Landymore was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-commander on 1 May 1947[3] and served as gunnery officer aboard HMCS Uganda, where he earned a Mention in Despatches (MID). He was then stationed as staff gunnery officer at Naval Service Headquarters in Ottawa.[1] He was promoted to commander on 1 July 1949[3] and given command of the Tribal-class destroyer destroyer HMCS Iroquois, where he was awarded a second mention-in-despatches. He was promoted to acting captain on 14 June 1952.[3] He commanded Iroquois for the duration of the Korean War from 21 October 1951 to 31 October 1953.[1]
Landymore was promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 1 January 1953,[3] and was posted to a variety of stations throughout the remainder of the 1950s, including the position of Commander Canadian Destroyers Far East when he was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).[1] In 1958 Landymore was given command of the light aircraft carrierHMCS Bonaventure,[1] the flagship of the east coast fleet.
He was promoted to commodore on 1 October 1959[3] and served as chief of staff to the Flag Officer Atlantic Coast, until 1962. He was promoted to rear-admiral on 1 November 1962[3] and served as Flag Officer Pacific Coast, from 1962 to 1964 and then as Flag Officer Atlantic Coast from 1964 to 1966. In January 1966 Landymore was appointed the first Commander of Maritime Command, and thus commander of all naval forces, as the position of Chief of the Naval Staff had been abolished in 1964.[1]
Landymore became embroiled in "a bitter public disagreement" with the Minister of National Defence[5] over the unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force, to form the Canadian Armed Forces, and resigned from the RCN on 19 July 1966 (effective 5 April 1967).[1]
Bruce Forsyth writes Robert Caldwell wrote in his 2006 book The Admirals: Canada's Senior Naval Leadership in the Twentieth Century, that Landymore was "popular, admired by all ranks, and is remembered as being a forthright, four-square, hands-on commander and staff officer."[6]
Honours
Wall of Honour, Royal Military College of Canada
He was awarded an MID in the London Gazette of 1 January 1946 and Canada Gazette of 5 January, in recognition of his service to Uganda. He was awarded the Naval General Service Medal with Palestine bar for his service to Emerald for training during his Palestine campaign service in 1937. He was appointed an OBE and an MID for his Korean War service as commanding officer of Iroquois. In retirement, as chairman of the Board of Grace Hospital Halifax, Nova Scotia he was awarded the Salvation Army Cross of the Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service. He is a 2010 induction to the Wall of Honour at the Royal Military College of Canada.[7]
Awards and decorations
Landymore's personal awards and decorations include the following:
^Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 20 February 1954. “Captain Landymore, throughout two tours of duty as Commander, Canadian Destroyers, Far East, in Korean Waters, has set a fine example of leadership and courage. As Commanding Officer Her Majesty Canadian Destroyer HMCS Iroquois(G89), he has on several occasions engaged enemy shore batteries, and maintained an efficient blockade in enemy waters. His devotion to duty has been most marked."
^“Captain Landymore, during 5 1/2 months in command of HMCS Iroquois(G89) in the Korean war area, has led his ship many times into action displaying much resource and devotion to duty. The spirit and cheerfulness of his ship's company when damaged in action were very commendable."
Further reading
Burke, David P. "Hellyer and Landymore: The Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces and an Admiral's Revolt." American Review of Canadian Studies 8.2 (1978): 3-27.
Milner, Marc. "Landymore, William Moss", in The Canadian Encyclopedia, Volume 2, p. 1173. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1988.
Ross, Richard G. "A Paradigm in Defense Organization: Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces" ARMY LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT CENTER FORT LEE VA, 1968online.
Canada
Royal Canadian Navy
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