Robert Don Oliver
Royal Navy Vice Admiral (1895–1980)
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Vice-Admiral Robert Don Oliver (17 March 1895 – 6 October 1980) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
Robert Oliver | |
|---|---|
Oliver in 1946 | |
| Born | 17 March 1895 |
| Died | 6 October 1980 (aged 85) |
Branch |  Royal Navy |
Service years | 1908–1948 |
Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Iron Duke HMS Devonshire HMS Excellent HMS Swiftsure |
Conflicts | 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 |
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 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,[2] before he retired on 26 September 1948, and was promoted to vice-admiral on the same day.[5]
In retirement he became Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburghshire.[6]