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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
WATT, Ernest Frederick Balmer - He was the son of Arthur Balmer Watt and Gertrude Hogg Balmer Watt. He moved to Edmonton AB early in his life. He was educated in Edmonton. In 1918 he was a reporter with the Edmonton Journal. He was a clerk at the time of his recruitment into the navy. He worked as a reporter on the Edmonton Journal, 1920-1928. He was the writer of articles and books. After his war time service he was an Information Officer, Department of Health and Welfare. He was the author of poetry basd on his war services and a recording of his work that sold more than 20,000 copies - "Who Dare to Live" (1943). He was the author of "A Great Bear Journey" and the story of the Naval Control of Shipping, "In All Respects Ready" (Source: The Nauticapedia)
Boarding Party Officer LCdr Ernest Watt, RCNVR
Citation for award of M.B.E.:
WATT, Ernest Frederick Balmer (Ted), LCdr, Member - Order of the British Empire (MBE), RCNVR / Senior Boarding Officer Halifax - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 5 January 1946 and London Gazette of 1 January 1946.
"In 1940, Lieutenant-Commander Watt conceived the idea of using the Boarding Party, which had been organized primarily for checking ships before proceeding in convoy to the United Kingdom, to encourage the general morale of Merchant Seamen. From this idea, the system quickly spread to all Canadian Ports and became a very potent and valuable factor in the general handling of Merchant Seamen. Lieutenant-Commander Watt was responsible for the training of all Boarding Officers and Ratings, and their undoubted success was largely due to the spirit which he infused and maintained in them, throughout the war."
Ships served in: * Enlisted in the RNCVR 15 Feb 1917 * Served in the Overseas Division HM Drifter AZRAEL - Served in Azrael in 1917 HMS CHATHAM - Served in CHATHAM for Seaman Gunner's badge. HM Trawler HERCULES - Served in HURCULES in 1917 * Appointed LS, RNCVR in 1917 HMS CORNWALL - served in CORNWALL for passage to Canada * Demobilized Dec 1917 * Enlisted in the RCNVR * Appointed A/SLt, RCNVR in 1923 * Appointed Lt, RCNVR in 1925 * Released. (Source for pre-Second World War Service - Blatherwick.net) * Mobilized for Second World War * Appointed Lt, RCNVR (seniority 21 Jul 1940) HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA 26 Aug 1940 as Staff of Naval Control Service Officer as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Feb 1941) * Appointed A/LCdr 01 Jul 1942 (Navy List Aug 1943) NSHQ OTTAWA - Appointed to NSHQ 06 Dec 1943 Trade Division for Duty with D.T.D as a LCdr, RCNVR (Navy List Feb 1944) * Appointed LCdr (seniority 01 Jan 1944) (Navy List Feb 1944) * Transferred to the RCN(R) (Navy List Apr 1946) NSHQ OTTAWA - Appointed to NSHQ staff of Directorate of Naval Information as a LCdr, RCN(R) (SB) (Navy List Apr 1946). Appointed Add'l 16 Oct 1948 (Navy List Jan 1949) * Appointed Cdr, RCN(R) (seniority 01 Jul 1949) (Navy List Jul 1949) * Transferred to the RCN * Appointed Cdr (SB) (SSA) (seniority 01 Jul 1949) on 01 Aug 1951 (Navy List Jan 1952) NSHQ OTTAWA - Appointed to NSHQ 16 Oct 1948 as Staff Officer (Psychological Warfare) (SO (PW)) as a Cdr (SB) (SSA), RCN (Navy List Oct 1954) HMCS CARLETON (Retired List) as a Cdr (SB), RCN(R) (seniority 01 Jul 1949) (Navy List Jul 1956) * Last noted on the Retired List at HMCS CARLETON as a Cdr (SB), RCN(R) (Navy List Jan 1960)
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