Walter Couchman

Admiral Sir Walter Thomas Couchman, (19 March 1905 – 2 May 1981) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff from February to November 1960, when he retired from service.

Early life The son of Malcolm Edward Couchman, a civil servant in British India, and Emily Elizabeth Ranking, Walter Couchman was born in Madras in 1905. Educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Couchman joined the Royal Navy and specialized in naval aviation.

Naval career Couchman attended staff college at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1928 and qualified as a naval pilot in 1935.

He went on to be Flag Officer, Flying Training in 1951, He was then appointed Flag Officer, Heavy Squadron in 1953, Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers in 1954 and Deputy Controller of Supplies (Air) at the Ministry of Supply in 1955.

Family He married Phyllida Connellan; they had a son and two daughters. After the death of Hughe in 1972, he married Daphne Harvey, the widow of a naval captain.