Rear Admiral Desmond William Piers Memorial Cairn

This memorial was unveiled after 2005. It is dedicated to Rear Admiral Desmond William Piers DSC, CM, CD, D.SCMil, KLJ. R.C.N. (1913-2005).

[front/devant]

REAR ADMIRAL DESMOND WILLIAM PIERS
DSC, CM, CD, D.SCMIL, KLJ, R.C.N. RETIRED
1913-2005

REAR ADMIRAL DESMOND PIERS, AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS "DEBBY"
WAS BORN IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA 12 JUNE 1913. HE ATTENDED THE ROYAL
MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA 1930-1932 AND SERVED IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY
UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1967 AFTER 35 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE

AFTER LEAVING THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE ADMIRAL PIERS SERVED WITH THE ROYAL
NAVY UNTIL 1937, FOLLOWED BY SERVICE IN HMC SHIPS SAGUENAY, RESTIGOUCHE AND
ASSINIBOINE. IN 1941 HE WAS APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER OF HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE AND SERVED AS THE SENIOR OFFICER OF ACN ESCORT GROUP CC4.
DURING THIS PERIOD HE EARNED RECOGNITION AS ONE OF OUR NAVY'S MOST PROMISING
YOUNG NAVAL OFFICERS. IN 1944 HE ASSUMED COMMAND OF HMCS ALGONQUIN.

ADMIRAL PIERS SERVED AT SEA THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
WHILE IN COMMAND OF ALGONQUIN HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY AND, IN
OPERATIONS WITH THE BRITISH HOME FLEET. HE ESCORTED CONVOYS TO RUSSIA.
IN 1943 HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SREVICE CORSS FOR HIS COURAGEOUS SERVICE
DURING THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC.

FOLLOWING THE WAR ADMIRAL PIERS SERVED IN HMCS MAGNIFICENT NAVAL HEADQUARTERS AS DIRECTOR NAVAL PLANS AND OPERATIONS NATO SACLANT HEADQUARTERS
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, AND THE NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE KINGSTON, ONTARIO. HE THEN RETURNED
TO SEA IN COMMAND OF HMCS QUEBEC, SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE FIRST CANADIAN ESCORT
SQUADRON AND IN 1956, AS SENIOR CANADIAN OFFICER AFLOAT, ATLANTIC. HE LATER ASSUMED THE
POSITION OF COMMANDANT ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE.

FROM 1960 TO 1962 HE SERVED AS ASSISTANT CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF (PLANS) IN NAVAL
HEADQUARTERS AND, AFTER PROMOTION TO REAR ADMIRAL IN 1962, HE WAS APPPOINTED TO THE
POSITION OF CHAIRMAN, CANADIAN JOINT STAFF, WASHINGTON, DC.

IN 1982 ADMIRAL PIERS WAS APPOINTED TO THE 'ORDER OF CANADA CM. ALSO 18 1982 HE WAS MADE AN "HONOURARY DOCTOR OF MILITARY SCIENCE"" BY THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA.

IN 2004 HE WAS AWARDED THE "KNIGHT OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR
(FRANCE)", FRANCE'S HIGHEST AWARD FOR BRAVERY IN MILITARY ACTION.

AFTER RETIREMENT ADMIRAL PIERS CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS
COUNTRY AND HIS COMMUNITY IN NUMEROUS VOLUNTARY
CAPACITIES. IN 1977 HE WAS APPOINTED AGENT GENERAL
OF NOVA SCOTIA IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE.

REAR ADMIRAL PIERS CROSSED THE BAR 1 NOVEMBER 2005

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