Vice Admiral

Glen Syndercombe

SSA, SD, SOE, SM, MMM, SAN (Rtd)
Born(1931-11-17)17 November 1931
Cape Town, South Africa
Died18 July 2005(2005-07-18) (aged 73)
Cape Town, South Africa
Allegiance South Africa
 South Africa
Service/branch South African Navy
Years of service1960–1989
RankVice Admiral
Commands held
AwardsStar of South Africa SSAS Southern Cross Decoration SD South African Police Star for Outstanding Service SOE Southern Cross Medal SM Military Merit Medal MMM Pro Patria Medal ' General Service Medal (South Africa) ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Order of the Cloud and Banner ORB
RelationsCarole van Heerden (wife)
Other workHonorary Colonel

Vice Admiral Glen Syndercombe SSA SD SOE SM MMM SAN (Rtd) (17 November 1931 – 18 July 2005) was a former Chief of the South African Navy.[1]

Born in Cape Town, Syndercomb attended school in Sea Point. His nautical career began in January 1948 with a two-year cadetship at the SA Nautical College General Botha.[2]

Early career

His seagoing career began in the British merchant service in 1950 as a cadet, and his first command came 10 years later in South Africa's Department of Sea Fisheries when he was appointed master of the fisheries survey vessel, Sardinops.

In 1959 he managed to fit in a course of studies at the University of Southampton[1] before transferring from the merchant service to the SA Navy in 1960 as a junior officer.

  • Joined S.A.Navy as lieutenant in 1960.[3]
  • 1960 – 1963 Navigation officer SAS Walvis Bay and SAS Good Hope.
  • 1963 – 1964 Long ND course, HMS Dryad.[1]
  • 1964 – 1966 Squadron navigation officer of 10 Frigate Squadron in SAS President Steyn (F147).
  • 1966 – 1969 Officer in Charge SAN Radar School in Durban.
  • 1969 – 1972 Project officer. Promoted to commander.

In October 1972 he became commanding officer of the destroyer SAS Jan van Riebeeck[1] for two years before being appointed Senior Staff Officer Operations on the staff of the Commander of Naval Operations.[4] This was followed by a one-year stint as a project officer for the Strike Craft project and then as commanding officer of the newly formed strike craft squadron from June 1976, in the rank of captain. In 1979 he completed the Special Joint Staff Course at the South African Defence College and in January 1980 was appointed Director of Naval Operations and promoted to Commodore[1] In October 1982 he became a rear admiral and Chief of Naval Staff Operations.[1][5]

In 1985 he was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of the S.A. Navy.[6]

Honours and awards

His uniform on display at the Naval Museum

The following were awarded:[1][7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hayes, S.V, ed. (1992). Who's Who of Southern Africa. Who's Who of Southern Africa C.C. p. 465. ISBN 0-620-15974-X.
  2. ↑ "Obituary Vice Admiral Glen Syndercombe". Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Glen Syndercombe - S.A. Training Ship General Botha Old Boys Association".
  4. ↑ "The SADF: Supplement to the Financial Mail" (PDF). Financial Mail: 41. July 1987.
  5. ↑ "Vloot neem afskeid van hoof" [Navy bids farewell to chief]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). NASPERS. 31 March 1989. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Englebrecht, Leon (21 January 2010). "Fact file: Chiefs of the South African Navy". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Meer presteerders nodig, sê SP" [More performers needed says State President]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). NASPERS. 26 May 1989. Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

See also

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