Daphne Blundell

Daphne Blundell
Birth name Daphne Mary Blundell
Born (1916-08-19)19 August 1916
Died 24 May 2004(2004-05-24) (aged 87)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service 1942–1973
Commands held Women's Royal Naval Service (1970–1973)
Battles/wars Second World War

Daphne Mary Blundell, CB, Hon ADC (19 August 1916 – 24 May 2004) was a British senior naval officer, who served as Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) from 1970 to 1973.

Early life and education

Blundell was born on 19 August 1916. She was educated at St Helen's School, an all-girls independent school in Northwood, London. She studied at Bedford College, London, the first higher education institution for women in the United Kingdom.[1]

Military career

Blundell joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in November 1942.[1] She was promoted to acting third officer (equivalent to sub-lieutenant) on 26 September 1943.[2] During her early career, she served in Orkney, Ceylon, East Africa, and Malta.[1] She served on the staff of Flag Officer Naval Air Command from 1964 to 1967.[1] She was promoted to superintendent (equivalent to captain) in 1967.[1] She was on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth between 1967 and 1969.[1] From 1969 to 1970, she was Superintendent of WRNS Training and Drafting.[1] In 1970, she was appointed Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service and promoted to commandant (equivalent to commodore).[1][3]

Blundell retired from the Women's Royal Naval Service on 24 August 1973.[4]

Later life

In retirement, Blundell served as President of the Association of Wrens.[5] She never married nor had any children.[6]

Blundell died on 24 May 2004, aged 87.[1] Her funeral was held at Holy Trinity Church, Northwood on 3 June 2004.[6]

Honours

On 8 July 1970, Blundell was appointed an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Queen (Hon ADC).[7] In the 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[8] She stepped down as Hon ADC in July 1973.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Blundell, Commandant Daphne Mary". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U7910. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ↑ "No. 36260". The London Gazette. 23 November 1943. p. 5146.
  3. ↑ "Birthdays". The Times. 19 August 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "No. 46056". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 August 1973. p. 10047.
  5. ↑ "President". Association of Wrens. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Deaths Announcements - BLUNDELL". Telegraph Announcements. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "No. 45168". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1970. p. 8853.
  8. ↑ "No. 45678". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 May 1972. p. 6256.
  9. ↑ "No. 45899". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 February 1973. p. 1679.
Military offices
Preceded by
Dame Marion Kettlewell		 Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service
1970–1973		 Succeeded by
Mary Talbot
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