Spivey, Robert Edward "Spiv"

Date of birth:: March 25th, 1921 (Chelsea district, London, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: February 8th, 1994
Nationality:: British

Biography

Robert Spivey was a paratrooper, quartermaster for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), magistrate on South Georgia, and colonial administrator.

Following his commando course in Argyllshire he joined the the Parachute Regiment with which he saw action in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and at Arnhem for which he received his MiD.
After WW2 he served in Palestine. He also served in the Arab Legion and with a Ghurka Regiment.

In 1947 Spivey joined FIDS as a general assistant, and was appointed to serve for one year at Base ‘E’ on Stonington Island in Marguerite Bay which is at the west of the Antarctic peninsula.
Spivey served as Magistrate and Administrator in South Georgia 1954-1957. In 1955 he was awarded the Polar Medal.
On 7 February 1958 Spivey was appointed Administrative Officer, Western Pacific High Commission (British Solomon Islands).
In 1968 Robert Spivey resigned from the Colonial Service and the family settled in Australia.
Spivey worked for the Australian Hospitals Association and the Chamber of Manufacturers, before he semi -retired.

Spivey died suddenly on 8 February 1994
Spivey was planning to take part in the 50th anniversary celebration at Arnhem, but he died a few months before the event. At his request his ashes were buried in the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Oosterbeek, in the Netherlands.

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