George Jones

Vice-Admiral George Clarence Jones, (24 October 1895 – 8 February 1946) was a Royal Canadian Navy vice admiral who served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 15 January 1944 to 28 February 1946.

Career Early career Jones joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1911 at the age of 15, entering the Royal Naval College of Canada (RNCC) in January. Not a top student, Jones was first sent to the Royal Navy cruiser for training in 1913, transferring to in 1914. During the First World War Jones joined in 1915 before performing his sub-lieutenant courses in 1916 at Portsmouth. In 1916, Jones served at the shore establishments HMS Victory II and and HMS Pelican. On 1 December 1916, Jones was made sub-lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy. On 1 January 1917, Jones was made acting lieutenant. The position became permanent on 1 June that year. In 1917, Jones transferred to the depot ship . It was during this period that the rivalry with Leonard W. Murray and R.I. Agnew began. Murray and Agnew used naval regulations to gain seniority on the Navy List, putting them closer to receiving commands than Jones. Agnew jumped over Jones in seniority. Walter Hose, the director of the Royal Canadian Navy at the time, sought to ease tensions among the three by giving Jones command of Patrician. However, he made Agnew Patricians first lieutenant in August 1921 and the results were poor. In 1922, Jones was made commanding officer of the destroyer . In 1923, Jones joined HMS Vivid III and transferred to to undergo the Royal Naval War Staff course. In 1924, Jones joined the battleship and wrote a letter in August to Hose requesting increased seniority on the Navy List due to the fact that he was unable to specialize and climb the ranks. Not long after Jones was promoted to lieutenant commander effective 1 January 1925, while Agnew remained a lieutenant for a further two-and-a-half months. Murray remained senior to Jones. Jones was then assigned to , followed up by a stint at Naval Service Headquarters in 1925. It was during this period that he earned the nickname "Jetty Jones", which came about during his stints in command of Ottawa and Assiniboine. The nickname was based on the idea that Jones' vessels remained in harbour more than other ships in the fleet. This was not the reality as Jones took his fair share of sailings, but did represent his growing unpopularity among the personnel of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Nelles liked Jones' ability to do staff work and got the permission from the Defence Minister, Angus L. MacDonald to bring him to Ottawa. Jones joined in Ottawa at the Naval Service Headquarters as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff beginning on 9 October 1942 and as a member of the Naval Board. Facing both internal dissent and external pressure, MacDonald reassigned Nelles to oversee the Canadian naval component of the upcoming invasion of Europe. In 1943 and became Chief of the Naval Staff. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in May 1943.

Upon assuming office, Jones drew up plans to dismiss and forcibly retire scores of former Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Naval Reserve officers in a purge. The dismissal of former Royal Navy officers was an effort by Jones to allow Canadian officers to prove themselves and to make the service more Canadian. It was also during his tenure that the issues that had plagued Nelles, such as fleet modernisation and training, were mostly resolved. On 9 May 1944, he was promoted to vice admiral.

Jones' advocated further ties with the United States Navy, believing that the future lied in hemispheric defence. In April 1945, MacDonald left the National Defence post and was replaced by a new minister, Douglas Abbott. Shortly after assuming the post, the Halifax riot took place, when citizens and sailors rioted after drinking establishments were closed in Halifax for the VE-Day celebration. This led to the dismissal of Rear Admiral Murray, who was Commander-in-Chief Northwest Atlantic, whom Jones blamed for the situation. Jones assumed the title Commander-in-Chief Northwest Atlantic in his place. Jones initially left Harry DeWolf in charge in Ottawa as acting Chief of Naval Staff and focused his attention on the Northwest Atlantic. This led to instability in Ottawa, as DeWolf did not have enough authority and eventually Rear Admiral Cuthbert Taylor was put in place in Ottawa while Jones continued to focus on the Northwest Atlantic. Following the war's end, demobilisation efforts were restricted by the lack of direction from Ottawa, an issue that was not resolved until Jones' successor took over.

Jones died in office in 1946. The cause of death was ruled to be a cerebral hemorrhage caused by hypertension. Companion level

WWI 1914-1918

WWI 1914-1918

WWI 1914-1918

WWII 1939-1945

WWII 1939-1945

with Overseas Service bar

WWII 1939-1945

Decoration awarded on 6 May 1935

Decoration awarded on 12 May 1937

Decoration awarded 3 August 1946 As per the Canada Gazette and on the 10 July 1946 in the London Gazette Commander level United States award

Decoration awarded 1 November 1946 Commander level France award

Decoration awarded on 1 December 1948 France award

Decoration awarded on 1 December 1948 Norwegian award