Derek Reffell

Sir Derek Reffell
Born	6 October 1928
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral
Other work	Governor of Gibraltar

Admiral Sir Derek Roy Reffell KCB (born 6 October 1928) is a former Governor of Gibraltar.

Naval career

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

References

1. ^ Culford School
2. ^ The view from the Captain's cabin
3. ^ ^{a b c} 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

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

Persondata
Name	Reffell, Derek
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	6 October 1928
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death