Robert Oliver | |
---|---|
Born | 17 March 1895 |
Died | 6 October 1980 |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | –1948 |
Rank | Vice admiral |
Commands held |
HMS Iron Duke HMS Devonshire HMS Excellent HMS Swiftsure |
Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross |
Vice Admiral Robert Don Oliver CB CBE DSC DL (17 March 1895 – 6 October 1980) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
Oliver served in World War I taking part in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914, fighting at Gallipoli in 1915 and then undertaking mine-laying off the German and Belgian coast. [1] Promoted to captain, he was given command of HMS Iron Duke in 1939. [2]
He also served in World War II and was commanding HMS Devonshire, [3] a heavy cruiser, on 21 November 1941 when he was informed that codebreakers had determined that German U-boats were going to be surfacing near him, to refuel from a merchant raider, the Hilfskreuzer (cruiser) Atlantis. Using the intelligence, Devonshire sunk Atlantis. [4] He later commanded the gunnery school HMS Excellent and then the cruiser HMS Swiftsure. [2]
After the War he was appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Weapons) and then Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff in 1946. [2] His last appointment, in 1947, was as Flag Officer commanding the 5th Cruiser Squadron, [2] before he retired on 26 September 1948 and was promoted to vice-admiral on the same day. [5]
In retirement he became Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburghshire. [6]
In 1928 he married Torfrida Lois Acantha Huddart; there were no children. [6] Following the death of his first wife, he married Mrs M.J. Glendinning van der Velde in 1965. [6]
Robert Oliver | |
---|---|
Born | 17 March 1895 |
Died | 6 October 1980 |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | –1948 |
Rank | Vice admiral |
Commands held |
HMS Iron Duke HMS Devonshire HMS Excellent HMS Swiftsure |
Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross |
Vice Admiral Robert Don Oliver CB CBE DSC DL (17 March 1895 – 6 October 1980) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
Oliver served in World War I taking part in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914, fighting at Gallipoli in 1915 and then undertaking mine-laying off the German and Belgian coast. [1] Promoted to captain, he was given command of HMS Iron Duke in 1939. [2]
He also served in World War II and was commanding HMS Devonshire, [3] a heavy cruiser, on 21 November 1941 when he was informed that codebreakers had determined that German U-boats were going to be surfacing near him, to refuel from a merchant raider, the Hilfskreuzer (cruiser) Atlantis. Using the intelligence, Devonshire sunk Atlantis. [4] He later commanded the gunnery school HMS Excellent and then the cruiser HMS Swiftsure. [2]
After the War he was appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Weapons) and then Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff in 1946. [2] His last appointment, in 1947, was as Flag Officer commanding the 5th Cruiser Squadron, [2] before he retired on 26 September 1948 and was promoted to vice-admiral on the same day. [5]
In retirement he became Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburghshire. [6]
In 1928 he married Torfrida Lois Acantha Huddart; there were no children. [6] Following the death of his first wife, he married Mrs M.J. Glendinning van der Velde in 1965. [6]