Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)

Bathurst is the son of Peter Bathurst and his wife Lady Elizabeth Ann Bathurst (née Temple-Gore-Langton).Mosley, p. 215 Generally known by his middle name of Benjamin, Bathurst was educated at Eton College and Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, {{ISBN|978-1-408-11414-8}}

Bathurst joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1953 and became a midshipman on 1 September 1955.Heathcote, p.22 During his early career he served in the minesweeper {{HMS|Woolaston}} and, following promotion to sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1957 and to lieutenant on 1 February 1959,{{London Gazette|issue=41831|page=6137|date=29 September 1959}} he qualified as a pilot in 1960. He next served in the ship's flight on the destroyer {{HMS|Devonshire|D02|6}} and then qualified as a helicopter instructor in 1964. He served as an exchange officer with the Royal Australian Navy in 1965 and, following promotion to lieutenant commander on 1 February 1967,{{London Gazette|issue=44238|supp=y|page=1153|date=27 January 1967}} he became senior pilot of 820 Naval Air Squadron on the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Eagle|R05|6}}. He was given command of 819 Naval Air Squadron in February 1969 and then joined the Directorate of Naval Recruiting at the Ministry of Defence in early 1970. Promoted to commander on 30 June 1970, he became executive officer on the destroyer {{HMS|Norfolk|D21|6}} in February 1971. He joined the Directorate of Naval Air Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in February 1973.

Promoted to captain on 31 December 1974, Bathurst took command of a {{Sclass|Leander|frigate|1}}, {{HMS|Ariadne|F72|6}} in March 1975. He became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in May 1976 and Commanding Officer of {{HMS|Minerva|F45|6}} as well as Captain of the 5th Frigate Squadron in September 1978. He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1981 and became Director of Naval Air Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in January 1982.

File:SeaHarrier.jpg, an aircraft type deployed by Bathurst during the Bosnian War]]

Promoted to rear admiral on 10 October 1983,{{London Gazette|issue=49496|supp=y|page=12932|date=3 October 1983}} on appointment as Flag Officer, Second Flotilla, Bathurst went on to be Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training at the Ministry of Defence in May 1985. He was promoted to vice admiral on 22 December 1986,{{London Gazette|issue=50740|supp=y|page=15867|date=8 December 1986}} on appointment as Chief of Fleet Support. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1987 Birthday Honours,{{London Gazette|issue=50948|supp=y|page=2|date=12 June 1987}} and promoted to full admiral on 21 April 1989, on appointment as Commander-in-Chief Fleet which also carried with it the NATO appointments of Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic. Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1991 New Year Honours,{{London Gazette|issue=52382|supp=y|page=2|date=28 December 1990}} he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in March 1991 and First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in March 1993.Heathcote, p.23 As First Sea Lord he advised the British Government on the deployment of Naval Support including Sea Harriers during the Bosnian War.{{cite web|url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Bosnia/bosnia-units.html|title=British units deployed to Bosnia|publisher=Britain's Small Wars|access-date=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811171610/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Bosnia/bosnia-units.html|archive-date=11 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} He was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on 10 July 1995 on his retirement.

In retirement Bathurst became a Non-Executive Director of British International Helicopters.{{cite web|url=http://w3.gre.ac.uk/pr/releasearchive/A%201000.htm|title=Admiral Bathurst awarded honorary degree|publisher=University of Greenwich Biography|date=19 July 2004|access-date=24 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930160542/http://w3.gre.ac.uk/pr/releasearchive/A%201000.htm|archive-date=30 September 2011|df=dmy-all}} He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset on 27 August 1996{{London Gazette|issue=54507|page=11443|date=27 August 1996}} and became Vice-Lord Lieutenant on 18 February 1999.{{London Gazette|issue=55413|page=2247|date=25 February 1999}} He is a younger brother of Trinity House and a Liveryman of Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. His interests include gardening, shooting and fishing.

Bathurst married Sarah Christian Pandora Peto, daughter of Major John Peto and granddaughter of Sir Basil Peto, 1st Baronet, in 1959. They have one son, Lieutenant General Sir Benjamin Bathurst, and three daughters.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Heathcote|first=Tony|title=The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995|publisher=Pen & Sword Ltd|date=2002|isbn=0-85052-835-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Mosley|first=Charles|title=Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, volume 1 |publisher=Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd|date=1999|isbn=978-1579580834}}

• [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80024679 Imperial War Museum Interview]

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Category:People educated at Eton College

Category:Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College

Category:First Sea Lords and Chiefs of the Naval Staff

Category:Royal Navy admirals of the fleet

Category:Fleet Air Arm aviators

Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Category:1936 births

Category:Living people

Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Somerset

Benjamin

Category:Members of Trinity House

Category:Military personnel of the Bosnian War

Category:20th-century Royal Navy personnel