Nancy Robertson (WRNS officer)
Royal Navy officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commandant Dame Nancy Margaret Robertson, DBE (1 March 1909 – 26 December 2000) was a senior British naval officer who served as Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1954 to 1958.[1]
1 March 1909
Dame Nancy Robertson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nancy Margaret Robertson 1 March 1909 |
| Died | 26 December 2000 (aged 91) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Women's Royal Naval Service |
| Service years | 1939–1958 |
| Rank | Commandant |
| Commands | Women's Royal Naval Service (1954–58) |
| Conflicts | Second World War |
| Awards | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Early life
Naval career
In 1939, Robertson joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS).[1] During the Second World War, she served as a chief officer (equivalent in rank to commander) at the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches in Liverpool, England, and also on the staff of the Flag Officer Ceylon.[2] In the 1946 King's Birthday Honours, Robertson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[3]
After the war, Robertson served as the senior WRNS officer at Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth, and the Assistant Director of WRNS with responsibility for welfare.[2] Having been promoted to superintendent (equivalent to captain), she served as Superintendent (Air) and Superintendent (Training) and,[2] in the 1953 Coronation Honours, was advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[4]
In 1954, she was appointed Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service and promoted to commandant (equivalent to commodore).[1] Appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1957 New Year Honours,[5] she retired from the military in 1958.[1]