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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
CHANCE, Peter Godwin - It is with great fondness that we remember and say "so long" to a loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, great grandfather and good friend in Peter Chance, who passed away peacefully at the Royal Jubilee Hospital on 9 April 2024.
Peter is survived by his children: Simon (Stella), Penelope, Tim (Brenda), Stephanie (Lynn) from his first wife, Peggy, followed by Helen, who brought in a delightful second family. Four stepdaughters: Shelly (Bob), Sher (Dale), Ingrid (Dennis) and Darlene. As well as his many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Peter was predeceased by both his wives and his brother David. John, who at a hundred years old, is the only surviving sibling.
Born and raised by his parents, Leslie and Gladys, in Ottawa; he attended Lisgar Collegiate High School and in 1938 at age 18 became the Junior Figure Skating Champion of Canada. That same year Peter joined the Ottawa Division of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) as a Midshipman. When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, he joined his first ship HMCS St. Laurent. In August of 1940, he was transferred into the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Permanent Force as a 'Special Entry Cadet' and sent to the UK for further training at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth graduating in the regained rank of Midshipman. A thirty-year career followed as a specialist navigator, eventually rising to the rank of Commander, through wartime service in various classes of ships, from cruisers and battleships to destroyers and frigates of the Royal Navy (RN) and RCN during the Battle of the Atlantic, the Dunkirk evacuation, the 6th June 1944 D-Day landings and surviving the loss of his ship HMCS Skeena-wrecked in a storm on the coast of Iceland. After the war, Peter continued to serve in the RCN in HMCS Cayuga supporting United Nations amphibious and coastal operations during the Korean War. His postwar naval career included service at sea in various ships of the RCN, including a carrier, cruiser, frigates, and destroyers - having had command of two of the latter types. He also served in senior positions ashore in Canada and overseas in peacetime postings with our NATO allies.
Upon his retirement from the RCN, he subsequently accepted the prestigious position of administrator at Osgoode Hall - York University's Law School in Toronto, Ontario. In this role, he had occasion to meet several members of the Royal Family - including Queen Elizabeth II. As an aside, this began a long association with the Royal Family that included interactions with Prince Philip and more recently Prince Edward. During his recent hospitalization Peter had received an invitation to meet with Princess Anne during a visit to Victoria. Unfortunately, though Peter was touched by the invitation, fate intervened.
Peter then moved the family west and spent 18 years as the BC/Yukon Representative for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program maintaining his contact with the program thereafter. His legacy includes his vigorous support of the ALS Society, as a long time volunteer with the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, a long serving member of the Naval Association of Canada (NAC), Royal Canadian Legion as an Honorary Branch President, Royal United Services Institute - Vancouver Island (RUSI-VI) as an Honorary Member, Sidney Ratepayers Association, Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) in Sidney, BC, the Nautical Institute and founding president of the Maritime Awards Society of Canada. In his engagements with all these associations, he consistently strived to make a significant contribution, be a positive influence in the lives of others and assist those who were not as privileged as himself.
Peter had a passion for the written word and published his autobiography, A Sailor's Life, that he happily widely distributed gratis. He also loved historical studies and was a valued supporter of the University of Victoria / RUSI VI Military Oral History Project and the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum - where the Battle of the Atlantic gallery is named in his honour. Amongst his many decorations and awards is the French Legion of Honour presented to him in recognition of his service in the Allied cause during the D-Day landings signalling the liberation of France during WWII. He was very proud of this award appointing him as a Knight of the Legion.
Peter was a "Giver" whose oft repeated motto was: "You can achieve more with honey than vinegar!" Another motto of his was: "for goodness' sake just be kind!" A consummate people person, he was always extremely interested in the lives and experiences of others. In this respect, his gregarious and charismatic personality was a great asset. Up for anything and, with great professional assistance and generosity from the Victoria Flying Club, he recently took the controls of a Cessna Aircraft in flight at 102 years of age. This was a treasured experience for him that he often referred to. Prominent coverage in the media at this feat certainly added to his celebrity and satisfied the theatrical in his soul.
