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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
DILLON, Charles J., Rear-Admiral - Deceased: October 2002. Rear Admiral Charles Dillon, born in 1912 in Montreal, proudly served his country and the armed forces for 37 years. He is survived by his wife Winsome of 60 years, his two sons Patrick in Ottawa, Timothy of Vancouver, daughter Andrea of Vancouver and granddaughter Emma of Ottawa.
DILLON, Charles J. Rear-Admiral - was born in Montreal on April 27, 1912. At the age of eight, young Charles observed a group of naval vessels steaming up the St. Lawrence River and at that point decided he would become a sailor. He enrolled in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Naval Cadet on May 5, 1931. What followed was a remarkable 37-year military career as a paymaster, accounting officer and supply officer. Between 1931 and 1939, he completed 24 months of naval training aboard both Canadian and Royal Navy ships. Called to active service on 2 September 1939, RAdm Dillon served during World War II in various shore establishments, at sea aboard HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN (battleship) and HMS NABOB (escort carrier) in the Atlantic, and aboard HMCS PRINCE HENRY (auxiliary cruiser) in the Northern Pacific and Aleutian Islands. He was aboard HMS NABOB on August 22, 1944 in the Barents Sea when she was nearly sunk by a torpedo while returning from a strike against the German battleship, TIRPITZ. NABOB lost 21 men, most of them from the supply branch. Following the war, RAdm Dillon continued his military service, building an esteemed reputation and advancing in rank. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in July 1962, and was appointed Naval Comptroller and a member of the Naval Board. Having delayed his own retirement in November 1966, RAdm Dillon focused his wealth of experience in the area of finance on an extensive study of the Non-Public Property structure. That study resulted in the establishment of the Canadian Forces Exchange Service (CANEX), along with a thorough overhaul of Non-Public Property policy, which is recorded in what became known as the “Dillon Report”. The Dillon Report has become the foundational document by which all other Non-Public Property policies are based. RAdm Dillon’s legacy lives on today as thousands of Canada’s sailors, soldiers, air personnel and their families continue to benefit from a broad range of Non-Public Property Morale and Welfare programs.
Ships served in: HMCS VENTURE - Served in VENTURE for her first voyage to the Caribbean HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN HMCS PRINCE HENRY - Listed in 1943 ship's company photo as Pay LCdr
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