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Robert Don Oliver

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Robert Oliver

Born17 March 1895
Died6 October 1980
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service–1948
RankVice admiral
CommandsHMS Iron Duke
HMS Devonshire
HMS Excellent
HMS Swiftsure
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Cross

Robert Don Oliver (17 March 1895 – 6 October 1980) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.

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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]

Family

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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]

References

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  1. ^ National Maritime Museum
  2. ^ a b c d Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ^ HMS Devonshire at www.uboat.net
  4. ^ Churchill Society
  5. ^ "No. 38461". The London Gazette. 19 November 1948. p. 6076.
  6. ^ a b c Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945
Military offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Sir Tom Phillips
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
1946–1947
Vacant
Title next held by
Sir Edward Evans-Lombe