Date of birth:

February 14th, 1910 (Sumner/Christchurch, New Zealand)

Date of death:

August 8th, 1988 (Onekaka, New Zealand)

Nationality:

New Zealander

Richard Washbourn was educated at Nelson College and entered the RN by special entry from New Zealand in 1927. After spending eight years aboard HMS Erebus, HMS London, and HMS Diomede, he spent 1936–37 specialising in gunnery. In 1938 he was posted to HMS Excellent and in 1939 to HMS Achilles. For his part in the engagement at the River Plate Rear Admiral Washbourn won the D.S.O. After three years' service on Achilles he transferred to HMS Anson. The final two years of the war he spent at the Admiralty Gunnery Establishment. In 1950 he became Executive Officer on HMNZS Bellona for two years, Commander Superintendent of HMNZ Dockyard, Devonport, and Deputy Director of Naval Ordnance, 1951–52. After a year in command of HMS Manxman he was appointed Chief Staff Officer to Flag Officer (Flotillas) in the Mediterranean, 1954–55. He next spent two years as Director of Naval Ordnance and a year in command of HMS Tiger before taking up the position of Director-General of Weapons for the Admiralty (1960–62). In 1963 became Chief of Naval Staff, Wellington, New Zealand.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

H.M.S. Achilles (70), Royal Navy

Awarded on:

February 23rd, 1940

Citation:
"who, when early in the action several splinters struck the Gun Director Tower, at once killing three men and wounding two others inside the tower, though wounded on the head by a splinter which half stunned him and killed the man behind him, continued to control the main armament with the utmost coolness. He set a magnificent example to the rest of the Director Tower crew, who all stood to their posts and made light of the incident. Thus the Primary Control kept working and secured throughout the action a high rate of hits on the enemy."

For the River Plate Operation, sinking of the Admiral Graf Spee.

• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34796
  - EXPATRIATES — BIOGRAPHIES – 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand – Te Ara
  - The Navy Club