CP Ships - Notable Captains

Notable Captains

• Ronald Niel Stuart VC DSO RD RNR (1886–1954) was highly decorated for his service in the Royal Navy during the first World War I. In addition to his British decorations, he was honoured with the French Croix de Guerre and the United States' Navy Cross while serving in the Royal Navy during the First Battle of the Atlantic. The remainder of his naval career was spent with Canadian Pacific. A special warrant was written in 1927 which allowed him to fly the Blue Ensign from any ship, mercantile or military, which he commanded. In 1934, he was named Commodore of the CPS fleet and was placed in command of the 42,000 ton liner RMS Empress of Britain on her transatlantic route. In 1937, he was promoted to company superintendent, a role followed by the job of general manager at Canadian Pacific's London office. He retained this job for 13 years, including through the difficult experiences of World War II when London's dockyards were badly damaged by the London Blitz. During this period, he was made a part-time naval aide-de-camp to King George VI in 1941 – a position he held part–time throughout World War II.
• Captain Sir Samuel Robinson KBE (1870–1958) served 37 years at sea on Canadian Pacific vessels. He earned international acclaim as captain of the RMS Empress of Australia which was at Yokohama in Tokyo Bay during the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. He would be credited with saving the ship, his crew and passengers, and more than 3,000 others during the unfolding catastrophe. Robinson's honours included Commander of the British Empire (CBE); Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE); Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan); Order of St John of Jerusalem, the Silver Medal (UK); Lloyd's Medal for Meritorious Service (UK); Medal of Honour, Red Ribbon (Japan); Order of the White Elephant (Siam); Cross of the Second Class of the Order of Naval Merit (with white badge) (Spain).
• Captain John Wallace Thomas CBE (1888–1965) served with distinction in both first and second World Wars. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his handling of the RMS Empress of Scotland during an attack by the Luftwaffe off the coast of Ireland on November 9, 1940. Captain Thomas was the only member of the Canadian merchant navy to have been honoured with the CBE during that war.