Roderick Douglas Macdonald
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Sir Roderick Douglas Macdonald KBE
(25 February 1921 to 19 January 2001) was Chief of Staff
of Naval Home Command.
, Macdonald joined the Royal Navy
in 1939. He saw action during World War II
during the Norwegian Campaign
. After the War he commanded various ships and was mentioned in dispatches
for actions against EOKA
. Between 1965 and 1966 he commanded naval forces in Borneo
. During the early 1970s he commanded HMS Bristol
.
In 1973 he was appointed Chief of Staff
Naval Home Command and then in 1976 he became Chief of Staff
of Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe at NATO. He retired in 1979.
and retired to his home on the Isle of Skye where he was cheiftan of the annual Highland games. In 1993, his book 'The Figurehead' was published detailing his early war time career in the Royal Navy ISBN 978-1858210568. He is buried in Portree cemetery on Skye, Coordinates N57 24.180 W6 11.986.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Sir Roderick Douglas Macdonald KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(25 February 1921 to 19 January 2001) was Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Naval Home Command.
Naval career
Educated at Fettes CollegeFettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
, Macdonald joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1939. He saw action during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
. After the War he commanded various ships and was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
for actions against EOKA
EOKA
EOKA was an anticolonial, antiimperialist nationalist organisation with the ultimate goal of "The liberation of Cyprus from the British yoke". Although not stated in its initial declaration of existence which was printed and distributed on the 1st of April 1955, EOKA also had a target of achieving...
. Between 1965 and 1966 he commanded naval forces in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. During the early 1970s he commanded HMS Bristol
HMS Bristol (D23)
HMS Bristol is a Type 82 destroyer, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01 aircraft carriers projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship...
.
In 1973 he was appointed Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
Naval Home Command and then in 1976 he became Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe at NATO. He retired in 1979.
Later career
In retirement he became a distinguished artistArtist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and retired to his home on the Isle of Skye where he was cheiftan of the annual Highland games. In 1993, his book 'The Figurehead' was published detailing his early war time career in the Royal Navy ISBN 978-1858210568. He is buried in Portree cemetery on Skye, Coordinates N57 24.180 W6 11.986.