Peter will be remembered as a proud, patriotic, and highly decorated Canadian, who was always generous with his time and his stories. Consistently upbeat, he was an avid reader, loved to learn, sail, play/listen to music, attend live theatre, travel, be with his many "good" friends, to attend Holy Trinity Church and, above all, to socialize. He was consistently upbeat and oozed optimism which is probably the reason he lived until 103.5 years of age.
Peter stated many times that "I have had a good run". He was blessed with good health and enjoyed the entirety of his over a century of life to the fullest. He enjoyed his final years with the whole-hearted support and love of his stepdaughters Shelly and Sher and had many memorable times in the company of his extensive circle of friends. His last days were happy, busy ones socializing with and entertaining his fellow 'inmates' and the entire staff of the Peninsula Retirement Home, that he referred to with his characteristic sense of humour as the 'barracks' -'where the grub was good, the staff delightful and the inmates friendly'.
Fair Winds and Following Seas on your next voyage dear family member, old friend and shipmate!
A memorial service will be held at the Christ Church Cathedral beginning at 1:30 p.m. (seated by 1:15) on Wednesday 5 June 2024 followed by a reception at the Pro Patria Legion between 3 - 5 p.m. Please RSVP for reception attendance NLT 31 May to: peterchancememorial@gmail.com
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the ALS society of Canada. (The Victoria Times Colonist 04 May 2024)
Sidney loses Second World War veteran at 103
"A Sailor's Life 1920 - 2001" by Peter Godwin Chance (auto-biography)
Ships served in: OTTAWA DIVISION RCNVR - Listed as a Midshipman, RCNVR (seniority 13 Jul 1939) (Navy List Oct 1939) HMCS ST LAURENT - Appointed to ST LAURENT in 1939 as a Midshipman, RCNVR (The Nauticapedia) * Training with the Royal Navy 14 Aug 1940, as Cadet, RCN. Appointed Midshipman, RCN (seniority 01 Jan 1941) (Navy List Mar 1941) HMS MAURITIUS - Served in MAURITIUS for sea training HMS LIDISDALE - Served in LIDISDALE in 1942 HMS ANSON - Served in ANSON in 1942 HMCS SKEENA - Appointed to SKEENA 08 Apr 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR (seniority 01Apr 1943) (Navy List Aug 1943). Appointed Lt, RCNVR (seniority 01 Feb 1944) Navy List May 1944). Survived the grounding / wreck of HMCS SKEENA on 25 Oct 1944 RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX 29 Nov 1944 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Jan 1945) HMCS GATINEAU - Appointed to GATINEAU as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Mar 1945) HMCS CARLETON - Appointed to CARLETON 18 Mar 1946 as a Lt, RCN, XO and Staff Officer (seniority 01 Feb 1944) (Navy List Jul 1946) * Listed as training with the Royal Navy as a Lt, RCN (Navy List Jan 1948) HMS DRYAD - Served in DRYAD in 1947 for Long Navigation Course HMS KETE - Served in KETE in 1947 for Air Controllers Course HMCS MAGNIFICENT - Appointed to MAGNIFICENT 28 Apr 1948 as a Lt (ND), RCN (Navy List Jul 1948) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX, Navigation Direction School 10 Oct 1949 as a Lt (ND), RCN (Navy List Jan 1950) HMCS CAYUGA - Appointed to CAYUGA 07 May 1951 as a Lt (ND), RCN (Navy List Jul 1951). Appointed to LCdr (ND), RCN (seniority 01 Feb 1952) and re-appointed to Cayuga 16 Jun 1942 (Navy List Jul 1952) HMCS ONTARIO - Appointed to ONTARIO 10 Aug 1952 as a LCdr (ND), RCN (Navy List Oct 1952) NAVAL HEADQUARTERS OTTAWA - Appointed to NHQ OTTAWA, Staff of director of Navigation and Direction 21 Sep 1953 as a LCdr (N), RCN (Navy List Jan 1954). Appointed Staff Officer Navigation (Navy List Jul 1954). Appointed Director of Navigation and Direction 27 Sep 1954 as a LCdr (N), RCN (Nay List Jul 1955) HMCS OUTREMONT - Appointed to OUTREMONT 08 May 1956 as an A/Cdr (N), RCN, CO (Navy List Jul 1956) HMCS SIOUX - Appointed to SIOUX 27 May 1957 