PASSING OF THE LATE RADM WILLIAM (BILL) JOHN DOVERS CBE DSC

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ROUTINE

FROM: CN AUSTRALIA

TO: AIG 3600
AIG 3602
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RAN ALL SHORE 2/3
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UNCLAS

SIC Z4P/WUA

SUBJ: PASSING OF THE LATE RADM WILLIAM (BILL) JOHN DOVERS CBE DSC RAN RTD

1. IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I INFORM THE NAVY OF THE DEATH OF ONE OF OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED ADMIRALS - RADM WILLIAM (BILL) JOHN DOVERS CBE DSC RAN RTD WHO PASSED AWAY IN CANBERRA ON WED 3 OCT 07

2. RADM DOVERS WAS BORN IN SYDNEY ON 12 FEB 1918 AND JOINED THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY IN SEP 1932. DURING HIS 43 YEARS OF SERVICE HE SERVED AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF HMA SHIPS SWAN, BARCOO, GLADSTONE, ARUNTA, VOYAGER, SYDNEY AND SUPPLY. HE ALSO SERVED AS COMMANDING OFFICER HMAS CRESWELL FROM 1958-59 AND WAS APPOINTED AS THE COMMANDER ROYAL MALAYAN NAVY FROM 1960-62

3. IN DEC 1967 HE WAS PROMOTED TO RADM AND SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR JOINT STAFF BEFORE BEING APPOINTED IN APRIL 1971 AS FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING HMA FLEET. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF IN 1973 HIS FINAL POSTING WAS AS FLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE EAST AUSTRALIAN AREA, FROM WHERE HE RETIRED IN 1975

4. ON HIS RETIREMENT, RADM DOVERS WAS APPOINTED AS THE CHIEF PROJECT OFFICER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE ACADEMY, A POSITION HE HELD FOR EIGHT YEARS

5. RADM DOVERS PASSING IS A GREAT SORROW FOR THE RAN. A SERVICE FUNERAL WILL BE HELD IN CANBERRA NEXT WEEK. THE DATE AND TIME WILL BE ADVISED BY FURTHER SIGNAL

DRAFTER: CAPT D.W. BATES, CSO CN
RELEASED: VADM R.E. SHALDERS, CN