Richard H. Leir

Infobox Military Person
name= Richard H. Leir
lived= November 19 1921
placeofbirth= Penticton, BC
placeofdeath= ???, ???


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= Canada
branch=Canadian Forces Maritime Command
serviceyears=
rank=Rear-Admiral
commands= Maritime Forces Pacific
battles= Battle of The Pacific
awards=KCB (1908), KCMG
laterwork=
portrayedby=

Rear-Admiral Richard H. Leir was born in Penticton, BC, November 19 1921. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a cadet in 1940, after attending Shawnigan Lake School, as well as the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England, continued his early training with the Royal Navy.

During World War II, he witnessed the sinking of the battlecruiser HMS "Hood", and survived the sinking of the battleship HMS "Prince of Wales" and the cruiser HMS "Exeter". Following the latter, he was officially listed as dead for three years while actually a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese.

Between 1945 and 1954, Admiral Leir saw service in five destroyers and two frigates, including duty as Operations Officer in HMCS "Athabaskan" during the Korean conflict in 1950-51. Between 1954 and 1962 he commanded the destroyer "Crusader", attended the RN Staff College, served as Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier HMCS "Bonaventure" and was the Training Commander in the Fleet School at Halifax.

The Admiral commanded the destroyer HMCS "Skeena" in the Pacific in 1962. In 1963 he took command of HMCS "Venture", the officer cadet training establishment in Esquimalt. In August of 1964, he was appointed to Canadian Forces Headquarters. In 1965 he was made Commander, First Canadian Escort Squadron based at Halifax and the following year promoted Commodore as Senior Canadian Officer Afloat Atlantic.

Admiral Leir went to the National Defence College in 1967 and to National Defence Headquarters as a Director General in 1968.

He was promoted to Rear-Admiral on June 18, 1970, and appointed Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in which capacity he served for three years until designated Chief of Maritime Operations in Ottawa, retiring on 14 August 1975. [ [http://www.navy.dnd.ca/marpac/home/marpac_profiles_e.asp?x=1&id=412 Canada's Navy: MARPAC - Maritime Forces Pacific ] ]

References