Our Family History
The Genealogy of the Story Family
Admiral William Oswald Story
1859 - 1938 (78 years)
William Oswald Story
Article in The Daily Colonist 1918
Admiral Story leaving station
Received instructions from Ottawa on Sunday and goes east tomorrow - will be much missed here.
Vice Admiral W. O. Story who was appointed by the Dominion Government in October, 1914, just about three months after the outbreak of war in Europe has received instructions from Ottawa and will leave XXXXX
The news has come with scarcely more surprise to the Admiral's immediate friends than to himself, as it was only on Sunday last that he received the message from Ottawa. It is understood that although nothing can be made public yet as to his ultimate destination, he himself is in full possession of the facts and is not leaving under "sealed" instructions, as might be inferred from the secrecy enforced in the circumstances.
His career
Identified with the service since 1871, Vice-Admiral Story is 58 years of age and a native of Bingfield, County Cavan, Ireland. While a midshipmen he was with the Perak expedition in the Malay Peninsula and was in Egypt in 1882 and that Suakin in 1884. As commander he was with H.M.S. Hearty in special service in connection with the fisheries. As captain he was with H.M.S. Grafton and H.M.S. Cumberland.
In the same capacity he was with the battleships Canopus and London. While captain of H.M.S. Cumberland he was made an officer of the Legion of Honor by the President of the French Republic and also was given the Spanish and Naval Order of Merit by the king of Spain.
Had retired
Two years before the war he retired but on the outbreak of hostilities with Germany he offered his services to the Dominion Government, and when accepted left his home at Guelph, Ont., to assume command at Esquimalt.
This was the first time that he had ever been here, and to a Colonist reporter yesterday he stated that it was with very great regret he was forced to leave a place where he had made so many warm friends and found his duties so pleasant. It is with just as keen regret that the people of Victoria and of the Esquimalt Station will bid him adieu, as in the three and a half years of his residence here he has shown splendid public spirit and has lent himself to the furtherance and advancement of many excellent institutions. His popularity with both senior and junior service was testified to only last week when he was unanimously elected president of the Army and Navy Veterans. He has shown himself keenly interested in the welfare of the sailor and seamen alike, and has always taken an active part in the furtherance of the Seamen's Institute and the Sailors and the Sailor's Home movement. His innate love of clean sport has made in a consistent patron of all such events held in connection with the navy. He is approval and support of the National Volunteer movement was outspoken from the commencement, and he has been prominently identified with all manner of patriotic undertakings since taking up his residence here. Mrs. Story has proved herself and active war-worker, among the several organizations in which her retirement will be regretted being the Esquimalt Chapter, I.O.D.E.
On April 27, 1917, Admiral Story was promoted from rear to vice-admiral, this being in recognition of the very excellent ability he had shown in carrying out his duties here.
| Date | 1918 |
| Linked to | Admiral William Oswald Story |