Lambert Jackson Woodburne
Nickname(s) | Woody |
---|---|
Born | Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa | 13 July 1939
Died | 5 July 2013 Muizenberg, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa | (aged 73)
Allegiance | South Africa |
Service/ | South African Navy |
Years of service | 1958–1992 |
Rank | Vice admiral |
Commands held |
|
Awards | |
Spouse(s) |
Vivienne Kemp (div. 1992) |
Early life
Woodburne was born in Kimberley, South Africa in 1939.
Military career
Woodburne completed the Specialist Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Course in the United Kingdom where he came top of the class.[5] On his return to South Africa he became the Officer in Charge of the Naval Diving School[5] in Simon's Town for two years. The Navy Diver of the Course still receives the Woody Woodburne Shield.[9] Woodburne went on to command the mine sweepers SAS Mosselbaai and SAS Johannesburg.[6]
With the establishment of the Submarine Branch, he volunteered for
In 1972, the SAS Emily Hobhouse landed Special Forces troops led by Commandant Jan Breytenbach near Dar es Salaam as part of a raid on the Tanzanian port. The Special Forces team placed explosives on a bridge, next to power lines and other targets around the city. While making the pickup rendezvous, the submarine snagged a fishing net and sank the fishing vessel dragging the net.[11]: 50–51 This mission earned Woodburne the Van Riebeeck Decoration.[12]
From 1975 to 1977, he was assigned to the
From 1983 to 1985, he was the military attaché in Argentina.
Personal life
Woodburne married Vivienne Kemp and the couple had two daughters, but they divorced after his retirement.[1]
Woodburne was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2007[16] and was confined to a wheelchair.[17] He died on 5 July 2013 and was accorded a military funeral in Simon's Town.[2]
Decorations and medals
Van Riebeeck Decoration (DVR) | 1972[12]: 10 |
Southern Cross Decoration (SD) | [5] |
Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM) | (1952) 1971[2] |
Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM) | (1975)[5] |
Pro Patria Medal | |
Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years)) | |
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years)) | |
Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years)) |
Vice Admiral Woodburne's medal group is unique as it contains the
The citation for the Van Riebeeck Decoration reads:
Lieutenant Commander Lambert Woodburne distinguished himself by displaying outstanding leadership, perseverance and devotion to duty in a special task of a delicate and dangerous nature during 1972.
One occasion, during that year, he was placed in command of an extremely sensitive task in the interest of the security of the State, in the execution of which a great deal had to be relied upon his own judgement and initiative and which demanded positive and dynamic leadership from him.[11]: 51 He tackled and executed this difficult task with great courage and daring and, with his personal example, inspired the other members of the team that took part in this task. His positive leadership, perseverance in the face of great odds and his outstanding devotion to duty undoubtedly played a decisive role in the successful execution of the task.[11]: 52
Notes and references
- ^ a b "Woodburne gaan van vrou skei". Die Burger (South Africa). Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
Die pas-uitgetrede hoof van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot, v.-adm. Lambert Woodburne gaan van sy vrou, Vivienne, skei The recently-retired head of the South African Navy, Vice-Admiral Lambert Woodburne and his wife, Vivienne, are going to divorce.
- ^ a b c d e Prins, S.C. AB. "Funeral of late Vice Admiral Lambert Jackson Woodburne DVR, SD, SM". SA Navy. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- ^ South African Defence Force Information website
- ^ "South African Honours and Awards". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9583173-3-7. Retrieved 19 April 2011.p 274.
- ^ ISBN 0-7981-1895-4.
- ^ http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/download/143/186 [bare URL PDF]
- ^ South African Navy News magazine. Vol XXVIII no. 2, 2008. p24
- ISBN 978-0-620-23782-6. Retrieved 19 April 2011. p 6.
- ^ ISBN 0620243007.
- ^ ISBN 0958317321.
- ISBN 978-1868427789.
- ^ Ley, Marga (25 August 1992). "Die Vloot gaan verander Lambert Woodburne tree af". Beeld (South Africa). Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
Later was hy vier 'opwindende en gevaarlike jare' lank deel van die Weermag se spesiale magte"
Translation into English: "Later he spent four 'exciting and dangerous years' in the Army's special forces." - ^ "Vlootbevel oorhandig". Die Burger. 21 January 1989. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ Nel, Carryn-Ann (8 July 2013). "Oud-vlootadmiraal (73) oorlede ná 'n lang siekte". Die Burger. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Wel en Wee: Berig 22/ 2011". Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
Further reading
- Peter Stiff (2001). The Silent War: South African recce operations 1969–1994. Galago. ISBN 978-1-919854-04-5. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
External links
- "The South African Navy Official Website".
- "The operational South African navy". SADF Information website. including several pictures of "Woody" Woodburne and Daphné class submarines