Derek Reffell

Admiral Sir Derek Roy Reffell, KCB (born 6 October 1928) is a former Royal Navy officer and Governor of Gibraltar.

Sir Derek Reffell
Born (1928-10-06) 6 October 1928
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
RankAdmiral
Commands heldController of the Navy
HMS Hermes
HMS Sirius
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Other workGovernor of Gibraltar (1989–93)
Viceregal styles of
Sir Derek Reffell
(1989–1993)
Reference styleHis Excellency
Spoken styleYour Excellency

Educated at Culford School,[1] Reffell entered the Royal Navy, qualified as a Navigating Officer in 1954 and progressed through the ranks: he commanded the frigate HMS Sirius from her launch in 1966,[2] and served as captain of the commando carrier HMS Hermes from 1974 to 1976 and as Commodore, Amphibious Warfare, from 1978 to 1979. He was appointed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff for Policy – ACNS(P) – in 1979.[3] He was promoted to Vice-Admiral, becoming Flag Officer, Third Flotilla (FOF3) in 1982.[3]

During the Falklands War Admiral Reffell was serving as Flag Officer Third Flotilla in charge of the amphibious ships and aircraft carriers. Alastair Finlan commented that Admiral Reffell was the obvious choice for in-theatre commander but was not selected.[4] Commodore Clapp later expressed his surprise at this decision, and, what was more, the fact that Reffell was barred access to the Northwood Headquarters so that his advice was not available.[5] He did however become senior officer in-theatre (aboard Bristol for a period) from 1 July 1982 after Woodward had returned home.[6]

He became Controller of the Navy in 1984 and was Governor of Gibraltar 1989–1993.[3]

References
  1. Culford School
  2. The view from the Captain's cabin
  3. Whitaker's Almanacks
  4. Alastair Finlan, The Royal Navy in the Falklands Conflict and the Gulf War: culture and strategy
  5. Michael Clapp and Ewen Southby-Tailyour, Amphibious Assault Falklands, via Finlan, p.74, via Google Books
  6. The Royal Navy in the Falklands War, p.344 and Edward Fursdon, Falklands Aftermath: Picking Up the Pieces, p.61
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Lindsay Bryson		 Controller of the Navy
1984–1989		 Succeeded by
Sir Kenneth Eaton
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Peter Terry		 Governor of Gibraltar
1989–1993		 Succeeded by
Sir John Chapple
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