Captain Arthur Francis Peers - Royal Canadian Navy Group

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An amazing group! Named to Captain Arthur Francis Peers, who had dual service in the Royal Navy. Peers served in the RCN until he retired in 1958. Peers received the Order of the British Empire Commendation on January 8, 1944. Peers was born (14/11/1898) in London, United Kingdom and died (9/6/1966) in Vancouver, Canada.

This group includes his Imperial: Midshipman’s Dirk, Lieutenant-Commander Epaulette and Bicorn Cap with Belt and Box along with his Second World War: Belt, Sword and two bags and Capitan Shoulder Board. Most are “Gieves” marked and/or Named. Also include with this grouping is a ¼ inch worth of documentation.

By March 1949, a “Mutiny” / “Collective mass disobedience” (Mainguy Report/Commission) occurred within the Royal Canadian Navy and specifically on three Canadian War Ships (HMCS Athabaskan - Feb 26, 1949 | HMCS Crescent - March 15, 1949 | HMCS Magnificent - March 20, 1949). These “Incidents” were the culmination of a series of challenges and moral issues that the senior staff were already trying to address internally. Peers well aware of the issues had established and chaired the Advancement and Conditions of Service committee for the Royal Canadian Navy in early 1948. The committee concluded their dissatisfaction as to why the extant Trade Group system was unsatisfactory to the RCN, with regards to their equality of pay and advancement in the RCN branches and how it led to the RCN becoming the lowest paid service branches. The committee’s report was sent for approval and by 1949 there was little to no improvement, leading to the “incidents”.