Robert Don Oliver
| Robert Oliver | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 March 1895 |
| Died | 6 October 1980 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Iron Duke HMS Devonshire HMS Excellent HMS Swiftsure |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross |
Vice Admiral Robert Don Oliver CB CBE DSC DL (17 March 1895 – 6 October 1980) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
Naval career
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 the 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 before he retired in 1948.[2]
In retirement he became Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburghshire.[5]
Family
In 1928 he married Torfrida Lois Acantha Huddart; there were no children.[5] Following the death of his first wife, he married Mrs M.J. Glendinning van der Velde in 1965.[5]
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vacant (last held by Sir Tom Phillips) |
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff 1946–1947 |
Succeeded by Vacant (next held by Sir Edward Evans-Lombe |