Harry George DeWolf, born on June 26, 1903, in Bedford, Nova Scotia, emerged from humble beginnings to become one of Canada’s most decorated and revered naval officers. Known as “Hard-Over Harry” for his daring ship-handling and unflinching courage, DeWolf’s 42-year career in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) spanned two world wars, the interwar years, and the early Cold War, leaving an indelible mark on Canada’s maritime history.
DeWolf’s passion for the sea was ignited in his youth, sailing the waters of Halifax Harbour and Bedford Basin near his hometown. At the age of 15, in 1918, he joined the RCN as a cadet at the Royal Naval College of Canada in Esquimalt, British Columbia, after the original Halifax-based school was destroyed in the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Graduating in 1921, DeWolf embarked on an exchange with Britain’s Royal Navy, serving aboard the battleship HMS Resolution. This early exposure to naval operations honed his skills and set the stage for his illustrious career. By 1924, he was promoted to sub-lieutenant and completed advanced training in gunnery, torpedoes, and navigation at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, England, before returning to Canada in 1925 to serve on the destroyer HMCS Patriot.
In 1928, DeWolf specialized in navigation at HMS Dryad in England, a skill that would prove invaluable in his wartime commands. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, he alternated between sea duties and staff appointments with both the RCN and Royal Navy, steadily building his reputation as a capable and determined officer.
The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 thrust DeWolf into the forefront of Canada’s naval efforts. Appointed commanding officer of the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent that year, he oversaw the RCN’s first shots of the conflict during Atlantic convoy escort duties. In 1940, DeWolf demonstrated his bravery and leadership during Operation Dynamo, aiding in the evacuation of British and French troops from Dunkirk. Later that year, he led one of the war’s largest rescues when St. Laurent saved over 850 survivors—many of them German and Italian prisoners of war—from the torpedoed passenger liner Arandora Star. These actions earned him two Mentions in Dispatches and cemented his status as a rising star in the RCN.
DeWolf’s most legendary chapter began in August 1943 when he assumed command of the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Haida. Known as the “Fightingest Ship in the Royal Canadian Navy,” Haida under DeWolf’s leadership became a terror to enemy vessels. Over the next 14 months, the ship was credited with sinking or damaging more than a dozen German warships, including three destroyers and a submarine. His aggressive tactics earned him the nickname “Hard-Over Harry,” a nod to his willingness to push Haida to its limits in combat.
One of DeWolf’s most celebrated feats occurred on April 29, 1944, in the English Channel. While patrolling with HMCS Athabaskan, Haida engaged German destroyers. During the battle, Athabaskan was torpedoed and sank after a devastating explosion. Despite the chaos and risk of mines or enemy air attack, DeWolf ordered Haida to lay smoke to shield the survivors, pursued and drove an enemy destroyer aground, then returned under cover of darkness to rescue 42 of Athabaskan’s crew. His courage in this daring operation earned him the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), while his skill in earlier engagements against German destroyers garnered the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
After the war, DeWolf’s career continued to flourish. He commanded the aircraft carriers HMCS Warrior and HMCS Magnificent from 1947 to 1948, adapting to the evolving nature of naval warfare. Promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1948, he served as Flag Officer Pacific Coast until 1950, then as Vice Chief of Naval Staff from 1950 to 1952. In 1952, he was posted to Washington, D.C., as Principal Military Adviser to the Canadian Ambassador, strengthening Canada’s military ties with the United States. In 1956, DeWolf reached the pinnacle of his career when he was promoted to Vice-Admiral and appointed Chief of the Naval Staff, a position he held until his retirement in 1960.
DeWolf’s wartime heroics and postwar leadership were recognized with an array of honors: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Officer of the U.S. Legion of Merit, France’s Légion d’honneur, and the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD), among others. Despite his accolades, he remained a humble figure, plagued throughout his career by seasickness—a personal challenge he overcame with characteristic resolve.
Following his retirement, DeWolf settled in Bermuda with his wife, spending summers in Ottawa, where he enjoyed golfing and fishing. He remained active in naval circles, supporting the RCN Benevolent Fund to aid retired sailors. DeWolf passed away on December 18, 2000, at the age of 97 in Ottawa. In 2001, his ashes were scattered at sea from HMCS Ville de Québec, a fitting tribute to a life defined by maritime service.
Harry DeWolf’s legacy endures in Canada’s naval heritage. HMCS Haida, now a National Historic Site and ceremonial flagship of the RCN, stands as a testament to his wartime triumphs. The RCN honored him further by naming its Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels the Harry DeWolf class, with the lead ship, HMCS Harry DeWolf, commissioned in 2021. Bedford’s DeWolf Park also bears his name, a local tribute to a hometown hero.