Peveril William-Powlett

Vice Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reiby Wallop William-Powlett KCB KCMG CBE DSO (5 March 1898 – 10 November 1985) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station.

William-Powlett attended Cordwalles School and joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in 1914 and served in World War I specialising in signals. A keen sportsman, he played rugby for England in 1922. He saw service with the New Zealand Division from 1931 to 1936 and then commanded the cadet training ship HMS Frobisher in 1939.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

He served in World War II as Director of Manning at the Admiralty and then commanded the cruiser HMS Fiji which was sunk during the Battle of Crete in 1941. He was appointed Chief of Staff of Force H at Gibraltar in 1941 and then commanded HMS Newcastle from 1942. He became Captain of the Fleet in the Home Fleet in 1944.

After the War he commanded the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and then became Naval Secretary in 1948. He went on to be Flag Officer (Destroyers) in the Mediterranean Fleet in 1950 and Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic in 1952. He retired in 1954.

In retirement he served as Governor of Southern Rhodesia from 1954 until 1959.

In 1923, he married Helen Constance Crombie; they had three daughters. Following the death of his first wife he married Barbara Patience William-Powett, widow of his brother, in 1966.

His second daughter, Helen, married Henry Bruce of Salloch, and was the mother of the royal commentator Alastair Bruce of Crionaich.