Robert Gerken

Vice Admiral Sir Robert William Frank Gerken KCB CBE (11 June 1932 – 20 December 2022) was a British Royal Navy officer who served as Flag Officer, Plymouth.

Sir Robert Gerken
Born(1932-06-11)11 June 1932
London, England
Died20 December 2022(2022-12-20) (aged 90)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1948 – 1987
RankVice Admiral
Commands held6th Frigate Squadron
Flag Officer 2nd Flotilla
Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training
Flag Officer Plymouth and Port Admiral, Devonport
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Early life

Robert William Frank Gerken was born on 11 June 1932 in London. He was educated at Chigwell School.[1]

After attending the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Gerken joined the Royal Navy in 1948.[2] He became Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Andromeda as well as Captain of the 6th Frigate Squadron in 1974. He went on to become Captain of the Fleet in 1978, Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1981 with promotion to rear-admiral from 7 July 1981,[3] and Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training in 1983.[2] Promoted to vice-admiral on 15 November 1984,[4] his last appointment was as Flag Officer Plymouth and Port Admiral, HMNB Devonport in 1985 before he retired in April 1987.[5]

In retirement he became Chairman of Plymouth Development Corporation.[2]

Personal life and death

In 1966, he married Christine Stephenson; they had two daughters.[2] Following the death of his first wife he married Ann Fermor (née Blythe) in 1983.[2]

Gerken died on 20 December 2022, at the age of 90.[1][6]

References
  1. "Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Gerken, naval officer who commanded Andromeda at tense moments in Cyprus and the Third Cod War – obituary". The Telegraph. 12 January 2023. (subscription required)
  2. Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. "No. 48677". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 July 1981. p. 9292.
  4. "No. 49933". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 1984. p. 15651.
  5. "No. 50907". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1987. p. 5853.
  6. "Vice Admiral Sir Robert Gerken, KCB, CBE, DL death notice". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
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