Peter Compston

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Sir Peter Compston
Born(1915-09-12)12 September 1915
Died20 August 2000(2000-08-20) (aged 84)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1937–1970
RankVice-admiral
Commands heldHMS Orwell
HMS Victorious
Battles/warsWorld War II
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Maxwell Compston KCB (12 September 1915 – 20 August 2000) was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.

Naval career[edit]

Educated at the Epsom College, Compston joined the Royal Air Force in 1936[1] and transferred to the Royal Navy in 1937.[2] He served in World War II with 810 Naval Air Squadron and then 700 Naval Air Squadron.[3] He was appointed Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Orwell in 1955, naval attaché in Paris in 1960 and Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in 1962.[3] Victorious was under Compston's command during service in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[3] He was promoted to rear admiral on 7 January 1965,[4] went on to be naval attaché in Washington D. C. in 1965, Flag Officer Flotillas Western Fleet in 1967 and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1968.[2] He retired in 1970.[2]

Family[edit]

In 1939 he married Valerie Marjorie Bocquet; they had one son and one daughter.[2] Following the dissolution of his first marriage, he married Angela Brickwood in 1954.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Obituary: Vice Admiral Sir Peter Compston The Times, 19 September 2000
  2. ^ a b c d e Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. ^ a b c Obituary: Vice Admiral Sir Peter Compston Daily Telegraph, 4 September 2000
  4. ^ "No. 43600". The London Gazette. 16 March 1965. p. 2632.
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
1968–1970
Succeeded by