William O'Brien (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir William Donough O'Brien KCB
DSC
(born 13 November 1916) was Commander-in-Chief
of the Western Fleet.
, O'Brien was commissioned into the Royal Navy
in 1930. He served in World War II
. In the early 1960s he served as Director of Naval Plans at the Ministry of Defence
under Lord Louis Mountbatten
. He was then appointed Naval Secretary
in 1964. He was appointed Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers in 1966, Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1967 and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet in 1970. He retired in 1971.
In retirement he became Chairman of the King George's Fund for Sailors
. In 1975 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889). He became Chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal
and after its re-opening by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1990, he retired from this post. He also held the posts of Rear-Admiral
and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
.
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...
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(born 13 November 1916) was Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Western Fleet.
Naval career
Educated at the Royal Naval College DartmouthBritannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, O'Brien was commissioned into 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 1930. He served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In the early 1960s he served as Director of Naval Plans 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....
under Lord Louis Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. He was then appointed Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
in 1964. He was appointed Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers in 1966, Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1967 and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet in 1970. He retired in 1971.
In retirement he became Chairman of the King George's Fund for Sailors
Seafarers UK
Seafarers UK is a large national charity in the United Kingdom working to unite the maritime charity sector to address the specific needs of all seafarers and their families, from those just embarking on a career at sea to those facing distress through unemployment or homelessness and loss of...
. In 1975 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889). He became Chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal
Kennet and Avon Canal
The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of , made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. The name is commonly used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the central canal section...
and after its re-opening by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1990, he retired from this post. He also held the posts of Rear-Admiral
Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom is a now honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral...
and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is an honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral, an honorary office vested in the Sovereign from...
.