| Sir Benjamin Bathurst | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 May 1936 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1953–1995 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held |
|
| 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 a frigate 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]
[]
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 HMS Woolaston 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 Directorate of Naval Recruiting 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 Directorate of Naval Air Warfare 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 Captain 5th Frigate Squadron in HMS Minerva 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]
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 and three daughters.[3]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Admiral Sir David Benjamin Bathurst". The Peerage.com. http://www.thepeerage.com/p7716.htm#i77156. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ↑ Mosley, p. 215
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 Heathcote, p.22
- ↑ "No. 41831". 29 September 1959. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41831/page/
- ↑ "No. 44238". 27 January 1967. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44238/page/
- ↑ "No. 49496". 3 October 1983. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49496/page/
- ↑ "No. 50740". 8 December 1986. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50740/page/
- ↑ "No. 50948". 12 June 1987. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50948/page/
- ↑ "No. 52382". 28 December 1990. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52382/page/
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Heathcote, p.23
- ↑ "British units deployed to Bosnia". Britain's Small Wars. http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Bosnia/bosnia-units.html. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ↑ "Admiral Bathurst awarded honorary degree". University of Greenwich Biography. 19 July 2004. http://w3.gre.ac.uk/pr/releasearchive/A%201000.htm. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ↑ "No. 54507". 27 August 1996. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54507/page/
- ↑ "No. 55413". 25 February 1999. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/55413/page/
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.
The original article can be found at Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer) and the edit history here.