Robin Durnford-Slater
Sir Robin Leonard Francis Durnford-Slater KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be the last Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.Early life
Born as Leonard Francis Slater in 1902 in the Punjab area of India the son of Leonard Slater, an Army Captain and his wife Constance Durnford Slater. His younger brother John became notable as the first British Commando.
He was educated at Summer Fields School.Naval career
Durnford-Slater joined the Royal Navy in 1923.
He served in World War II, initially as Executive Officer on the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes which was sunk in 1942. He then joined the torpedo school HMS Vernon. He next became Senior Officer for the 42nd and the 7th Escort Group of Western Approaches Command. Later he became Training Captain on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Command and finally Director of Underwater Weapons at the Admiralty.
After the War he became Senior Officer for 1st Escort Flotilla in the Far East Fleet. He went on to be Commandant at the School of Amphibious Warfare and then Captain of the cruiser HMS Gambia. In 1953 he was made Deputy Controller of the Navy. He commanding the Naval Forces during Suez Crisis in 1956. After that he was made Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet and then, from 1958, the last Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. He retired in 1961.
