Vice Admiral Sir Hugh Richard Benest Janvrin KCB DSC (2 May 1915 – 15 January 1993) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (1966–68) and Flag Officer Naval Air Command (1968–70).

Sir Richard Janvrin
Nickname(s)Dick
Born(1915-05-02)2 May 1915
Goole, Yorkshire
Died15 January 1993(1993-01-15) (aged 77)
Chalford Hill, Gloucestershire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1929–1971
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldNaval Air Command (1968–70)
Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers (1964–66)
Director of Tactical and Weapons Policy (1961–63)
HMS Victorious (1959–60)
HMS Goldcrest (1958–59)
HMS Grenville (1957–58)
HMS Broadsword (1951–53)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Cross
Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Spouse(s)
Nancy Edyth Fielding
(m. 1938)
Children2; including Robin

Naval career edit

Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Janvrin joined the Royal Navy in 1929 and specialised in aerial observation.[1] He was confirmed as a sub-lieutenant (from acting sub-lieutenant) on 16 January 1936,[2] and promoted to lieutenant on 1 October 1937.[3]

Janvrin served in the Second World War and acted as an observer at the Battle of Taranto in November 1940, serving on HMS Illustrious. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 20 May 1941.[1][4] An acting lieutenant commander at war's end, he was promoted to substantive lieutenant commander on 1 October 1945.[5]

Promoted to commander on 31 December 1948,[6] Janvrin was given command of the destroyer HMS Broadsword in 1951. Promoted to captain on 30 June 1954,[7] he was given command of HMS Grenville and the 2nd Training Squadron in 1957,[8] and the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in 1959.[1] He was appointed Director of Tactical and Weapons Policy Division of the Admiralty Naval Staff from 1962 to 1963. He was promoted to rear admiral on 7 January 1964,[9] appointed Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers the same year and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1965 Birthday Honours.[10]

Janvrin became Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff in 1966 and was promoted to vice admiral on 27 November 1967.[11] He was appointed Flag Officer Naval Air Command in 1968,[8] and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1969 New Year Honours.[12] He was placed on the retired list on 15 January 1971.[13]

Family and later life edit

In 1938 Janvrin married Nancy Edyth Fielding; they had two sons (Simon and Robin).[14]

Janvrin lived at Allen's Close in Stroud in Gloucestershire. He died on 15 January 1993, aged 77.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Who’s Who in Naval History: From 1550 to the Present, Published 2004, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0-203-01351-4
  2. ^ "No. 34344". The London Gazette. 27 November 1936. p. 7643.
  3. ^ "No. 34445". The London Gazette. 19 October 1937. p. 6444.
  4. ^ "No. 35166". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 May 1941. p. 2870.
  5. ^ "No. 37524". The London Gazette. 5 April 1946. p. 1745.
  6. ^ "No. 38513". The London Gazette. 14 January 1949. p. 253.
  7. ^ "No. 40230". The London Gazette. 13 July 1954. p. 4107.
  8. ^ a b Senior Royal Navy appointments Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "No. 43211". The London Gazette. 3 January 1964. p. 84.
  10. ^ "No. 43667". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1965. p. 5472.
  11. ^ "No. 44466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 December 1967. p. 13267.
  12. ^ "No. 44740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1969. p. 2.
  13. ^ "No. 45278". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 January 1971. p. 381.
  14. ^ a b The Peerage.com
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
1966–1968
Post disbanded