Robert Timbrell

Rear Admiral Robert Walter Timbrell, CMM, DSC, CD, Royal Canadian Navy (February 1, 1920 – April 11, 2006) was the first Canadian to be decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross during the Second World War. This followed his part in Operation Dynamo where he was personally responsible for the evacuation of 900 troops from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Later in the war he served on destroyers escorting convoys across the North Atlantic, becoming second in command and then serving on the staff of escort group commanders.

His post-war career saw him command a variety of vessels including the aircraft carrier as well as several staff roles. He ultimately became head of Canada's naval forces but he was unhappy with the merger of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force into the unified Canadian Forces. Following conflicts with the Chief of the Defence Staff, he retired in 1973.

Early life Born in Tavistock, Devon he was the son of a British railway engineer who found work in Canada. His early schooling was at West Vancouver High School in British Columbia, but at 15 he joined the River Mersey-based training ship as a cadet. Timbrell graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1937, student# RCNSE54.

Naval career From 1937 served as a midshipman in the RCN. There was then no naval training in Canada itself, so he was posted to the Royal Navy ships , , , , and in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic.

He had succeeded in digging out the propellers and rudder from the sand when a Guards sergeant appeared with eight guardsmen. The sergeant went back into Dunkirk and commandeered a Bren Gun Carrier, this was driven into the sea until its engine stopped, and then used as an anchor for Llanthony. The two LT mechanics then managed to repair and restart the engines and she could be winched back into the water. A metal plate was fixed over the bomb damage and she returned to Kent with another load of soldiers. and the investiture was made by King George VI himself, on September 3, 1940.

Remaining war service Following his Dunkirk experiences he served on which was sunk in heavy weather following a collision with a freighter she was escorting. Timbrell survived after spending several hours in a life raft with 20 others in the rough seas of the North Atlantic.

Citation for Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

WWII 1939–1945

WWII 1939–1945 with France & Germany Clasp

WWII 1939–1945

WWII 1939–1945

WWII 1939–1945 with Overseas Service bar

WWII 1939–1945

Decoration awarded in 1967

with two Clasp for 32 years of services