Vice-Admiral Sir Gilbert Owen Stephenson, (13 February 1878 – 27 May 1972) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy, a pioneer of anti-submarine techniques in the First World War and a distinguished naval training commandant in the Second World War.

Early life and career

Stephenson was born in London on 13 February 1878. His father was a merchant in the Indian trade. Stephenson joined the Royal Navy aged fourteen in 1892 when he began his training at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. As a midshipman he was posted to and . While with Forte he was involved in the Punitive Expedition of 1897 in Benin. Following promotion to sub-lieutenant on 15 June 1898, he went first to the First Destroyer Flotilla. In February 1900 he was posted to , flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, and served on for the voyage to Malta. The following year he was given his first command, the torpedo boat, TB 90.

Stephenson managed to make a favourable impression on Admiral Sir Jackie Fisher, the then Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. As a result, Stephenson, aged just 23, was given command of the destroyer, . He then took the torpedo course at Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and was posted to the staff of , the Royal Navy's torpedo school. This was followed by appointments as torpedo officer aboard the cruisers and . After promotion to lieutenant commander, he served as First Lieutenant on the battleship . He was promoted commander in 1912.

First World War and first retirement

At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Stephenson was based in the Admiralty, attached to the Naval Intelligence Division. appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1919 New Year Honours, awarded the Greek decoration of Commander of the Order of the Redeemer for his service in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, and was also awarded the United States Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

These experiments led to Stephenson's first post-war role, as director of the anti-submarine division of the Admiralty. He found many of his fellow officers conservative in their approach, and struggled to get new techniques accepted. He left this role in 1921 to command the cruiser , and then in 1923 the battleship , where he had the young Louis Mountbatten as one of his junior officers. and later that year was placed on the retired list, with promotion to rear admiral. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1930. He also ran a boys' club near his Hampshire home, where he was nicknamed "Monkey Brand" as the boys thought his heavily whiskered face was like the image used to advertise a well-known household cleaning product. immediately kicked it into the water. After Stephenson commended him for quick action, but wanting his heavily gold-braided hat back, he then suddenly said the hat was now a man overboard and the trainee had to dive in to retrieve it.

Stephenson had the reputation of being a very hard taskmaster, with officers being replaced before the ship was allowed to leave (and even commanding officers being dismissed on occasion). However, he was reportedly very pleasant to those who matched his standards. Although he was disliked by the trainees, who called him "The Terror of Tobermory" and "The Monkey", Stephenson was credited in producing capable sailors who were able to meet the demands of the Battle of the Atlantic. As such, Stephenson is credited with being a factor in turning the tide in favour of the Allies in that critical contest in the war. knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1943 Birthday Honours, and was later given the decoration of Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He retired for the second time in 1945, with the anti-submarine battle won. but resigned with 7 others in 1968. His name was listed as a sponsor of the National Fellowship in a full-page advertisement placed in The Times by the Fellowship in 1962.

Stephenson died in Saffron Walden on 27 May 1972, at the age of 94.

References

  • A tribute page by The Western Isles Hotel