Rear Admiral Welland

Rear Admiral Bob Welland, the first Commanding Officer and “father” of HMCS Venture is dead at the age of 92. He succumbed in hospital at White Rock, BC after suffering a heart attack. “Admiral Bob” was born in Oxbow, Saskatchewan and joined the RCN as a Special Entry Cadet in 1936. He trained with the Royal Navy and became an “anti-submarine specialist”. He had a brilliant war. He was at Dunkirk in St. Laurent in 1940 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) “for courage and enterprise in action against enemy submarines” in 1941 when “Sally” sunk a U-boat. Promoted Acting-Lieutenant Commander in 1943 he assumed command of HMCS Assiniboine(I), at age 25, “the youngest destroyer captain in the Atlantic.” Assiniboine was employed in convoy protection then operations in the UK coastal waters and the channel. Welland was awarded “Mentioned-In-Dispatches (M.I.D.) 1944 for getting his battle damaged ship safely back to port. He relieved Cdr. Harry DeWolf in command of HMCS Haida in December 1944. Lt. Ray Phillips, his Executive Officer, later became the first XO of “Venture”). Welland finished the war in Haida on the Murmansk Convoy Run. Postwar, Welland went to HMCS Royal Roads as the Executive Officer, was confirmed Lieutenant Commander in 1947, and promoted Commander in 1949 to command HMCS Athabaskan(II). “Athabee” was in the first deployment to Korea in 1950 and in her Welland was awarded a Bar to his DSC for his outstanding performance in the Chinampo Operation, and later appointed an Officer of The Legion of Merit by the United States. After Athabaskan he was appointed to HMCS Stadacona to develop what became the junior officer technical and leadership training programme. Promoted to Captain in 1953 he became Director of Naval Training and developed the plan to establish HMCS Venture – “inventing Venture” as he termed it. “Venture” was Bob Welland’s proudest accomplishment, a journeymen naval college that produced 462 graduates including 202 naval aviators who became the motivated workhorses that powered the surface, subsurface and air components of the Canadian navy and air force for forty years. After “Venture he went on the command HMCS Ontario, then HMCS Shearwater where he enjoyed being surrounded by many of his former cadets. Promoted to Commodore in 1963, He did a stint at Naval Service Headquarters before assuming command of the fleet. As Senior Canadian Officer Afloat(SCOPA), he introduced many new ASW innovations based on aviation that revolutionized the way the Canadian navy hunted submarines. A Rear Admiral in 1964, he became the youngest two-star in the three forces. Welland joined the Naval Board just as it was being abolished by integration then was appointed as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff(Operations). He was part of the “shadow naval board” that developed and promoted the naval programme that included the DDH 280’s, hydrofoil and HMCS Bonaventure refit. However he became increasingly vocal in his opposition to Paul Hellyer’s destructive policies and resigned in 1966. In retirement Bob Welland went into private business, founded his own company, it flourished and he ran it until he was 82. He also worked tirelessly promoting and supporting the navy. Bob Welland wrote that he got over his “navy hangover” however he missed it. His memoir concludes, “Serving in a ship is not like working in a business. In the Navy you make lifelong friends; being one of a ship’s company seems to bind you to your mates, forever. The Navy is a hard habit to kick, and especially if you don’t try!” That is what “Venture” taught us and that is what we thank and remember him for. Bob Welland was everyone’s Captain and fortunately many saw him at the reunion last September. He was one of a kind and we will miss him.

The funeral service will take place at 13:00 hrs (1PM) Friday 4 June, 2010 at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Home 14831 28th Ave, Surrey BC V4P-1P3 (tel: 604-536-6522). Canon Andrew Gates, Rector of St.Paul’s Church, Esquimalt will be officiating. Maritime Commander Pacific, Rear Admiral Pile will be in attendance. Suggested dress is blazer and flannels (with medals). All are welcome.

Published obituary ... Rear Admiral Robert Welland

Funeral Service

Celbration of Life (Photos)