Robin Durnford-Slater: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Royal Navy Admiral (1902–1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Sir Robin Durnford-Slater
|honorific_prefix = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|name = Sir Robin Durnford-Slater
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCB}}
|birth_date=9 July 1902<ref name="birth">''India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947''</ref>
|birth_date=9 July 1902<ref name="birth">''India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947''</ref>
|death_date={{death-date and age|28 June 1984|19 July 1902}}
|death_date={{death-date and age|28 June 1984|19 July 1902}}
Line 11: Line 14:
|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
|allegiance= {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
|serviceyears= 1923–1961
|serviceyears= 1916–1961
|rank= [[Admiral (United Kingdom)|Admiral]]
|rank= [[Admiral (United Kingdom)|Admiral]]
|commands=[[HMS Hermes (95)|HMS ''Hermes'']]<br/>[[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS ''Vernon'']]<br/>[[HMS Gambia (48)|HMS ''Gambia'']]<br/>[[Commander-in-Chief, The Nore|Nore Command]]
|commands=[[HMS Hermes (95)|HMS ''Hermes'']]<br/>[[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS ''Vernon'']]<br/>[[HMS Gambia (48)|HMS ''Gambia'']]<br/>[[Commander-in-Chief, The Nore|Nore Command]]
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==Early life==
==Early life==
Born as Leonard Francis Slater in 1902 in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]] area of [[British India|India]] the son of [[Leonard Slater]], a captain in the [[British Army]], and his wife Constance Durnford Slater. His younger brother [[John Durnford-Slater|John]] became notable as the first [[Commandos (United Kingdom)|British Commando]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Durnford-Slater|first=John|title=Commando: Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in World War Two|origyear=1953|year=2002|publisher=Greenhill Books|location=London|isbn=1-85367-479-6}}</ref>
Born as Leonard Francis Slater in 1902 in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]] area of [[British India|India]] the son of [[Leonard Slater]], a captain in the [[British Army]], and his wife Constance Durnford Slater. His younger brother [[John Durnford-Slater|John]] became notable as the first [[Commandos (United Kingdom)|British Commando]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Durnford-Slater|first=John|title=Commando: Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in World War Two|orig-date=1953|year=2002|publisher=Greenhill Books|location=London|isbn=1-85367-479-6}}</ref>


He was educated at [[Summer Fields School]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Richard |last=Usborne |title=A Century of Summer Fields |publisher=Methuen |year=1964 |page=106}}</ref>
He was educated at [[Summer Fields School]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Richard |last=Usborne |title=A Century of Summer Fields |publisher=Methuen |year=1964 |page=106}}</ref>


==Naval career==
==Naval career==
Durnford-Slater joined the [[Royal Navy]] in 1923.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32855|page=5700|date=21 August 1923}}</ref>
Durnford-Slater joined the [[Royal Navy]] in 1916. He was confirmed in the rank of sub-lieutenant in August 1923, with seniority dated 15 August 1922.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32855|page=5700|date=21 August 1923}}</ref>


He served in [[World War II]], initially as Executive Officer on the aircraft carrier [[HMS Hermes (95)|HMS ''Hermes'']] which was sunk in 1942.<ref>[http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/hermes01.pdf HMS Hermes]</ref> He then joined the [[torpedo]] school [[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS ''Vernon'']].<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/SLATER.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> He next became Senior Officer for the 42nd and the 7th Escort Group of [[Western Approaches Command]].<ref name=lh/> Later he became Training Captain on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Command and finally Director of Underwater Weapons at the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]].<ref name=lh/>
He served in [[World War II]], initially as Executive Officer on the aircraft carrier [[HMS Hermes (95)|HMS ''Hermes'']] which was sunk in 1942.<ref>[http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/hermes01.pdf HMS Hermes]</ref> He then joined the [[torpedo]] school [[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS ''Vernon'']].<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/SLATER.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> He next became Senior Officer for the 42nd and the 7th Escort Group of [[Western Approaches Command]].<ref name=lh/> Later he became Training Captain on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Command and finally Director of Underwater Weapons at the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]].<ref name=lh/>


