Lambert Jackson Woodburne

Woodburne was born in Kimberley, South Africa in 1939.{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/1307/WOODBURNE%20BIO.pdf|title=Biography of late Vice Admiral Lambert Jackson Woodburne|publisher=SA Navy|access-date=July 12, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808132027/http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/1307/WOODBURNE%20BIO.pdf|archive-date=August 8, 2014}} His father was a South African Air Force wartime pilot who farmed near Maclear in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Woodburne was schooled in the Eastern Cape and Swaziland and served in the Naval Gymnasium at Saldanha Bay in 1958.Alexander, E. G. M., Barron G. K. B. and Bateman, A. J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau. p121. {{ISBN|0-7981-1895-4}}. He then joined the Permanent Force and enrolled for a Bachelor of Military Science (B. Mil) degree studying at both Stellenbosch University and the Faculty of Military Science at the South African Military Academy from 1960 to 1961. He did not graduate{{Cite web | url=http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/download/143/186 | title=Die Geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse Militere Akademie 1950-1990 | format=PDF | access-date=2024-06-20 | language=af | website=scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za }} and after his time at the Academy he started maritime service on frigates.{{cite book|author=Ian S. Uys|title=South African military Whoʼs Who, 1452–1992|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ka0ZAAAAYAAJ|access-date=19 April 2011|year=1992|publisher=Fortress Publishers|isbn=978-0-9583173-3-7}}p 274.

Woodburne completed the Specialist Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Course in the United Kingdom where he came top of the class. On his return to South Africa he became the Officer in Charge of the Naval Diving School in Simon's Town for two years. The Navy Diver of the Course still receives the Woody Woodburne Shield.South African Navy News magazine. Vol XXVIII no. 2, 2008. p24 Woodburne went on to command the mine sweepers SAS Mosselbaai and SAS Johannesburg.

With the establishment of the Submarine Branch, he volunteered for submarines and was chosen as the first commanding officer of {{SAS|Emily Hobhouse|S98|6}} (S98) in 1971; a position held until 1974.{{cite book|author1=O. Haupt|author2=South Africa. South African Navy. Submarine Flotilla|title=Through the periscope: South African submarines: the first thirty years : reflections past and present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bKbqAAAACAAJ|access-date=19 April 2011|year=1999|publisher=SAN Submarine Flotilla|isbn=978-0-620-23782-6}} p 6. During the submarine’s work-up in France, he was described as one of the “best foreign submariners ever worked up in France”, which earned him the Southern Cross Medal.{{cite web | url=http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/1307/130712_Funeral_V%20Adm%20Woodburne/article.htm | title=Funeral of late Vice Admiral Lambert Jackson Woodburne DVR, SD, SM | publisher=SA Navy | access-date=July 12, 2013 | author=Prins, S.C. AB | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802060413/http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/1307/130712_Funeral_V%20Adm%20Woodburne/article.htm | archive-date=August 2, 2013 }}

In 1972, the SAS Emily Hobhouse landed Special Forces troops led by Commandant Jan Breytenbach near Dar es Salaam as part of a raid on the Tanzanian port. The Special Forces team placed explosives on a bridge, next to power lines and other targets around the city. While making the pickup rendezvous, the submarine snagged a fishing net and sank the fishing vessel dragging the net.{{cite book | title=The Silent War | publisher=Galago Publishing | last=Stiff | first=Peter | year=1999 | isbn=0620243007}}{{Rp|50–51}} This mission earned Woodburne the Van Riebeeck Decoration.

From 1975 to 1977, he was assigned to the Agosta submarine project. After this he served with the Special Forces (1978–1983) in the post of Senior Staff Officer: Operations (Navy) at Special Forces Headquarters,{{cite book| title=Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978-1988 | publisher=Delta Books | author2=Steyn, Douw | author1=Söderlund, Arné | author1link=Arne Söderlund | year=2018 | location=Jeppestown | isbn=978-1868427789}} where he attained the rank of Captain. These were "exciting and dangerous years" said Woodburne in an interview after announcing his retirement in August 1992.{{cite news|last=Ley|first=Marga|title=Die Vloot gaan verander Lambert Woodburne tree af|url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1992/08/25/17/4.html|access-date=9 April 2011|newspaper=Beeld (South Africa)|date=25 August 1992|quote=Later was hy vier 'opwindende en gevaarlike jare' lank deel van die Weermag se spesiale magte"
Translation into English: "Later he spent four 'exciting and dangerous years' in the Army's special forces."|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720180239/http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1992/08/25/17/4.html|archive-date=20 July 2011}}

