Andrew Collier Explained

Andrew Collier
Rank:	Vice-Admiral
Branch:	Canadian Forces Maritime Command
Nickname:	Andy
Allegiance:	Canada
Birth Date:	3 June 1924
Birth Place:	Kamloops, British Columbia
Death Place:	Victoria, British Columbia
Serviceyears:	1946–1980
Commands:	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 (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.^{[1] [2]}

Naval career

Collier joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and completed his training in 1945. He became Commanding Officer of the destroyer 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.^[1] 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.^[1] 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.^[1] 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,^[3] before retiring in 1979.^[1]

Awards and decorations

Collier's personal awards and decorations include the following:

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Military Merit (CMM)	Appointed Commander (CMM) on 20 June 1977^[4]
	Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) (DSC)	Citation for Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)^[5]
		WWII 1939-1945
		WWII 1939–1945 with France & Germany Clasp
		WWII 1939–1945 with Overseas Service bar
		WWII 1939-1945
		1950-1953
		1950-1954
		Decoration awarded in 1967
		Decoration awarded in 1977 Canadian version
	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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Collier, Andrew Laurence . www.nauticapedia.ca.
2. Web site: City of Salmon Arm Community Heritage Register . 35 . 10 Feb 2010. www.salmonarm.ca.
3. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19790801&id=P9AyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UO4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2973,120137 Retiring admiral makes last plea for more ships
4. Web site: Order of Military Merit List. 11 June 2018 . The Governor General of Canada.
5. 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."