After the War he became Senior Officer for 1st Escort Flotilla in the [[Eastern Fleet|Far East Fleet]].<ref name=lh/> He went on to be Commandant at the School of Amphibious Warfare and then Captain of the [[cruiser]] [[HMS Gambia (48)|HMS ''Gambia'']].<ref name=lh/> In 1953 he was made Deputy Controller of the Navy.<ref name=lh/>  As [[Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet]] he commanded the naval forces, Task Force 345 north of the canal and Task Force 324 south of it from {{HMS|Tyne}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://godfreydykes.info/SUEZ%20WAR%20OF%201956.htm |title=SUEZ WAR OF 1956 |publisher=Godfreydykes.info |date=1956-11-05 |access-date=2013-06-19}}</ref> during the [[Suez Crisis]], Musketeer, in 1956.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/suez-crisis-operation-musketeer.htm/2 Suez Crisis: Operation Musketeer]; Riley, "Life and Campaigns of General Hughie Stockwell."</ref> From 1958, he was the last [[Commander-in-Chief, The Nore]].<ref name=lh/> He retired in 1961.<ref name=lh/>
After the War he became Senior Officer for 1st Escort Flotilla in the [[Eastern Fleet|Far East Fleet]].<ref name=lh/> He went on to be Commandant at the School of Amphibious Warfare and then Captain of the [[cruiser]] [[HMS Gambia (48)|HMS ''Gambia'']].<ref name=lh/> In 1953 he was made Deputy Controller of the Navy.<ref name=lh/>  As [[Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet]] he commanded the naval forces, Task Force 345 north of the canal and Task Force 324 south of it from {{HMS|Tyne}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://godfreydykes.info/SUEZ%20WAR%20OF%201956.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620050423/http://godfreydykes.info/SUEZ%20WAR%20OF%201956.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 June 2013 |title=SUEZ WAR OF 1956 |publisher=Godfreydykes.info |date=1956-11-05 |access-date=2013-06-19}}</ref> during the [[Suez Crisis]], Musketeer, in 1956.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/suez-crisis-operation-musketeer.htm/2 Suez Crisis: Operation Musketeer]; Riley, "Life and Campaigns of General Hughie Stockwell."</ref> From 1958, he was the last [[Commander-in-Chief, The Nore]].<ref name=lh/> He retired in April 1961.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=42349|page=3439|date=9 May 1961}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 15:28, 18 March 2026



Sir Robin Durnford-Slater

Birth nameLeonard Francis Slater
Born9 July 1902[1]
Punjab, British India[2]
Died28 June 1984 (1984-06-29) (aged 81)
Chichester, Sussex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branchFile:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Years of service1916–1961
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHMS Hermes
HMS Vernon
HMS Gambia
Nore Command
Battles/warsWorld War II
Suez Crisis
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Robin Leonard Francis Durnford-Slater KCB (born Leonard Francis Slater; 9 July 1902 – 28 June 1984) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be the last Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Born as Leonard Francis Slater in 1902 in the Punjab area of India the son of Leonard Slater, a captain in the British Army, and his wife Constance Durnford Slater. His younger brother John became notable as the first British Commando during World War II.[3]

He was educated at Summer Fields School.[4]

Naval career[edit | edit source]

Durnford-Slater joined the Royal Navy in 1916. He was confirmed in the rank of sub-lieutenant in August 1923, with seniority dated 15 August 1922.[5]

He served in World War II, initially as Executive Officer on the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes which was sunk in 1942.[6] He then joined the torpedo school HMS Vernon.[7] He next became Senior Officer for the 42nd and the 7th Escort Group of Western Approaches Command.[7] Later he became Training Captain on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Command and finally Director of Underwater Weapons at the Admiralty.[7]

After the War he became Senior Officer for 1st Escort Flotilla in the Far East Fleet.[7] He went on to be Commandant at the School of Amphibious Warfare and then Captain of the cruiser HMS Gambia.[7] In 1953 he was made Deputy Controller of the Navy.[7] As Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet he commanded the naval forces, Task Force 345 north of the canal and Task Force 324 south of it from HMS Tyne[8] during the Suez Crisis, Musketeer, in 1956.[9] From 1958, he was the last Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.[7] He retired in April 1961.[10]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947
  2. 1911 England Census
  3. Durnford-Slater, John (2002) [1953]. Commando: Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in World War Two. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-479-6.
  4. Usborne, Richard (1964). A Century of Summer Fields. Methuen. p. 106.
  5. "No. 32855". The London Gazette. 21 August 1923. p. 5700.
  6. HMS Hermes
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  8. "SUEZ WAR OF 1956". Godfreydykes.info. 5 November 1956. Retrieved 19 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. Suez Crisis: Operation Musketeer; Riley, "Life and Campaigns of General Hughie Stockwell."
  10. "No. 42349". The London Gazette. 9 May 1961. p. 3439.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Frederick Parham
Commander-in-Chief, The Nore
1958–1961
Succeeded by
Post abolished