Quick Facts
Biography
Admiral Sir Richard Victor Symonds-Tayler KBE CB DSC (1897–1971) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station.
Naval career
Symonds-Tayler joined the Royal Navy in 1910 and served in World War I. He was seconded to the British Naval Mission to Greece in 1929 and was given command of HMS Centurion in 1938.
He served in World War II as Commanding Officer of HMS Sussex and then as Director Training and Staff Duties at the Admiralty until December 1942 when he was given command of HMS London.
After the War he was made Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth and then Chief of Staff to the British Naval Representative on the United Nations Military Staff Committee in 1946. He was appointed Flag Officer commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1947 and Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station in 1949; he made an official visit to Buenos Aires in 1951 and retired in 1952.