David Hallifax
Royal Navy Admiral (1927–1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Admiral Sir David John Hallifax, KCB, KCVO, KBE (3 September 1927 – 23 August 1992) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle from 1988 until 1992.
Sir David Hallifax | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 September 1927 |
| Died | 23 August 1992 (aged 64) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Service years | 1945–1988 |
Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Royal College of Defence Studies Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic Flag Officer First Flotilla HMS Fife HMS Agincourt MTB5008 |
Conflicts | Suez Crisis Falklands War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Other work | Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle |
Naval career
Hallifax was educated at Winchester College, joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a cadet in 1945[1] and spent his early years in minesweepers based in the eastern Mediterranean. His first command was as a young lieutenant in the fast patrol boat MTB5008.
In 1954 Hallifax qualified as a Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer serving in HMS Salerno during the Suez Crisis in 1956 and later in HMS Whirlwind in the West Indies.[2] He also commanded the destroyer HMS Agincourt[1] at home and in East Asia before taking command of HMS Fife in 1973.[1] Following an appointment to the Ministry of Defence as Director of Naval Operational Requirements, he became Flag Officer First Flotilla, a position once held by his father. It was from here that he went to the Northwood Headquarters as Chief of Staff to Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 1980.[1] As Chief of Staff he was responsible for the day-to-day control of the Headquarters during the Falklands War. His next appointment was to the United States of America as the NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1982.[1] His final appointment was Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1986.[1]
Hallifax retired from the navy on 1 March 1988.[3] He was a keen yachtsman, competing in the 1971 Admirals Cup aboard the 'Prospect of Whitby'. He was a skilled woodworker, with a particular interest in fine reproduction furniture.[1]
In February 1988 Hallifax was made Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle.[4] He died of motor neurone disease in 1992.