Biographical Data
Timbrell, Robert Walter Photo Credit: RCN Official Photo

 

Title	Rear-Admiral (RCN)
Official Number	O-73390

 

Birth	01/02/1920	Death	11/04/2006
Place	Tavistock	Place	Chester
Area	Devon	Area	NS
Country	UK	Country	Canada

 

Titles
Honours	CMM. DSC. M.I.D.
Awards
Qualifications	psc.

 

Biography

After his naval service from 1974-85, he was President of the Dominion Marine Association and Canadian Shipowner's Association. He was President of Canadian Offshore Management Inc. from 1985-1987 and was Director of CSE Submarine Group 1987-88. In 1985-1994 he was the Chairman of Pictou Industries Ltd. Shipyard. In 1997 he was awarded the Admiral's Medal in recognition of significant personal contribution to Canadian maritime affairs.

 

Military Service

He was appointed as a Cadet RNR 1935. In 1935-1937 he attended HMS Conway (Merchant Navy training establishment) 1935. He was appointed as a Naval Cadet RCN (Special Entry No. 43.) 1937. He served in H.M.S. Erebus for Training 1937. In 1938 he served in H.M.S. Vindictive for Training. He was appointed as a Midshipman RCN (With seniority dated 01/09/1938). He served in H.M.S. Barham for Sea Training in 1938. He served in H.M.S. Hood for Sea Training. He served in H.M.S. Warspite for Sea Training. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN 1940. He served in HMCS Annapolis as First Lieutenant 1940. He survived the sinking of HMCS Margaree in 1940. He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 15/08/1941). He served in H.M.S. Osprey for Anti-Submarine Course 1942. He served in HMCS Cornwallis on Staff of Anti-Submarine School 1943. He served as Staff Officer (Anti-submarine) to Senior Officer Escort Groups EG-5 and EG-11 in Ottawa 1943 and HMCS Qu'Appelle 1944. He served in HMCS Micmac as First Lieutenant 1945. He served in HMCS Stadacona as Officer-in-Charge Anti-Submarine School 1946. (He was qualified for duties as a TAS Officer 1947). He served in HMCS Swansea (In command) 1948. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 15/08/1949). He served in NHQ as Staff Officer (TAS) 1949. He served in HMCS Ontario as Training Officer 1951. He was appointed as a Commander (With seniority dated 01/07/1952). He served in Royal Roads as Vice-Commandant 1952. He served in the RN Staff Course 1954. He served in HMCS St. Laurent (II) (In command) and Commander Third Canadian Escort Squadron 1955. He served in HMCS Shearwater as Executive Officer 1957. He was appointed as a Captain RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1958). He served in NHQ as Director Undersea Warfare 1958. He served on the Staff of Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (Norfolk VA) 1958. He served in HMCS Bonaventure (In command) 1963. He served in NDHQ as Director Officer Cadets 1965. He was appointed as a Commodore RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1965). He served in Training Command HQ as Chief of Staff (Programs and Research) 1965. He was appointed as a Rear-Admiral RCN (With seniority dated 01/09/1967). He served in NDHQ as Deputy Chief for Plans 1967. He was appointed as the Commander Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) 1970. He served as Commander Maritime Command 1971-73. (He was retired in 1974.) (He was the first Canadian naval officer to be decorated in World War Two. He was awarded the DSC 16/08/1940 for "good services in the withdrawal of Allied Armies from the beaches of Dunkirk." He was doing a gunnery course at H.M.S. Excellent when he was sent to take command of the commandeered yacht (Llanthonthy) in which he brought back 600 soldiers during three crossings from France to the UK.) (He was qualified as an A/S and TAS Officer.)

 

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

 

Anecdotes

 

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; MacFarlane, John M. (1994); Personal Correspondence (R.W. Timbrell-John MacFarlane 16/11/2000); http://www.hmsconway.org/sea_career%20RCN.html; Canada's Admirals and Commodores (3rd ed.) (2016);
Last update
2017-02-05 00:00:00

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