From 1983 to 1985, he was the military attaché in Argentina. In 1986 Commodore Woodburne became Director of Naval Operations, then seven months later Chief of Naval Staff Operations. In January 1989 Rear-Admiral Woodburne moved to the Western Cape as Flag Officer Commanding Naval Command West.{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1989/01/21/6/17.html |title=Vlootbevel oorhandig |publisher=Die Burger |date=January 21, 1989 |access-date=November 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205032020/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1989/01/21/6/17.html |archive-date=December 5, 2014 }} On 1 July 1990 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral and appointed as Chief of the South African Navy, a position he held until retirement on 31 August 1992.

Woodburne married Vivienne Kemp and the couple had two daughters, but they divorced after his retirement.

Woodburne was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2007{{cite web | url=http://www.dieburger.com/nuus/2013-07-08-oud-vlootadmiraal-73-oorlede-n-n-lang-siekte | title=Oud-vlootadmiraal (73) oorlede ná 'n lang siekte | publisher=Die Burger | date=July 8, 2013 | access-date=July 23, 2014 | author=Nel, Carryn-Ann}} and was confined to a wheelchair.{{cite web |url=http://www.sawv.za.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&listid=4-welenwee&mailid=13-welenwee222011&Itemid=53 |title=Wel en Wee: Berig 22/ 2011 |access-date=2012-10-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416101906/http://www.sawv.za.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&listid=4-welenwee&mailid=13-welenwee222011&Itemid=53 |archive-date=2013-04-16 }} He died on 5 July 2013 and was accorded a military funeral in Simon's Town.

Vice Admiral Woodburne's medal group is unique as it contains the Van Riebeeck Decoration plus two Southern Cross Medals – the 1952–1975 version and the 1976 version, both of which allowed the wearer to use the post nominal letters SM.

The citation for the Van Riebeeck Decoration reads:{{cquote|Lieutenant Commander Lambert Woodburne distinguished himself by displaying outstanding leadership, perseverance and devotion to duty in a special task of a delicate and dangerous nature during 1972.}}

One occasion, during that year, he was placed in command of an extremely sensitive task in the interest of the security of the State, in the execution of which a great deal had to be relied upon his own judgement and initiative and which demanded positive and dynamic leadership from him.{{Rp|51}} He tackled and executed this difficult task with great courage and daring and, with his personal example, inspired the other members of the team that took part in this task. His positive leadership, perseverance in the face of great odds and his outstanding devotion to duty undoubtedly played a decisive role in the successful execution of the task.{{Rp|52}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|author=Peter Stiff|title=The Silent War: South African recce operations 1969–1994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xWjMyPpBHW4C|access-date=19 April 2011|year=2001|publisher=Galago|isbn=978-1-919854-04-5}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil.za/ |title=The South African Navy Official Website}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.sadf.info/OperationalNavy.html |title=The operational South African navy| website=SADF Information website}} including several pictures of "Woody" Woodburne and Daphné class submarines

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{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef | before = Andries Putter}}

{{s-ttl | title = Chief of the South African Navy | years = 1990{{ndash}}1992}}

{{s-aft | after = Robert Claude Simpson-Anderson}}

{{s-bef | before = Chris Bennett}}

{{s-ttl | title = Flag Officer Commanding NAVCOM West | years = 1989{{ndash}}1990}}

{{s-aft | after = Position disbanded}}

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{{s-vac|unknown}}

{{s-ttl | title = Chief of Naval Staff Operations | years = 1986{{ndash}}1989}}

{{s-vac|unknown}}

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{{SA Navy Chiefs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodburne, Lambert Jackson}}

Category:2013 deaths

Category:1939 births

Category:People from Kimberley, Northern Cape

Category:Chiefs of the South African Navy

Category:South African military personnel of the Border War

Category:South African people of British descent

Category:Submarine commanders

Category:Military attachés