Admiral W. O. Story
Peter W. Story (pwstory@ripnet.com) has contributed this short biography of his distinguished grandfather.
Born in Ireland
Admiral Story was a native of Bingfield, County Cavan Ireland, where he was born in April, 1859, the son of Joseph Story. He chose the British Navy for his career, joining H.M.S. Britannia, the training ship, at Dartmouth in 1871. Four years later lie got his
first baptism of fire; participating in the Perak expedition in 1875-6, He was again in action in Egypt in 1882, and as a sub-lieutenant during the fighting at Suakin in 1885-6, when that. Anglo-Egyptian port on the Red Sea was the base for the important operations that. broke the power of the Mahdi but could not save Gordon at, Khartoum -- Story was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry in action and promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He received the Perak and the Suakin decorations and the Khedive Star.
A Distiguished Career
Gaining promotion steadily he was made a commander In 1896 and was second-in-command of H.M.S. Resolution of the Home Fleet. Afterwards he was in command of H.M.S. Hearty of the North Sea Fisheries Service, from which he was promoted to the rank: of post captain in 1901. He was given command consecutively of the British cruisers Narcissus, Grafton and Cumberland. Subsequently he was in command of the battleships Canopus and London.
Foreign Decorations
While he was in command of H.M.S. Cumberland, Captain Story received the Legion of Honour, Third Class, from the President of the French Republic and the Naval Order of Merit from the King of Spain. He later served as district captain of Coast Guards on the East Coast being promoted to the rank: of rear-admiral in 1911. The following year, Admiral Story retired from the navy and came to settle in Canada taking up residencein Guelph, Ontario.
A Second Career
On the outbreak of the Great-War (1914-18), Admiral Story, still a vigorous old sea dog, volunteered his services to the Canadian Government. Loaned by the British naval service to Canada, Admiral Story was appointed Admiral Superintendent of Esquimalt Dockyard, the Canadian naval base on the Pacific Coast, an important rendezvous for British and Allied ships during the war.
Further Promotion
In April, 1917, he was promoted , from Rear-Admiral to Vice-Admiral, and commanded the station until February 1918. The Japanese fleet refitted at Esquimalt during the war, and in recognition of his services to the Japanese navy, Admiral Story was decorated with the Order of The Rising Sun from the Japanese Emperor.
In February, 1918, Admiral Story was recalled by the Canadian Government from Esquimalt and appointed Admiral Superintendent of the Halifax Dockyard, where he continued to render valuable service to the Empire. At the conclusion of the war, King George V conferred on him the order of Commander of the British Empire. Once more Admiral Story retired from active service, with the rank of Admiral and went back to Guelph to reside.
After WWI
He still maintained his interest, in the sea, and was appointed honourary supervisor or the Navy League Sea Cadets, traveling throughout Canada inspecting the 34 units that existed from coast to coast. In 1934 he moved to Montreal to retire once more, but by 1936 his health had begun to fail. He had to relinquish the active supervision of the Sea Cadets, but he continued to act, as honorary adviser to the National headquarters of the Sea Cadets up to the time of his death. He died in 1938.
Historian Jack Arrowsmith posted the following on MARHST-L in September 2003:
Looking at my old notes I found the following: STORY. William Oswald, (b:1859 - UK) Cdt [15.1.1872] Mid [19.6.1874] RN, HMS MODESTE, S/Lt [20.6.1878] HMS MOSQUITO 1882, Lt [8.9.1882] HMS ACHILLES 1883, HMS DRYAD 1884, HMS INDUS 1885, HMS OPAL Cr, 1886, HMS KATOOMBA 1891, HMS BOSCOWEN 1894, HMS COLOSUS 1898, HMS HEARTY CO, 1900, Cdr [30.6.1898] HMS RESOLUTION BB, 1896, Capt [1.1.02] HMS NARCISSUS CO, 1903, HMS GRAFTON CO, 1905, HMS LONDON BB, CO, 1907, HMS CANOPUS BB, CO, 1908, RAdm [18.09.11] RN(ret) HMC Dky Esquimalt, Supt, (12.10.14-?) VAdm, [27.4.17] HMC Dky Halifax, Supt, (1.2.18-?)
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