as a Cdr, RCN (seniority 01 Jan 1957), CO (Navy List Jul 1957) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX, OIC Navigation Direction School 03 Jul 1958 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1959) HMCS SHEARWATER - Appointed to SHEARWATER 01 Apr 1960 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1961) Appointed XO (Navy List Oct 1961) TRI SERVICE - Appointed to Tri Service, Staff of Joint Staff NDHQ Ottawa 30 Jul 1962 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Oct 1962) CANADIAN FORCES HEADQUARTERS OTTAWA - Appointed to CFHQ OTTAWA, Deputy Secretary Defence Staff Administration 01 Dec 1964 as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Apr 1965) TRI SERVICE - Appointed to TRI SERVICE, Staff of SACLANT as a Cdr, RCN (Navy List Oct 1965) * Retired 1969
Peter and Margaret (Parker) Chance on their wedding day 13 Sep 1944 Margaret was a L/Tel in the WRNS
Lt Peter Chance and Wren L/Tel Margaret Parker, WRNS on HMCS SKEENA on their wedding day, 13 Sep 1944
Brief biography of Peter Chance
Article on Peter Chance's 100th Birthday Victoria Times Colonist 29 Nov 2020
Click on the above article to view a larger image
Gallery at CFB Esquimalt Museum named after Cdr (re'td) Peter Chance Victoria Times Colonist, 03 Jan 2021 Click on the above article to view a larger image
Source/Credit: The Crow’s Nest Scuttlebutt Winter/Spring 2024
Peter Chance memorial at Christ Church Cathedral brings joy
Before he died at 103, Peter Godwin Chance spent countless days at the pub in Sidney. When he couldn't walk, he invited his friends to his apartment.
"When Peter poured out a dram of scotch and handed the glasses around the conversations that brought joy and hope," said Rev. Denise Doerksen, Incumbent, Holy Trinity, North Saanich.
Chance died on April 9 at Royal Jubilee Hospital. A memorial service occurred on June 5 at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. At the memorial, Chance's family paid tribute, with his son Simon Chance giving a eulogy to honour his dad.
"He would always say, 'For goodness sake, be kind,'" Simon Chance said. "I am still hearing a lot of stories about my father."
Canadian family members and friends all paid tribute to Chance at Christ Church Cathedral.
Rev. Jeannine Friesen, the priest in charge of the service, who served as a Chaplin in the Canadian Armed Forces for ten years, said she encountered Chance at the various Battles of the Atlantic and always found him an engaging storyteller.
Well before his death, Chance served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) for 30 years, serving in the Second World War during the Battle of the Atlantic, the Dunkirk evacuation, and D-Day on June 6, 1944.
"Eighty years ago today, Peter was one of the thousands of Canadians engaged in Operation Overlord. As the troops and equipment made the trip across the English Channel," Friesen said.
In 1938, Chance won the Junior Figure Skating Champion of Canada. That same year, the Ottawa Division of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) was a midshipman – a year later, the war broke out.
He would be involved in some of the Second World War's most important battles and continue his service in The Korean War supporting the United Nations coastal operations on HMCS Cayuga.
Osgoode Hall, York University's Law School, would be the next stop for Chance, and he would gain the position of administrator where he would rub shoulders with members of the British Royal Family – including Queen Elizabeth II. He would then move his family west and spent 18 years as the BC/Yukon representative for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program.
Chance was many things: an author, a long-time volunteer with the ALS Society at the Saanich Peninsula, a recipient of the Knight of the Legion award and took control of a Cessna plane at 102. But for his son Simon, he was simply dad.
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