Carling, John Burleigh Chapleau

In 1943 John commenced active duty in the Canadian Navy in 1943 at the rank of Seaman, and retired as a Commander 32 years later.

From 1944 to 1945 he served in the Battle of the Atlantic on mid-ocean convoy escort duty.

From 1946 to 1947 he served with the British Royal Navy in the Asia-Pacific and United Kingdom.

From 1952 to 1953 he completed eighteen consecutive months of duty in combat zones aboard three ships during the Korean War.

From 1954 to 1955 he was appointed as the Aide to the Naval Board of Canada and as Personal Aide to the Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa.

From 1963 to 1966 he subsequently served as Naval Strategic and Tactical Command and Control Communications Plans Officer at NATO Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), Norfolk, Virginia. Between these appointments, he commanded three warships during the Cold War, serving as Commanding Officer from 1956 to 1957, 1959 to 1960, and 1966 to 1967. Following his retirement from the military, he worked at National Sea Products, training Masters and Mates for the company’s large stern trawlers from 1974 to 1976.

He then served as Business Administrator at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart School in Halifax from 1977 to 1989.

He was appointed as a Probationary Sub-Lieutenant RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/02/1944).

In 1944 he served in HMCS Kings (Officer Training Establishment).

He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCNVR (With seniority dated 15/07/1944).

In 1944 he served in HMCS Avalon for RCN Barracks.

In 1944 he served in HMCS Tillsonburg. (Transferred to RCN).

He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 15/07/1945).

In 1946 he served in HMCS New Liskeard as Executive Officer.

In 1946 he served with the Royal Navy for Qualifying Courses.

In 1947 he se served in HMCS Stadacona.

In 1948 he served in RCN Brracks Halifax for Communications Courses.

In 1948 he served in NHQ for Staff of Directorate of Naval Communications.

In 1950 he served in HMCS Stadacona.

In 1952 he served in HMCS Iroquois as Communications Officer.

In 1953 he served in HMCS Athabaskan.

He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 15/07/1953).

In 1953 he served in HMCS Haida.

In 1953 he served in HMCS Cornwallis for Communications School.

He served in NHQ as Flag Lieutenant-Commander to the Naval Board 1954.

He was appointed as an Aide-de-Camp.

In 1956 he served in HMCS Huron as Communications Officer.

He served in HMCS Ste Therese (In command) 1959.

He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1960).

In 1960 he served in NHQ.

He served on Staff of SACLANT 1963.

He served in HMCS Nipigon (II) (In command) 1966. (He was released.) (He was qualified for communications duties and qualified to command a frigate or destroyer.)

In 1984 he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Saint Mary’s University, and in 1993, a Master of Arts in Atlantic Canada Studies and Sociology.