His Excellency Gordon Oscar Wells – Jamaican Diplomat and Canadian Naval Officer

The University Naval Training Division has produced an accomplished group of alumni that includes Lieutenants-Governor, Senators, MPs and MLAs, titans of industry and academia, judges, senior civil servants and many others since its inception in 1943. Former members tend to keep track of former shipmates and, from time to time, recount anecdotes of interest. The UNTD was unusual in that several of its members came from Commonwealth countries who were studying in Canada.

UNTD Officer Cadets Celebrating Track and Field Victories

Gordon Wells, who came from Jamaica, was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) RCN(R) (With seniority dated 02/01/1953). He served in HMCS Cataraqui for UNTD 1952. He served in HMCS Stadacona for Training (Cadet Captain) 1955. He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant RCN(R). He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN(R). (He was released.)

Wells was the son of Sutherland Wells, a Kingston Harbour Pilot. After his time at Queen's University in Canada he was appointed as a Cadet (Administrative) in the Jamaica Government Service. He was appointed as an Administrative Officer, Government of Jamaica 1956-58. He served as Trade Officer, West Indies Commission (Montreal QC) 1959-60. He was appointed as the Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Kingston Jamaica 1962-64. He was appointed as the First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations (in New York) 1964-66.

He was appointed as the Counsellor (Economic and Trade) in the Jamaican High Commission Trinidad 1966–1970. He served as Minister/Counsellor (Economics and Trade) in the Jamaican Embassy (Washington) 1970-71. He served as Executive Director of the Jamaica National Export Corporation 1971-73. He was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs 1973-75. He was appointed as the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister 1975-79. He was appointed as the Jamaican High Commissioner for Trinidad 1979-81. He served as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Public Service 1981-1986. He was a Past Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission and Past Advisor to Government on Public Service Reform to the Government of Jamaica.

This is the record of an illustrious career, to be sure, but he is remembered as one of a trio of UNTD (University Naval Training Division) Cadet Captains who had a unique encounter with an interesting personality whom at the time did not realize that they were in the presence of greatness. In his book, Spindrift: UNTiDy Tales of Officer Cadets, Commander Robert Williamson recounts a fascinating story of the encounter as told by Wells:

The three Cadet Captains were: Gordon Wells, Jim McKeen and Bill Milne. Bill Milne later added some additional background to fill out the rest of the story:

In 2004 Wells was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law degree by Queen's University. He is retired in Kingston Jamaica.

Author’s Note: I am indebted to Commander Robert Williamson, Bill Milne and Bill Clearihue for the background of the story and permission to reprint material.