Admiral Sir William Donough O'Brien, KCB, DSC (13 November 1916 – 19 February 2016) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet from 1970 to 1971.
Sir William O'Brien | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Admiral Sir William O'Brien in 1970 | |
| Born | 13 November 1916 Faversham, Kent, England |
| Died | 19 February 2016 (aged 99) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1930–1971 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Western Fleet (1970–71) Far East Fleet (1967–69) Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers (1966–67) HMS Hermes (1961–64) 8th Destroyer Squadron (1958–59) HMS Cheviot (1958–59) HMS Manxman (1955–57) HMS Venus (1948–49) HMS Cottesmore (1943–44) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Naval career
editEducated at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth, O'Brien was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1930.[1] He served in the Second World War, during which he served with the naval escort of the fateful PQ 17 convoy.[2] He was promoted to captain on 30 June 1955.[3]
In the early 1960s, O'Brien served as Director of Naval Plans at the Ministry of Defence under Lord Louis Mountbatten.[4] He was then appointed Naval Secretary in 1964.[5] He was appointed Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers in 1966, Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1967, and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet in 1970.[1] He retired in 1971.[1]
Later life
editIn retirement, O'Brien became Chairman of the King George's Fund for Sailors.[1] In 1975 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).[6] He became Chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal and, after its re-opening by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990, he retired from this post.[7] He also held the posts of Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom. He died after a brief illness on 19 February 2016, aged 99.[8]
Family
editIn 1943, O'Brien married Rita Micallef: they went on to have one son and two daughters.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Debrett's People of Today 1994
- ^ Clarkson, Jeremy (2 January 2014). "PQ 17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster". BBC.
- ^ "No. 40540". The London Gazette. 19 July 1955. p. 4172.
- ^ Journal 20, Page 98 RAF Museum Historical Society
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1965
- ^ Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889) Archived 31 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Day Out: From Cherhill to Devizes BBC News, 25 November 2009
- ^ "O'Brien". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2016.