complete - Pensioned 10 Feb 1947

 

 

 

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(JS01) James Senior's service documents

 

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Photos James A. Senior throughout his career in the RCN

(JS01) Stoker James Senior

(JS02-JS04) Stoker 1c / Leading Stoker James Senior

 

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(JS05-JS06) Stoker Petty Officer James Senior

(JS07-JS09) Chief Stoker James Senior

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(JS10-JS12)  Wt (E) James Senior - 1946

 


 

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(JS13) Unknown group photo - possibly sea cadets. DND/RCN photo - Neg # 50533

(JS14) James Senior and his bride to be Myrtle Turner - 1928

(JS15) James Senior circa 1930-1934

(JS16) Sailors on unknown ship - possibly HMCS PATRIOT. Sto 2c James Senior, front, 2nd from right

(JS17) James Senior posing on car - date and location unknown

 

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(JS18) James Senior circa 1930-1934

(JS19-JS20) Newspaper article on a motor vehicle accident in which John Pulley (left) and James Senior (right) were passengers.  Webmaster's note: While the article has John's surname as Pully, it has been confirmed with the Library and Archives of Canada that the correct spelling of his surname is Pulley.

(JS21) Two unknown sailors on the roof of a building - possibly at HMCS Stadacona, Halifax

(JS22) Sailors behind what appears to be the accommodations building at HMCS Stadacona - 1927

 

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(JS23) James Senior, standing, 1st on left - Ralph Pattison, standing, middle

(JS24) Four sailors behind what appears to be the accommodations building at HMCS Stadacona - 1927. Ralph Pattison, Standing, left

(JS25) James Senior (right) and friend, Halifax, 1927  (13) James Senior (left), Mrs. Yiman (?sp), George - during training at HMS Victory - 1932

(JS26) James Senior - c 1933-1936. Location unknown (circa 1936-1939)

(JS27) Unknown River Class destroyer

 

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(JS28-JS29) His Majesty The King inspects the Royal Guard - date and location unknown

(JS30) Newspaper article on James Senior's draft to the Barracks at HMCS Stadacona

(JS31) W.O.'s Dinner - 1946 - Possibly on board HMCS Warrior

 


 

Poems (below) from the collection of James Senior

Note: some of these poem were written by James Senior, some collected from other sources

 

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(JS32) A Destroyer at Sea

(JS33) A Sailors Life on a Destroyer

(JS34) Why Have We A Bad Name

(JS35) Discontented

(JS36) The Tale of Old China

 

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(JS37) When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted

(JS38) Even As You And I

(JS39) The Sailors Prayer

(JS40) Prelude (To Departmental Ditties)

(JS41) Murder At Sea

 

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(JS42) Fluent Speaker

(JS43) That Son of Mine

(JS44) Her Infinite Variety

(JS45) The Virginity

(JS46) In This Corner

 

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(JS47) Blondewards To The Sea

(JS48) If . . . . . . 

(JS49) Insane At Sea

(JS50) Musings On A Star-Shell

(JS51) Tied To His Job

 


 

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(JS52) Fire Fighting / Damage Control - Breathing Equipment in the RCN circa 1940s (Training Document) - Miner's Safety Appliance (M.S.A.) / A.N.S. Salvus Self Contained Set / M.S.A. Hose Mask / Patt 230

 


 

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

 

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(JS53) HMCS CHAMPLAIN entering Willemstad Harbour, Netherlands Antilles, 1934.  In the winder of 1934, HMCS SKEENA, HMCS SAGUENAY, HMCS CHAMPLAIN and HMCS Vancouver took part in Winter exercises off South America.

(JS54) HMCS CHAMPLAIN, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 1928

(JS55) HMCS CHAMPLAIN - undated

(JS56) HMCS CHAMPLAIN - undated

 

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(JS57-JS58) HMCS CHAMPLAIN'S mascot circa 1930

(JS59) Onboard HMCS CHAMPLAIN circa 1928-1930

 

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( JS60) HMCS CHAMPLAIN (left) and HMCS SAGUENAY (right) in the graving dock, Saint John, NB - date unknown

(JS61-JS62) Graving dock view from stern - SAGUENAY (left), CHAMPLAIN (right)

 


 

HMCS SAGUENAY

 

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(JS63) HMCS SAGUENAY entering Willemstad Harbour, Netherlands Antilles, 1934 - In the winter of 1934, HMCS SKEENA, HMCS SAGUENAY, HMCS CHAMPLAIN and HMCS VANCOUVER took part in Winter exercises off South America

(JS64) SAGUENAY sailors ashore - Front left, James A. Senior, front right believed to be Herbert E. Dowling. Sailors in back unknown

(JS65) SAGUENAY sailors ashore - James Senior, standing, left

(JS66) HMCS SAGUENAY D79 entering Miami, Florida, USA Apr 1935

(JS67) HMCS SAGUENAY and HMCS Champlain, Miami, Florida, USA

 

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(JS68) HMCS SAGUENAY and HMCS Champlain, Miami, Florida, USA

(JS69) Sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY on the beach on Saint Lucia, Eastern Caribbean - 1935.  James Senior, back row, centre

(JS70) Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY, Haiti, 1935

(JS71) Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY pulling in a shark off Haiti - 1935

(JS72) Sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY enjoying a drink ashore - James Senior on the right

 

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(JS73) James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1936. Note the iceberg in the background

(JS74) James Senior relaxing on the upper decks on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1936

(JS75) HMCS SAGUENAY 5-oared whaler crew, 1936 - James Senior front right

(JS76) HMCS SAGUENAY 5-oared whaler crew, 1936.  L-R: Senior, unknown, Glover, unknown, unknown, Racine

