Roy Dowling

Sir Roy Russell Dowling
Captain Roy Dowling, 1945
Born	(1901-05-28)28 May 1901 Condong, New South Wales
Died	15 April 1969(1969-04-15) (aged 67) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1915–61
Rank	Vice Admiral
Unit	HMAS Adelaide (1923–24) HMS Naiad (1940–42)
Commands held	HMAS Swan (1937–38) HMAS Hobart (1944–46) HMAS Sydney (1948–50) HM Australian Fleet (1953–54) Chief of Naval Staff (1955–59) Chairman COSC (1959–61)
Battles/wars	World War II Mediterranean theatre Battle of Crete Syrian campaign First Battle of Sirte South West Pacific theatre Philippines campaign Battle of Tarakan Aitape–Wewak campaign Battle of Brunei Battle of Balikpapan
Awards	Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order
Other work	Australian Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II (1963–69)

Vice Admiral Sir Roy Russell Dowling, KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO (28 May 1901 – 15 April 1969) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). He served as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), the RAN's highest-ranking position, from 1955 until 1959, and as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), forerunner of the role of Australia's Chief of the Defence Force, from 1959 until 1961.

Born in northern New South Wales, Dowling entered the Royal Australian Naval College in 1915. After graduating in 1919 he went to sea aboard several Royal Navy and RAN vessels, and later specialised in gunnery. In 1937, he was given command of the sloop HMAS Swan. Following the outbreak of World War II, he saw action in the Mediterranean theatre as executive officer of the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Naiad, and survived her sinking by a German U-boat in March 1942. Returning to Australia, he served as Director of Plans and later Deputy Chief of Naval Staff before taking command of the light cruiser HMAS Hobart in November 1944. His achievements in the South West Pacific earned him the Distinguished Service Order.

Dowling took command of the RAN's first aircraft carrier, HMAS Sydney, in 1948. He became Chief of Naval Personnel in 1950, and Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet in 1953. Soon after taking up the position of CNS in February 1955, he was promoted to vice admiral and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. As CNS he had to deal with shortages of money, manpower and equipment, and with the increasing role of the United States in Australia's defence planning, at the expense of traditional ties with Britain. Knighted in 1957, Dowling was Chairman of COSC from March 1959 until May 1961, when he retired from the military. In 1963 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and became Australian Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, serving until his death in 1969.