George Ralph Miles DSO, OBE, RCN
| Born | 26 Feb 1912 | ||
| Died | 19 Dec 1951 | (39) |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for George Ralph Miles, RCN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMCS Saguenay (D 79) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 8 Jul 1939 | 21 Apr 1941 |
| HMCS Athabaskan (i) (G 07) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 2 Feb 1943 | 22 Oct 1943 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMCS Saguenay (D 79)
23 Oct 1939
The British light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. H.R.G. Kinahan, RN) and the Canadian destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) intercept the German tanker Emmy Friedrich (4372 GRT) in the Yukatan Strait west of Tampico. When the British light cruiser HMS Caradoc (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, RN) also arrives on the scene the Germans scuttled their own ship to prevent her capture.
20 Oct 1940
The British merchant Sulaco is torpedoed and sunk about 360 miles west of Rockall in position 57º25'N, 25º00'W by the German submarine U-124. HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) picks up 1 survivor.
21 Oct 1940
HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) picks up 29 survivors from the Norwegian merchant Cubano thart was torpedoed and sunk the previous day south-west of Iceland in position 57º55'N, 24º57'W by the German submarine U-124.
1 Dec 1940
Around 0350 hours on 1 December 1940 the Italian submarine Argo (offsite link) torpedoes and damages the Canadian destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) about 300 nautical miles west of Ireland in position 54º40'N, 15º50'W. The bow was blown off and 21 of the crew lost their lives in this attack. HMCS Saguenay was escorting convoy HG-47 at the time. Saguenay was out of service for nearly 6 months (repairs were completed on 22 May 1941).
Destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (i) (G 07)
23 Aug 1943
On the 23th August 1943 the 40th Escort Group (Cdr. Dallison), consiting of the sloops HMS Landguard, HMS Bideford, HMS Hastings and the frigates HMS Exe, HMS Moyola and HMS Waveney were deployed on a u-boat hunt off Cape Ortegal. The whole operation was covered by the British light cruiser HMS Bermuda.
On the 25th August the Canadian 5th Support Group (Cdr. Tweed), consiting of the British frigates HMS Nene, HMS Tweed and the Canadian corvettes HMCS Calgary, HMCS Edmundston and HMCS Snowberry were deployed to relieve the 40th Escort Group. While this was in progress the ships were attacked at 1415 hrs by 14 Dornier Do-217's and 7 Ju-88's. with the new German weapon, the Henschel Glider Bombs, (the "Hs293 A-1"). Designed by the German Professor Herbert Wagner. HMS Landguard and HMS Bideford were the first of the Allied and R.N. ships to be attacked and damaged by them. This being the first time of their being brought into action against Allied ships. Several sailors were injured on HMS Bideford and one sailor was killed.
Another two days later on the 27th August 1943 the Canadian 5th Support group was relieved by the 1st Support group (Cdr. Brewer) consisting of the sloops HMS Pelican, HMS Egret and the frigates HMS Jed, HMS Rother, HMS Spey and HMS Evenlode. Also the covering cruiser HMS Bermuda was relieved by the Canadian destroyer HMCS Athabaskan and the British destroyer HMS Grenville. These ships were also attacked by the Germans. This time with 18 Dornier Do-217’s also carring Henschel Glider Bombs. HMCS Athabaskan was heavily damaged and HMS Egret was sunk with the loss of 194 of her crew. After this loss the u-boat hunt was blown off.