John Webster (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Sir John Morrison Webster KCB
(born 3 November 1932) is a former Royal Navy
officer who became Flag Officer, Plymouth
.
, Webster joined the Royal Navy in 1951. He became Commanding Officer
of the frigate
HMS Argonaut
in 1970, Liaison Officer in Ottawa
in 1974 and Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Cleopatra
in 1977. He was appointed Director of Naval Warfare at the Ministry of Defence
in 1980, Flag Officer Sea Training in 1982 and Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet
in 1984. He went on to be Flag Officer, Plymouth
and Admiral Superintendent at Devonport
in 1987 before retiring in 1990.
In retirement he became a landscape and marine painter.
; they had one son and two daughters.
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
Sir John Morrison Webster KCB
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...
(born 3 November 1932) is a former 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 who became Flag Officer, Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. In the nineteenth century the holder of the office was known as Commander-in-Chief,...
.
Naval career
Educated at Pangbourne CollegePangbourne College
Pangbourne College is a coeducational independent school located in the civil parish of Pangbourne, just South West of the village, in the English County of Berkshire....
, Webster joined the Royal Navy in 1951. He became Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Argonaut
HMS Argonaut (F56)
HMS Argonaut was a of the Royal Navy. She was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company of Hebburn. She was launched on 8 February 1966 and commissioned on 17 August 1967.On 31 March 1993, Argonaut was decommissioned...
in 1970, Liaison Officer in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1974 and Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Cleopatra
HMS Cleopatra (F28)
HMS Cleopatra was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy . Cleopatra was built at HMNB Devonport. She was launched on the 25th March 1964 and commissioned on the 4th January 1966....
in 1977. He was appointed Director of Naval Warfare at 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....
in 1980, Flag Officer Sea Training in 1982 and Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
in 1984. He went on to be Flag Officer, Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. In the nineteenth century the holder of the office was known as Commander-in-Chief,...
and Admiral Superintendent at Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
in 1987 before retiring in 1990.
In retirement he became a landscape and marine painter.
Family
In 1962 he married Valerie Anne Villiers, daughter of Admiral Sir Michael VilliersMichael Villiers
Vice Admiral Sir Michael Villiers KCB OBE was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Fourth Sea Lord.-Naval career:...
; they had one son and two daughters.