Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)

Sir Benjamin Bathurst
Sir Benjamin Bathurst
Born	27 May 1936 (age 85)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1953–1995
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Commands held	First Sea Lord; Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff; Commander-in-Chief Fleet; Chief of Fleet Support; Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training; Flag Officer, Second Flotilla; Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord; Director of Naval Air Warfare; HMS Minerva; HMS Ariadne; 819 Naval Air Squadron
Battles/wars	Bosnian War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Benjamin Bathurst GCB, DL (born 27 May 1936) is a former Royal Navy officer. After training as a pilot and qualifying as a helicopter instructor, Bathurst commanded a Naval Air Squadron and then two frigates before achieving higher command in the Navy. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1993 to 1995: in that capacity he advised the British Government on the deployment of Naval Support including Sea Harriers during the Bosnian War.

Early life[]

Bathurst is the son of Peter Bathurst and his wife Lady Elizabeth Ann Bathurst (née Temple-Gore-Langton).^[1] Generally known by his middle name of Benjamin,^[2] Bathurst was educated at Eton and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.^[3]

Naval career[]

Bathurst joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1953 and became a midshipman on 1 September 1955.^[4] During his early career he served in the minesweeper and, following promotion to sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1957 and to lieutenant on 1 February 1959,^[5] he qualified as a pilot in 1960.^[4] He next served in the ship's flight on the destroyer HMS Devonshire and then qualified as a helicopter instructor in 1964.^[4] He served as an exchange officer with the Royal Australian Navy in 1965 and, following promotion to lieutenant commander on 1 February 1967,^[6] he became senior pilot of 820 Naval Air Squadron on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle.^[4] He was given command of 819 Naval Air Squadron in February 1969 and then joined the at the Ministry of Defence in early 1970.^[4] Promoted to commander on 30 June 1970, he became executive officer on the destroyer HMS Norfolk in February 1971.^[4] He joined the at the Ministry of Defence in February 1973.^[4]

Promoted to captain on 31 December 1974, Bathurst took command of a Leander-class frigate, HMS Ariadne in March 1975.^[4] He became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in May 1976 and Commanding Officer of HMS Minerva as well as Captain of the 5th Frigate Squadron in September 1978.^[4] He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1981 and became Director of Naval Air Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in January 1982.^[4]

Sea Harrier, an aircraft type deployed by Bathurst during the Bosnian War

Promoted to rear admiral on 10 October 1983,^[7] on appointment as Flag Officer, Second Flotilla, Bathurst went on to be Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training at the Ministry of Defence in May 1985.^[4] He was promoted to vice admiral on 22 December 1986,^[8] on appointment as Chief of Fleet Support.^[4] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1987 Birthday Honours,^[9] and promoted to full admiral on 21 April 1989, on appointment as Commander-in-Chief Fleet which also carried with it the NATO appointments of Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic.^[4] Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1991 New Year Honours,^[10] he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in March 1991 and First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in March 1993.^[11] As First Sea Lord he advised the British Government on the deployment of Naval Support including Sea Harriers during the Bosnian War.^[12] He was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on 10 July 1995 on his retirement.^[11]

Later career[]

In retirement Bathurst became a Non-Executive Director of British International Helicopters.^[13] He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset on 27 August 1996^[14] and became Vice-Lord Lieutenant on 18 February 1999.^[15] He is a younger brother of Trinity House and a Liveryman of Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.^[3] His interests include gardening, shooting and fishing.^[3]

Family[]

Bathurst married Sarah Christian Pandora Peto, daughter of Major John Peto and granddaughter of Sir Basil Peto, 1st Baronet, in 1959.^[1] They have one son (Lieutenant General Sir Benjamin Bathurst KCVO, CBE) and three daughters.^[3]

References[]

^ ^a ^b "Admiral Sir David Benjamin Bathurst". The Peerage.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
^ Mosley, p. 215
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Heathcote, p.22
^ "No. 41831". The London Gazette. 29 September 1959. p. 6137.
^ "No. 44238". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 January 1967. p. 1153.
^ "No. 49496". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1983. p. 12932.
^ "No. 50740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 December 1986. p. 15867.
^ "No. 50948". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1987. p. 2.
^ "No. 52382". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 2.
^ ^a ^b Heathcote, p.23
^ "British units deployed to Bosnia". Britain's Small Wars. Archived from the original on 11 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
^ "Admiral Bathurst awarded honorary degree". University of Greenwich Biography. 19 July 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
^ "No. 54507". The London Gazette. 27 August 1996. p. 11443.
^ "No. 55413". The London Gazette. 25 February 1999. p. 2247.

Sources[]

Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-835-6.
Mosley, Charles (1999). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, volume 1. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. ISBN 978-1579580834.

External links[]

Imperial War Museum Interview

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Anthony Tippet	Chief of Fleet Support 1986–1989	Succeeded by Sir Jock Slater
Preceded by Sir Julian Oswald	Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1989–1991
Preceded by Sir Richard Vincent	Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff 1991–1993
Preceded by Sir Julian Oswald	First Sea Lord 1993–1995

[peerage-1] "Admiral Sir David Benjamin Bathurst". The Peerage.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.

[2] Mosley, p. 215

[WW-3] Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8

[heath22-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Heathcote, p.22

[5] "No. 41831". The London Gazette. 29 September 1959. p. 6137.

[6] "No. 44238". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 January 1967. p. 1153.

[7] "No. 49496". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1983. p. 12932.

[8] "No. 50740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 December 1986. p. 15867.

[9] "No. 50948". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1987. p. 2.

[10] "No. 52382". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 2.

[heath23-11] Heathcote, p.23

[12] "British units deployed to Bosnia". Britain's Small Wars. Archived from the original on 11 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.

[Greenwich-13] "Admiral Bathurst awarded honorary degree". University of Greenwich Biography. 19 July 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2012.

[14] "No. 54507". The London Gazette. 27 August 1996. p. 11443.

[15] "No. 55413". The London Gazette. 25 February 1999. p. 2247.

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Sir Benjamin Bathurst
Born	(1936-05-27) 27 May 1936 (age 85)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1953–1995
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Commands held	First Sea Lord Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Commander-in-Chief Fleet Chief of Fleet Support Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training Flag Officer, Second Flotilla Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Director of Naval Air Warfare HMS Minerva HMS Ariadne 819 Naval Air Squadron
Battles/wars	Bosnian War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath