Richard Trowbridge
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Sir Richard John Trowbridge, KCVO
(21 January 19204 May 2003), was Western Australia
's twenty-fifth Governor
from 25 November 1980 to 24 November 1983, and the last British-born vice-regal representative in Australia
.
He was the first officer to rise from boy seaman to captain of the Queen's yacht HMY Britannia
.
, England
. He was educated at Andover Grammar School and was fully expecting to become a farmer until a downturn in agriculture saw him leave school in 1935 at just 15 years of age to join the Royal Navy
as a boy seaman. Trowbridge was quickly promoted through the navy ranks, and was commissioned as Sub-lieutenant in 1940, serving throughout the Second World War at sea. At the end of hostilities, he was stationed in Singapore
for a number of years where he was promoted to Commander in 1953, and where he met and married Anne Perceval, on 26 February 1955.
From 1956 to 1958 he captained the destroyer HMS Carysfort
in the Mediterranean, and following this served as the second-in-command of the cruiser HMS Bermuda
from 1958 to 1959. He then returned to the gunnery school at Whale Island
in Portsmouth
, where he was promoted to captain in 1960. From 1962 to 1964 he was in charge of the Fishery Protection Squadron
, and from 1967 to 1969 he commanded the guided missile destroyer HMS Hampshire
, which for many years was the flagship of the Western Fleet.
Trowbridge became extra equerry
to the Queen in 1970 and he served as Flag Officer
from 1970 to 1975.
Sir Charles Court
in 1975 sought to revive the practice of appointment of British-born governors for Western Australia, contrary to the advice of Lord Goronwy-Roberts, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
, who supported the newly established custom that Australian State Governors should be Australian-born. An initial compromise was the appointment of Sir Wallace Kyle
, retired RAF Air Chief Marshall, who, although totally Anglicised, was Kalgoorlie-born.
Following Kyle's term, Trowbridge was appointed Governor of Western Australia
on Premier Court's recommendation, for a term from 25 November 1980, to 24 November 1983.
On completion of his term, Trowbridge returned to retirement in the United Kingdom living in Portsmouth
. His life was overshadowed by exposure to asbestos which was being removed from Britannia during a long refit which he supervised, almost certainly leading to his death from lung cancer. He died on 4 May 2003, in Portsmouth
. .
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
Sir Richard John Trowbridge, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(21 January 19204 May 2003), was Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
's twenty-fifth Governor
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
from 25 November 1980 to 24 November 1983, and the last British-born vice-regal representative in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
He was the first officer to rise from boy seaman to captain of the Queen's yacht HMY Britannia
HMY Britannia
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the 83rd such vessel since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. She is the second Royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the famous racing cutter built for The Prince of Wales...
.
Biography
Richard John Trowbridge was born on 21 January 1920 to a farming family in the county of HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was educated at Andover Grammar School and was fully expecting to become a farmer until a downturn in agriculture saw him leave school in 1935 at just 15 years of age to join 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 boy seaman. Trowbridge was quickly promoted through the navy ranks, and was commissioned as Sub-lieutenant in 1940, serving throughout the Second World War at sea. At the end of hostilities, he was stationed in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
for a number of years where he was promoted to Commander in 1953, and where he met and married Anne Perceval, on 26 February 1955.
From 1956 to 1958 he captained the destroyer HMS Carysfort
HMS Carysfort (R25)
HMS Carysfort was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was ordered in 1941, originally under the name HMS Pique.Her name was changed to conform with the initials CA to her seven sister ships. She is named after John Proby, a politician who was also a Lord of the Admiralty in 1750. In 1752 he...
in the Mediterranean, and following this served as the second-in-command of the cruiser HMS Bermuda
HMS Bermuda (C52)
HMS Bermuda was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was completed during World War II and served in that conflict...
from 1958 to 1959. He then returned to the gunnery school at Whale Island
Whale Island, Hampshire
Whale Island is a small island in Portsmouth Harbour, close by Portsea Island. It is currently home to HMS Excellent, the oldest shore training establishment within the Royal Navy, and the Headquarters of Commander in Chief, Fleet.-Early history:...
in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, where he was promoted to captain in 1960. From 1962 to 1964 he was in charge of the Fishery Protection Squadron
Fishery Protection Squadron
The Fishery Protection Squadron is a front-line squadron of the Royal Navy with responsibility for patrolling the UK's Extended Fisheries Zone...
, and from 1967 to 1969 he commanded the guided missile destroyer HMS Hampshire
HMS Hampshire (D06)
HMS Hampshire was a County-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was decommissioned in 1976 and cannibalised for spares to service her sister ships. Hampshire was sold for scrap in 1979.- See also :* List of ship launches in 1961...
, which for many years was the flagship of the Western Fleet.
Trowbridge became extra equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to the Queen in 1970 and he served as Flag Officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
from 1970 to 1975.
Governor of Western Australia
The PremierPremier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
Sir Charles Court
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, was a Western Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia and member for the seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party for nearly 30 years.-Early life:...
in 1975 sought to revive the practice of appointment of British-born governors for Western Australia, contrary to the advice of Lord Goronwy-Roberts, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is a junior ministerial position in the British government.-Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs 1945-1968:*1945: William Mabane*1945-1946: Philip Noel-Baker*1946-1950: Hector McNeil*1950-1951: Kenneth Younger...
, who supported the newly established custom that Australian State Governors should be Australian-born. An initial compromise was the appointment of Sir Wallace Kyle
Wallace Kyle
Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Hart Kyle GCB, KCVO, CBE, DSO, DFC, RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander and the Governor of Western Australia from 1975 to 1980.-Career:...
, retired RAF Air Chief Marshall, who, although totally Anglicised, was Kalgoorlie-born.
Following Kyle's term, Trowbridge was appointed Governor of Western Australia
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
on Premier Court's recommendation, for a term from 25 November 1980, to 24 November 1983.
On completion of his term, Trowbridge returned to retirement in the United Kingdom living in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. His life was overshadowed by exposure to asbestos which was being removed from Britannia during a long refit which he supervised, almost certainly leading to his death from lung cancer. He died on 4 May 2003, in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. .