Andrew Collier

{{For|another person|Andrew Collier (philosopher)}}

{{Infobox military person

|name = Andrew Collier

|image =

|caption =RAdm Andrew Laurence Collier

|rank = 40px Vice-Admiral

|branch = {{naval|Canada|1911}}
23px Canadian Forces Maritime Command

|family =

|nickname = Andy

|allegiance = {{flag|Canada}}

|birth_date = {{birth date|1924|6|3}}

|death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|1987|1|3|1924|6|3}}

|birth_place = Kamloops, British Columbia

|death_place = Victoria, British Columbia

|serviceyears = 1946–1980

|battles =

|commands={{HMCS|Skeena|DDH 207|6}}
Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron
Canadian Flotilla (Atlantic)
Maritime Forces Pacific
Maritime Command

|awards = Order of Military Merit
Distinguished Service Cross
Canadian Forces' Decoration

}}

Vice Admiral Andrew Laurence Collier {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CMM|DSC|CD}} (June 3, 1924 – January 3, 1987) was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 14 June 1977 to 30 June 1979.

Early years

Collier was born in Kamloops and raised in Salmon Arm, where his family was prominent in the grocery business.{{Cite web | url=https://www.nauticapedia.ca/dbase/Query/Biolist3.php?name=Collier,%20Andrew%20Laurence&id=23927&Page=1&input=Collier,%20Andrew%20Laurence | title=Collier, Andrew Laurence | website=www.nauticapedia.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/107/Salmon-Arm-Heritage-Register?bidId= |page=35 |title=City of Salmon Arm Community Heritage Register |date=10 Feb 2010|website=www.salmonarm.ca}}

Naval career

Collier joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and completed his training in 1945. He became Commanding Officer of the destroyer {{HMCS|Skeena|DDH 207|6}} in 1960, Captain Sea Training on the staff of the Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1962 and Director Naval Plans at the National Defence Headquarters in 1964. He went on to be Director International Plans in 1965, Commander Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron in 1966 and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Training in 1967. After that he became Deputy Chief of Staff (Combat Readiness) in 1970, Commander Canadian Flotilla (Atlantic) in 1972 and Senior Liaison Officer (Navy) on the Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1973. His last appointments were as Chief of Maritime Operations in 1974, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in 1975 and Commander Maritime Command in 1977, in which role he argued for more ships,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19790801&id=P9AyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UO4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2973,120137 Retiring admiral makes last plea for more ships] Ottawa Citizen, August 1, 1979 before retiring in 1979.

Awards and decorations

Collier's personal awards and decorations include the following:


class="wikitable"
style="background:Navy;color:White" align="center"

|Ribbon

DescriptionNotes
80pxOrder of Military Merit (CMM)*Appointed Commander (CMM) on 20 June 1977{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=530&t=11&ln=Collier |title=Order of Military Merit List|date=11 June 2018 |publisher=The Governor General of Canada}}
80pxDistinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) (DSC)*Citation for Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)Distinguished Service Cross: Canada Gazette of 22 December 1951 "On 5 December 1950, HMCS Cayuga lead the six destroyers up the estuary known as the Daido-ko to the port of Chinnampo. The channel up the Daido-ko is narrow, tortuous and shallow plus had been heavily mined by the North Koreans. Lt Collier was navigating officer on HMCS Cayuga on this dangerous passage at night. Collier made 132 fixes, most of them by radar, showing the position of the ship in relation to the channel marker buoys and nearby landmarks, and the accuracy of his navigation undoubtedly played a large part in ensuring the success of the entire operation to evacuate Chinnampo."
x25px1939–1945 Star*WWII 1939-1945
x25pxAtlantic Star*WWII 1939–1945 with France & Germany Clasp
80pxCanadian Volunteer Service Medal*WWII 1939–1945 with Overseas Service bar
x25pxWar Medal 1939–1945*WWII 1939-1945
80pxKorea Medal*1950-1953
80pxCanadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
80pxUnited Nations Service Medal Korea*1950-1954
80pxCanadian Centennial Medal*Decoration awarded in 1967
80pxQueen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal*Decoration awarded in 1977

  • Canadian version
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-|ribbon=CD-ribbon_and_2_bars.png|width=80}}Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)*with two Clasp for 32 years of services

Later career

He was appointed Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1980 and served as president of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation 1984–1987. He died in Victoria.

References