Rear Admiral David Arthur Dunbar-Nasmith CB, DSC, DL (21 February 1921 – 15 September 1997) was a former Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary.

David Dunbar-Nasmith
Born(1921-02-21)21 February 1921
Died15 September 1997(1997-09-15) (aged 76)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1939–1972
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldHMS Haydon
HMS Peacock
HMS Moon
HMS Rowena
HMS Enard Bay
HMS Alert
HMS Berwick
5th Frigate Squadron
Naval Secretary
Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Cross
RelationsAdmiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith (father)

Naval career edit

Born the son of Admiral Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, Dunbar-Nasmith joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1939.[1] He served in World War II in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean before being given command of HMS Haydon and then HMS Peacock.[1] After the war he commanded HMS Moon and then HMS Rowena before joining the staff of the Flag Officer, 1st Cruiser Squadron and then commanding HMS Enard Bay.[1] He joined the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1952 and was then given command of the frigate HMS Alert in 1954.[1] After promotion to captain on 30 June 1958,[2] he joined the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe in 1958 and then became Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Berwick as well as Captain of the 5th Frigate Squadron in 1961.[1]

He was appointed Director of Defence Plans at the Ministry of Defence in 1963, Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet from May 1966 to July 1967. Next appointed as Naval Secretary in 1967 and finally Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1970.[1] He retired in August 1972.[3]

In retirement he became Chairman of the Highlands and Islands Development Board.[4] He was also Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod.[4] He lived at Rothes in Moray.[4]

Family edit

He married Elizabeth Bowlby in 1951; they had two daughters and two sons.[4] She died in 2021.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  2. ^ "No. 41450". The London Gazette. 18 July 1958. p. 4514.
  3. ^ "No. 45757". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 August 1972. p. 10049.
  4. ^ a b c d "Former chairman of HIDB dies at home, aged 76". Glasgow Herald. 20 September 1997. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  5. ^ DUNBAR-NASMITH, Mrs David OBE (Elizabeth Gwendoline nee BOWLBY) 1927-2021
Military offices
Preceded by Naval Secretary
1967–1970
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland
1970–1972
Succeeded by