- David Leach (admiral)
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Vice Admiral
David Willoughby Leach
AC, CBE, LVO, RANBorn 17 July 1928 (age 83)
Perth, Western AustraliaAllegiance Australia Service/branch Royal Australian Navy Years of service 1942–1988 Rank Vice Admiral Commands held Chief of the Naval Staff
HM Australian Fleet
HMAS Perth
HMAS HobartBattles/wars Second World War
Vietnam WarAwards Companion of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian OrderVice Admiral David Willoughby Leach AC, CBE, LVO (17 July 1928 – ) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, who served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 1982 to 1985.
Career
Leach was born on 17 July 1928 in Perth, Western Australia. Aged thirteen, he entered the Royal Australian Naval College in January 1942.[1]
Leach commanded the guided missile destroyers HMAS Hobart and HMAS Perth during the Vietnam War[2] for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1969.[3] In 1970 he managed naval liaison for the Royal Visit to Australia for which he was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.[4]
He was appointed Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet in 1979 and Chief of the Naval Staff in 1982.[2] He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in June 1984,[5] and retired in 1985.[2]
References
Military offices Preceded by
Vice Admiral Sir James WillisChief of the Naval Staff
1982 – 1985Succeeded by
Vice Admiral Michael HudsonPreceded by
Rear Admiral James WillisFlag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet
1979 – 1980Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Peter DoyleChiefs of the Royal Australian NavyDirector,
Commonwealth Naval ForcesFirst Naval Members,
Australian Commonwealth Naval BoardSir William Rooke Creswell • Sir Percy Grant • Sir Allan Everett • Percival Hall-Thompson • William Napier • Sir William Munro Kerr • Sir George Hyde • Sir Ragnar Colvin • Sir Guy Royle • Sir Louis Keppel Hamilton • Sir John Augustine Collins • Sir Roy Dowling • Sir Henry Burrell • Sir Hastings Harrington • Sir Alan McNicoll • Sir Victor Smith • Sir Richard Peek • Sir David Stevenson
Chiefs of the Naval Staff Sir Anthony Synnot • Sir James Willis • David Leach • Michael Hudson • Ian MacDougall • Rodney Taylor
Chiefs of Navy Rodney Taylor • Donald Chalmers • David Shackleton • Chris Ritchie • Russ Shalders • Russell Crane • Raymond Griggs
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet Sir George Patey · Sir William Pakenham · Arthur Leveson · Sir Lionel Halsey · John Dumaresq · Albert Addison · Thomas Wardle
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron George Hyde · Edward Evans · Leonard Holbrook · Robin Dalglish · Wilbraham Ford · Richard Lane-Poole · Wilfred Custance · Wilfrid Patterson · John Crace · Victor Crutchley · John Collins · Charles Nichols · Harold Farncomb · John Collins · Harold Farncomb
Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet John Eccles · John Eaton · Roy Dowling · Henry Burrell · David Harries · Henry Burrell · Galfrey Gatacre · Hastings Harrington · Alan McNicoll · Otto Becher · Thomas Morrison · Victor Smith · Richard Peek · Gordon Crabb · David Stevenson · William Dovers · David Stevenson · William Dovers · Anthony Synnot · David Wells · Geoffrey Gladstone · Neil McDonald · James Willis · David Leach · Peter Doyle · John Stevens · Michael Hudson · Geoffrey Woolrych · Ian Knox · Peter Sinclair
Maritime Commander Australia Peter Sinclair · Ian MacDougall · Ken Doolan · Robert Walls · Donald Chalmers · Chris Oxenbould · Chris Ritchie · John Lord · Geoffrey Smith · Raydon Gates · Rowan Moffitt · Davyd Thomas
Commander Australian Fleet Davyd Thomas · Nigel Coates · Steve Gilmore
Categories:- 1928 births
- Australian military personnel of the Vietnam War
- Australian military personnel of World War II
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Order of Australia
- Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
- Living people
- People from Perth, Western Australia
- Royal Australian Navy admirals
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