In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

George Arthur Grivel, C.D.

 

Petty Officer 1st Class, Gunner, RCN

 

Lieutenant, Gunner, O-29495, RCN

 

Born: 1913, Scobel, Ontario

 

Died: 09 Nov 1995, Victoria, British Columbia

 

GRIVEL, George Arthur - passed away at Aberdeen Hospital, November 9, 1995 in his 82nd year. Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, he moved to Western Canada as an adolescent, with his widowed mother and his younger sister. He was preceded in death by his father Pvt Joseph James Grivel (France 1916), mother Clara Alice (nee Bailey-1967), his first wife, Phyllis (nee Rhodes) and his second wife Audrey (nee Willott), his sister Marie Louise Hargreaves (nee Grivel) and brother Ralph Edwin Heathcote (infancy). He is survived by his wife, Vinola (nee Otterson); and children, Frank Arthur (Joan), Robert Gordon (Maryann); sister, Margaret (Raymond) Currie; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, stepchildren and their families. George joined the Merchant Navy as a teenage seaman in 1930 and transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy before the start of World War two. One of the 65 survivors in the sinking of the HMCS OTTAWA when the ship was torpedoed by the submarine U-91 in North Atlantic on September 13, 1942, he continued to serve in RCN until 1964, seeing wartime service on both coasts, in England and the North Atlantic. Well known for his marksmanship dossier, his accomplishments were noted as impressive by his military fellows. George successful represented the RCN and various rifle associations at the renowned Bisley Competitions and the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association. Retiring from services, he owned the Victoria Lawnmower Hospital for ten years, finally retiring to enjoy his great interest in horticulture, reading, self study, astronomy and continuing his education. A jovial, distinguished gentleman, George was highly regarded around Victoria with his continued participation in community and military associations. A funeral Service was held at the Protestant Chapel, CFB Naden on Wednesday, November 15, at 2:00 p.m. with Padre Tony Roberts officiating. Interment at Royal Oak Burial park. In lieu of flowers, friends were encouraged to donate to the charity of their choice.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS VANCOUVER

HMCS SKEENA

HMCS FRASER

HMCS OTTAWA - Survived the sinking of HMCS OTTAWA

HMS EXCELLENT - Gunnery Training School, Whale Island, Portsmouth, England

HMCS GIVENCHY - Gunnery Training School, HMC Dockyard, Esquimalt.  (Note: it is likely that the Navy List entry below for HMCS NADEN Gunnery School refers to HMCS GIVENCHY in HMC DOCKYARD)

HMCS NADEN - Appointed to NADEN, Gunnery School 01 Feb 1946 as an A/Gunner*, RCN (seniority 15 Jun 1945) (Navy List Apr 1946) ("*" After the rank or after his name indicates that promotion was made subject to special conditions in General Orders)

HMCS WARRIOR - Appointed to WARRIOR 27 Aug 1946 as an A/Gunner*, RCN (Navy List Oct 1946)

RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT, Gunnery Training Centre 17 Nov 1947 as an A/Gunner*, RCN (Navy List Jan 1948) 

HMCS HUNTER - Appointed to HUNTER, as Staff Training Officer 18 Jul 1949 an an A/Gunner, RCN (Navy List Jan 1950)

HMCS ONTARIO - Appointed to ONTARIO 14 Sep 1950 as an A/Commissioned Gunner, RCN (seniority 15 Jun 1945) (Navy List Jan 1951).  Appointed Cd Gunner, RCN (seniority 15 Jun 1945) (Navy List Jul 1951)

RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT, Gunnery Training Centre 22 Dec 1952 as a Cd Gunner, RCN (Navy List Jan 1953). Promoted and re-appointed as a Lt*, RCN 30 Jan 1953 (seniority 15 Jun 1951) (Navy List Jul 1954)  ("Lt*" denotes an officer on the Branch Officer List).  Appointed to Operations and Weapons Division as a Lt STAR, RCN (Navy List Apr 1962)

 

Lt Grivel's retirement notice

CROWSNEST magazine May 1964

 


 

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