Dymock Watson

Vice Admiral Sir Robert Dymock Watson KCB CBE DL (5 April 1904 – 3 February 1988) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station.

Sir Dymock Watson
Born5 April 1904[1]
Farnham, Surrey
Died3 February 1988 (aged 84)
Brecknock, Powys, Wales
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1918–1961
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldHMS Illustrious
South Atlantic and South America Station
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Watson joined the Royal Navy in 1918.[2] He served in World War II as Assistant Director of Plans on the Joint Planning Staff from 1944.[2] After the War he was appointed to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet and then, in 1950, became Director of Plans at the Admiralty.[2] He went on to be Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 1953 and Flag Officer, Flotillas in the Mediterranean Fleet in 1954.[2] He was made Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport in 1955 and Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station in 1958.[2] He made an official visit to Ladysmith[3] before retiring in 1961.[2]

He lived at Trebinshwyn in Brecon.[4]

Personal life

His grandson is the actor and comedian Humphrey Ker, who based his 2011 Edinburgh Fringe show Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher! on Watson's exploits in the Second World War.[5]

References
  1. Who's Who of Southern Africa. Ken Donaldson (Pty.) Limited. 1959. p. 666.
  2. Sir Robert Dymock Watson Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. Naval Review, Vol. XLVII, No. 4, October, 1959, p. 473
  4. Tudor 43
  5. "Humphrey Ker Is Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher! Upstairs at the Three and Ten, Brighton, June 16". The Argus. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
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