William Pillar
| Sir William Pillar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 February 1924 |
| Died | 18 March 1999 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1942 - 1984 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir William Thomas Pillar GBE KCB FIMechE[1] (24 February 1924 – 18 March 1999) was Chief of Naval Support and a member of the Admiralty.
Naval career
Educated at Blundell's School and latterly at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Pillar joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1942 during World War II.[2] He was promoted to sub-lieutenant (Engineering Branch) on 1 June 1944.[3] An acting lieutenant at the war's end, he was promoted to substantive lieutenant (E) on 3 June 1947 (seniority 1 October 1945).[4] Following service in the Korean War he was promoted to lieutenant-commander (E) on 1 October 1953,[5] to commander (E) on 31 December 1958[6] and to captain (E) on 31 December 1966.[7]
He was appointed Assistant to the Director-General, Ships in 1970 and Commander of the Royal Naval Engineering College in 1973.[2] Attaining flag rank as a rear admiral on 7 January 1976,[1] he was made Port Admiral at Rosyth and then Assistant Chief of Fleet Support.[2] Promoted to vice-admiral on 2 April 1979,[8] he became the first Royal Navy engineer officer to be Chief of Fleet Support. He was appointed a KCB in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours list,[9] and was promoted to admiral on 5 January 1982.[10] In 1982, he became Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies.[2] Appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, Military Division (GBE) in the Birthday Honours list the following year,[11] he retired on 6 March 1984.[12]
On retirement from the Royal Navy he became Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Jersey.[2] He was also Commodore and later Life Vice-Commodore of the Royal Navy Sailing Association,[13] a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron,[2] President of the Royal Navy Modern Pentathlon Association and a Knight of St. John.
Family
In 1946 he married Ursula Ransley; they had three sons and a daughter.[2]
References
- 1 2 The London Gazette, 6 January 1976
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Obituary: Admiral Sir William Pillar The Independent, 13 April 1999
- ↑ The London Gazette, 22 February 1946
- ↑ The London Gazette, 13 June 1947
- ↑ The London Gazette, 29 December 1953
- ↑ The London Gazette, 27 January 1959
- ↑ The London Gazette, 3 January 1967
- ↑ The London Gazette, 3 April 1979
- ↑ The London Gazette, 14 June 1980
- ↑ The London Gazette, 2 February 1982
- ↑ The London Gazette, 11 June 1983
- ↑ The London Gazette, 6 March 1984
- ↑ Obituary: Admiral Sir William Pillar The Times, 6 April 1999
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir James Eberle |
Chief of Fleet Support 1979-1981 |
Succeeded by Sir James Kennon |
| Preceded by Sir Robert Freer |
Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies 1982–1984 |
Succeeded by Sir Michael Gow |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Peter Whiteley |
Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 1985 – 1990 |
Succeeded by Sir John Sutton |