Robert Syme Denholm Armour OBE (1900-1981)

Dates

Birth: 25 September 1900 Etchilhampton, Wiltshire, UK
Father: George Denholm Armour 1864-1949
Mother: Mary Emma Taylor Robb c1864-1925

Marriage: April-June 1930 Kensington, London, UK
Wife: Phyllis Eileen Katherine Morrison [Slade (Schlaich)] 1911-1973
Divorced: 1932

Marriage: Unknown
Wife: Esley Lee Cooper 1913-2006

Death: 3 July 1981 Compton, Chichester, West Sussex, UK

Children

By Esley
Jennifer Ann Denholm Armour [Fox] 1935-2013
Ian R D Armour 1938

Notes

Birth of Robert Syme D Armour in FreeBMD in October-December 1900 in Devizes (5a 92).

Entry in the 1901 census for Robert L Armour aged 6 months, born in Etchilhampton, Wiltshire and living with his parents (George D and Mary E), and three servants (Annie Carpenter aged 23, born in Penknap, Wiltshire, and a cook, Annie Horner aged 23, born in Nether Wallop, Hampshire and a housemaid, and Rowena Evans aged 22, born in Nougalle, Pembrokeshire and a nurse) in Etchilhampton, Wiltshire.

In the 1911 census as Robert Synne (sic - on the handwritten original) Denholm Armour aged 10, born in Etchilhampton, Wiltshire and a schoolboy at Connaught House School, Portmore, Rodwell, Weymouth. His parents and brother were living at Sandridge Cottage, Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Entry in The Navy List for January 1919 Corrected to the 18th December 1918 Volume One 1917 Midshipmen [...] Robert Syme Denholm Armour 1 May.

Entry in National Archives for Armour, Robert Syme Denholm born 25 September 1900, Rank Commander, enrolled 07 May 1917 .

In the 1921 census as Robert S D Armour born in Wiltshire in 1900 and in the Royal Navy.

Marriage of Robert S D Armour and Phyllis E K Morrison in FreeBMD in April-June 1930 in Kensington (1a 389).

Entry in National Archives for Robert Syme Denholm Armour in husband's petition for divorce, Divorce Court File 2329 1932 respondent Phyllis Eileen Katherine Armour, appellant Robert Syme Denholm Armour, co-respondent Stephen Caplovitch. There is also an entry for Robert Syme Denholm Armour born on 25 September 1900, a commander in the Royal Navy dated 7 May 1917.

Entry in The Navy List July 1945 Commanders 1937 [...] (Acting Captain) (0) m Robert Syme Denholm Armour.

Entry in Unit Histories Armour, Robert Syme Denholm "Ted" Married Esley ...; one daughter, one son, born 25.09.1900 Devizes, Wiltshire died 03.07.1981 Compton, Chichester district, Midsh. 01.05.1917, A/Lt. ?, Lt. 15.05.1922, 27.10.1922 seniority 15.04.1922, Lt.Cdr. 15.04.1930, Cdr. 31.12.1937 (retd 25.09.1950), A/Capt. 11.04.1942? Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE 01.01.1951 New Year 51 Life Saving Medal 07.05.1917 entered RN
07.05.1917 - (01.1919) HMS Renown (battleship)
25.08.1924 - (01.1925) HMS Adamant (submarine depot ship) (Mediterranean)
24.01.1927 - (07.1927) HMS Tamar (receiving ship) (for observer duties) (Hong Kong)
14.09.1928 - (04.1930) HMS Argus (aircraft carrier) (Atlantic Fleet)
15.04.1930 - (02.1931) HMS Glorious (aircraft carrier) (Mediterranean)
12.1931 - (09.1932) HMS Furious (aircraft carrier)
25.07.1933 - (01.1934) HMS Dorsetshire (cruiser) (Africa)
17.04.1935 - (07.1937) HMS Courageous (aircraft carrier) (Home Fleet)
22.11.1937 - (02.1938) Naval Air Division, Admiralty [HMS President]
18.02.1938 - (08.1939) Air Matériel Department, Admiralty [HMS President]
22.02.1940 - (04.)1940 HMS Daedalus (RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent)
06.07.1940 - (12.1941) Executive Officer, HMS Cumberland (cruiser)
11.04.1942 - (12.1943) Training Captain, HMS Daedalus (RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent)
28.02.1944 - (01.)1945 Commanding Officer, HMS Rajah (escort carrier)
04.1945 - (07.1945) Commanding Officer, HMS Goshawk (RN Air Station, Pairco, Trinidad)
(04.1946) no appointment listed
01.04.1947 - (05.1950) Staff Flag Officer Air (Home) [HMS Daedalus (RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent)]
? - 10.03.1957 Honorary Lt.Cdr. RNVR

There are two entries in Ancestry London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 for Robert Syme Armour, address 23 Lancaster Close, Lancaster Gate, Paddington in 1938 and 1939, other occupant Esley Lee Armour (wife?).

Entry in the 1939 England and Wales Register for Robert S D Armour born 25 September 1900, married, a Commander Royal Navy, and living with Esley L Armour (wife?), Jenifer A W Armour (daughter?), Matrgot J Evans and one other (son?) at Appledown, unknown road, Chichester, Sussex.

There are three entries for Comdr R S D Armour and 21 entries for RSD Armour in Ancestry British Phone Books 1880-1984 address 23 Lancaster Close, St Petersburgh Place, W2 number BAYswater 0677 in 1939-1940, Appledown, Hambrook W Asling 365 in 1940-1946, The Fardens or Farns Cottage Compton 251 in 1951-1983.

Entry in Ancestry All UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 for R D S Armour.

Entry in SUPPLEMENT TO THE -LONDON GAZETTE 1 JANUARY 1951 page 6

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD, St James Palace 1st January, 1951.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire : —
[...]
To be Ordinary Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: — Captain Robert Syme Denholm ARMOUR, Royal Navy (Retired).

Entry in the Register of Deaths for Robert Syme D Armour, born on 25 September 1900, in July-September 1981 in Chichester (18 1354).

Entry in Uboat for Robert Syme Denholm Armour, RN born 25 September 1900 Devizes, Wiltshire, 1 May 1917 Mid., 15 September 1919 A/S.Lt., 15 May 1920 S.Lt., 15 Apr 1922 Lt., 15 April 1930 Lt.Cdr., 31 Dececember 1937 Cdr., 21 May 1942 A/Capt., Retired: 25 Sep 1950, 1 Jan 1951 OBE. HMS Rajah (D 10) A/Capt. Escort Carrier 28 Feb 1944 Nov 1944 A/Capt. Armour, Robert Syme Denholm, OBE, RN 1 January 1951, died 3 Jul 1981 (80). "The HMS Rajah (D 10) was an Escort Carrier, Class Ameer, Pennant D 10, built by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.), laid down 17 December 1942, launched 18 May 1943, former name USS Prince, transferred to the Royal Navy under lend-lease, commissioned 17 January 1944, ended service 13 December 1946, returned to the United States Navy on 13 December 1946, sold into merchantile service on 7 July 1947 being renamed Drente, renamed Lambros in 1966, renamed Ulysses in 1969, and scrapped in Taiwan in June 1975."

Entry in Ancestry Public Member Trees for Robert L Armour.

Relationship

Robert Syme Denholm Armour was the husband of Phyllis Eileen Katherine Morrison, wife of Erwin Henry Martin Slade (Schlaich), husband of Lucienne Marie G Lagasse de Locht, wife of Anthony Peter Crane, husband of Violet Anne Christine Elphinstone Fenton, wife of Philip Dudley Cross, my half first cousin.

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