David Haslam
Encyclopedia
Rear-Admiral Sir David W. Haslam KBE
CB
(26 June 1923 – 4 August 2009) was a Royal Navy
officer.
David Haslam was born in Derby
and educated at Ashe Preparatory School, Etwall
and, from 1936, at Bromsgrove School
, Worcestershire
(from 1939 the school was evacuated to Llanwrtyd Wells
in Wales
).
He joined the Royal Navy
as a Special Entry Cadet
in 1941. He saw service in the cruiser , in the destroyer and in the battleship , in the Indian Ocean
, between 1942-43. In 1944 he specialised in hydrographic surveying and joined for surveys in waters off Burma and Malaya
between 1944-46.
He was in command of Survey Motor Launch 325 in 1947 and then spent two years on exchange service with the Royal Australian Navy
from 1947-49. This was followed by service in the surveying vessel from 1949–51 and her sister ship 1951-53.
After a period in command of the Royal Navy Survey Training Unit at Chatham from 1953–56, as a Lieutenant-Commander, he was First Lieutenant of the new survey vessel until 1957. Promoted to Commander
at the age of 34, he then had a succession of survey ship commands: in 1958, 1958-60 and 1962-64, the period from 1960-62 being spent in the Admiralty. He was appointed OBE in 1964.
He was then appointed, in 1964, as the Executive Officer of , the Royal Naval Barracks in Chatham, later serving as Hydrographer of the Royal Australian Navy
from 1965–67, during which time he was promoted to Captain
.
Back in the United Kingdom, he took command of the new survey vessel from 1968-70 before becoming Assistant Hydrographer of the Navy
in the Ministry of Defence
, from 1970-72. His final sea command - his sixth - was from March 1972 to 1973. While in charge of surveys in the Persian Gulf, he discovered a series of coral pinnacles now known and charted as Haslam's Patches http://itouchmap.com/?c=ae&UF=-783115&UN=-1126403&DG=SHOL.
He was then an Assistant Director in the Hydrographic Department
at Taunton
, from 1973–74 and, in 1975, he undertook the Senior Officers' War Course. Promoted Rear-Admiral on 7 July 1975, he became head of his branch when he took up the historic appointment of Hydrographer of the Navy
in September 1975, a position he held, exceptionally, for ten years. He retired from the Royal Navy
in 1985, after 44 years' service.
In retirement, he was busy as Acting Conservator of the River Mersey
from 1985–87 and as an adviser on Port Appointments to the Department of Transport
from 1986-87. He was President of the Directing Committee of the International Hydrographic Bureau, Monaco
, from 1987-92. He was President of the Hydrographic Society from 1977-79.
He was a Governor of his old school, Bromsgrove School
, from 1977–97 and, unmarried, he lived literally across the road from the School, in Worcester Road, for many years, and it was at home that he died peacefully.
He was President of the English Schools Basketball Association from 1973–96 and President of Derbyshire County Cricket Club
fom 1991-92. He was a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
from 1983 and also a FRGS, FRICS, FRIN
and FRSA.
The funeral took place at Bromsgrove School
chapel on 21 August 2009 followed by a cremation at Redditch Crematorium. A memorial service is to be held on Friday 12 March 2010 at Bromsgrove School
chapel.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(26 June 1923 – 4 August 2009) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer.
David Haslam was born in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and educated at Ashe Preparatory School, Etwall
Etwall
Etwall is a civil parish and village in Derbyshire, England. It is located southwest from Derby on the A50.-Geography:Etwall is squeezed between the A516, which bypassed the village in February 1992, and the A50. The A516 draws a lot of heavy traffic heading for the M1 north.The village has its...
and, from 1936, at Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
(from 1939 the school was evacuated to Llanwrtyd Wells
Llanwrtyd Wells
Llanwrtyd Wells is a small town in the parish of Llanwrtyd in Powys, mid Wales, lying on the River Irfon.With a population of 601 people , it claims to be the smallest town in Britain, although Fordwich in Kent has a smaller population...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
).
He joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a Special Entry Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in 1941. He saw service in the cruiser , in the destroyer and in the battleship , in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, between 1942-43. In 1944 he specialised in hydrographic surveying and joined for surveys in waters off Burma and Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
between 1944-46.
He was in command of Survey Motor Launch 325 in 1947 and then spent two years on exchange service with the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
from 1947-49. This was followed by service in the surveying vessel from 1949–51 and her sister ship 1951-53.
After a period in command of the Royal Navy Survey Training Unit at Chatham from 1953–56, as a Lieutenant-Commander, he was First Lieutenant of the new survey vessel until 1957. Promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
at the age of 34, he then had a succession of survey ship commands: in 1958, 1958-60 and 1962-64, the period from 1960-62 being spent in the Admiralty. He was appointed OBE in 1964.
He was then appointed, in 1964, as the Executive Officer of , the Royal Naval Barracks in Chatham, later serving as Hydrographer of the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
from 1965–67, during which time he was promoted to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
.
Back in the United Kingdom, he took command of the new survey vessel from 1968-70 before becoming Assistant Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy is a Royal Naval appointment. From 1795 until 2001 the post was responsible for the production of charts for the Royal Navy, and around this post grew the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office...
in the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, from 1970-72. His final sea command - his sixth - was from March 1972 to 1973. While in charge of surveys in the Persian Gulf, he discovered a series of coral pinnacles now known and charted as Haslam's Patches http://itouchmap.com/?c=ae&UF=-783115&UN=-1126403&DG=SHOL.
He was then an Assistant Director in the Hydrographic Department
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office is an organisation within the UK government responsible for providing navigational and other hydrographic information for national, civil and defence requirements...
at Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, from 1973–74 and, in 1975, he undertook the Senior Officers' War Course. Promoted Rear-Admiral on 7 July 1975, he became head of his branch when he took up the historic appointment of Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy is a Royal Naval appointment. From 1795 until 2001 the post was responsible for the production of charts for the Royal Navy, and around this post grew the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office...
in September 1975, a position he held, exceptionally, for ten years. He retired from the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1985, after 44 years' service.
In retirement, he was busy as Acting Conservator of the River Mersey
Acting Conservator of the River Mersey
The Acting Conservator of the River Mersey is a unique position. The holder is responsible for ensuring navigation on, and protecting the environment of, the River Mersey in the North West of England...
from 1985–87 and as an adviser on Port Appointments to the Department of Transport
Department of Transport
Department of Transport may refer to:* The Irish government department, see Department of Transport * The UK government department formerly known as the Department of Transport, see Department for Transport...
from 1986-87. He was President of the Directing Committee of the International Hydrographic Bureau, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, from 1987-92. He was President of the Hydrographic Society from 1977-79.
He was a Governor of his old school, Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
, from 1977–97 and, unmarried, he lived literally across the road from the School, in Worcester Road, for many years, and it was at home that he died peacefully.
He was President of the English Schools Basketball Association from 1973–96 and President of Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
fom 1991-92. He was a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation was granted Letters Patent in May 1977. The Company promotes surveying by awarding scholarships....
from 1983 and also a FRGS, FRICS, FRIN
Frin
Frin is an Argentine novel by Luis Pescetti. It was first published in 1998....
and FRSA.
The funeral took place at Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
chapel on 21 August 2009 followed by a cremation at Redditch Crematorium. A memorial service is to be held on Friday 12 March 2010 at Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
chapel.
Obituaries
- Derby Telegraph 14 August 2009
- The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
18 August 2009
External links
- Recollections of David Haslam on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Rear-Admiral Sir David Haslam - Daily Telegraph obituary