Charles Herbert Little
Commander Charles Herbert Little RCN, FRCGS (December 11, 1907 - January 10, 2004) - World War Two Canadian Director of Naval Intelligence and author
Charles Herbert (Herbie) Little was born December 11 1907 and was raised in Mount Forest, Ontario. He won scholarships to Upper Canada College (graduating in 1926) and Trinity College, University of Toronto (class of 1930) where he majored in German and played ice hockey, football, and cricket. He was a member of the Beta Psi fraternity.
He was offered a contract with the Montreal Maroons Ice Hockey team but decided to continue his studies instead.
He was selected as a Rhodes scholar and continued Germanic studies at Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating in 1932. While there he was captain of the Oxford Ice Hockey club that won the Spengler Cup three years in a row.
On his return to Canada, he married Ruth B. Harrison of Rothesay, New Brunswick. He taught at Upper Canada College until he joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939.
During the war he served as Director of Naval Intelligence on the Naval Staff. Because of his position he was one of the few Canadians to handle Ultra decrypts. After the defeat of Germany he was allowed to enter combat and was sent to join the British Pacific Fleet.
He remained in the Navy until 1959 during which time he helped develop the University Naval Training Division and the Regular Officer Training Plan.
After leaving the Navy he became a federal Civil Servant. From 1964 to 1971 he was Chief Editor of the Royal Commission on Pilotage.
He wrote ten historical books, a book of poetry and numerous articles. He was a lifelong contributor to the Canadian Geographical Society Journal. He was made a fellow of the society in 1969 (FRCGS). He was given an award by the Spanish government for his history of Spanish exploration of the west cost of Canada. He was National President of the Canadian Authors' Association from 1972 to 1975 and was made Honorary President in 2001. He was president of the Canadian Writers' Foundation from 1978 to 2001 and was Honorary President thereafter.
In 1977 he was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal.
In 1991 he was awarded the Admirals' Medal.
He died in Ottawa on January 10, 2004 at the age of 96. He was burried at Frenhill Cemetery in Saint John, New Brunswick.