(JS77) HMCS SAGUENAY 5-oared whaler crew, 1936 - James Senior, front, left

 

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(JS78) Ship's whaler taking crew from HMCS SAGUENAY ashore to the beach - 1936.  James senior 2nd row furthest right

(JS79-JS82) R&R on the beaches in the sunny south - 1936.  Sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY on the beaches

(JS79) SAGUENAY sailors on the beach - James Senior falling, location unknown

(JS80) at La Guaira, Venezuela

(JS81) at La Guaira, Venezuela - James Senior, foreground

(JS82) at La Guaira, Venezuela - James Senior, centre

 

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(JS83-JS87) R&R on the beaches in the sunny south - 1936.  Sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY on the beaches

(JS83) Unknown sailor posing on the beach.  Location unknown

(JS84) James Senior posing on the beach. Location unknown

(JS85) sailor by ship's whaler at Saguramus Bay

(JS86) James Senior by ships boat with an armload of coconuts at Saguramus Bay

(JS87) James Senior, left - location unknown

Note:  Saguramus Bay is Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad

 

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(JS88-JS91) R&R on the beaches in the sunny south - 1936.  Sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY on the beaches

(JS88) at Saguramus Bay - James Senior, centre, anchor

(JS89) at Saguramus Bay

(JS90) Fresh Water Club, Barbados

(JS91) Barbados - James Senior, front, right

Note:  Saguramus Bay is Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad

 

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(JS92) Alongside somewhere down south - 1936.  Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY under the ships awning, escaping the sun and heat - laundry hanging to the left of the gun turret

(JS93) Dhobey (laundry) day on HMCS SAGUENAY - James Senior on the right

(JS94) James Senior (standing) on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS95) James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1936

(JS96) James Senior (front) hiking in Haiti circa 1936

 

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(JS97) Catch-of-the-Day. HMCS SAGUENAY, Ecuador, 1936

(JS98) Unknown sailor off of HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS99) A couple sailors of HMCS SAGUENAY sight-seeing

(JS100) HMCS SAGUENAY alongside - date and location unknown

(JS101) Unknown sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY with young girl in front of house - date and location unknown

 

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(JS102) The dedication of the Vimy Memorial.  HMCS SAGUENAY provided the Royal Guard - 1936

(JS103) Canadian Lines

(JS104) German Lines 09 Apr 1917

(JS105) Moroccan Memorial

(JS106) Vimy Ridge - with direction sign to Arras

 

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(JS107) Vimy Ridge - No Man's Land

(JS108-JS109) Trenches at Vimy Ridge

 

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(JS112) Unknown Petty Officer on HMCS SAGUENAY circa 1937-1938

(JS113) Unknown sailor on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS114) Unknown sailor on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS115) Unknown sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS116) Unknown sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY - one has an injured knee

 

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(JS117) Unknown sailor from HMCS SAGUENAY - note the RCNVR cap tally

(JS118) Sailors off HMCS SAGUENAY - date and location unknown

(JS119) Sailor off HMCS SAGUENAY resting during maintenance of the graves at Croque, NFLD.  The French navy and RCN went there until the early 1970’s to do maintenance on the small French cemetery located there. The cemetery is still there but maintained by the local residents now.

(JS120) Unknown sailors from HMCS SAGUENAY ashore - date and location unknown

(JS121) Unknown HMCS SAGUENAY Stoker

 

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(JS122) Newspaper article - HMCS SAGUENAY and HMCS SKEENA sail for the Coronation Review for King George the VI - 1937

 

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(JS123) Crossing the Line Certificate - Equator - 1330 hrs 04 Feb 1938 - HMCS SAGUENAY D79 for James A. Senior, RCN

(JS124) King Neptune's Court

(JS125-JS127) Crossing the Line Ceremony on HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS127) Officers of HMCS SAGUENAY being initiated into King Neptune's Realm

 

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(JS128-JS131) HMCS SAGUENAY D79 transiting the Panama Canal, Jan 1938

 

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(JS132) Stoker Petty Officer James Senior in the Andes Mountains, Peru - 1938

(JS133) HMCS SAGUENAY at anchor off Paita, Peru - 1938

(JS134) Unknown River Class destroyer at anchor of Callao, Peru - 1938

(JS135) Sailors on HMCS SAGUENAY - possibly during the 1939 Spring Cruise

(JS136) Three Petty Officers on HMCS SAGUENAY - 1939.  James Senior - centre

 

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(JS140) Unknown River Class destroyer - photo taken from HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS141) Unknown warship following astern of HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS142) Gun shoot - unknown ship firing forward guns - photo taken from HMCS SAGUENAY

(JS143) James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY, Bermuda, date unknown

(JS144) PO James Senior on HMCS SAGUENAY

 


 

HMCS GASPE J94

 

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(JS149) James Senior (left) and unknown sailor on icy decks on HMCS GASPÉ J94 - 1939

(JS150) James Senior on HMCS GASPÉ J94 off Halifax circa 1938-1939

 


 

HMCS ATHABASKAN G07

 

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(JS151) Newspaper article on HMCS ATHABASKAN G07

 


 

HMCS WARRIOR

Mar-Oct 1946

 

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(JS152-JS153) HMCS WARRIOR open to public - location unknown

 

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(JS154-JS157) Flight deck operations on HMCS WARRIOR

 

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(JS159-JS162) Flight deck operations on HMCS WARRIOR

 

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(JS163-JS165) When things don't go so smoothly ..... a damaged aircraft is craned off the ship to a waiting barge

 


 

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Fire Fighting and Damage Control Training on the hulk of the former HMCS ST CLAIR, Bedford Basin, Halifax, NS, 20 Mar 1945

DND-RCN photos

 


 

Photos and documents courtesy of Robert (Bob) Senior

 


 

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