Clive Johnstone

Sir Clive Johnstone
Johnstone in 2016
Born(1963-09-06)6 September 1963
Kampala, Uganda
Died12 May 2024(2024-05-12) (aged 60)
Newport, Wales
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1985–2020
RankVice Admiral
CommandsAllied Maritime Command
HMS Bulwark
HMS Iron Duke
Battles / warsBosnian War
Kosovo War
Iraq War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath

Vice Admiral Sir Clive Charles Carruthers Johnstone, KBE, CB (6 September 1963 – 12 May 2024) was a British Royal Navy officer who served as Commander, Allied Maritime Command from 2015 to 2019. During his tenure as commanding officer of HMS Bulwark, he participated in Operation Highbrow, the largest British evacuation since the evacuation of Dunkirk. From May 2023 until Johnstone's death in May 2024, he was the National President of the Royal British Legion.

Early life and education

Johnstone was born on 6 September 1963 in Kampala, Uganda. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, an all-boys public school. He studied anthropology at Durham University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.[1][2]

Johnstone joined the Royal Navy in 1985.[2] The first ship he served on was the fishery protection vessel HMS Shetland. Later, he was the navigator on the minesweeper HMS Nurton. From 1996 to 1997, he was the first lieutenant of HMY Britannia. His tenure during her final commission covered a visit by then-Prince Charles to Northern Ireland, Prince Charles's participation in the 1997 Hong Kong handover ceremony, and a summer cruise by Queen Elizabeth II to the Western Isles.[3] He became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 1999.[4] He became the Fleet Programmer in 2001, commanding officer of the amphibious transport dock HMS Bulwark in 2005,[5] and Director of Naval Staff at the Ministry of Defence in April 2008.[6]

While he commanded Bulwark, he participated in Operation Highbrow, the largest British evacuation since the evacuation of Dunkirk. Bulwark took 1,300 evacuees from Beirut to Cyprus. After the operation, Johnstone was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[3]

Johnstone went on to be Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in December 2008,[7] Flag Officer, Sea Training in July 2011,[6] and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) in May 2013.[6] His latest appointment was as Commander Allied Maritime Command in October 2015,[8] when he was promoted to vice admiral on 15 October 2015.[9] Johnstone was replaced as Commander Allied Maritime Command by Vice Admiral Keith Blount on 20 May 2019.[10]

Johnstone was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours,[11] and retired from the Royal Navy on 3 January 2020.[12]

Later life and death

On 21 May 2023, at the National Conference in Torquay, he took over as National President of The Royal British Legion from Lieutenant General James Bashall CBE, CB.[13][14]

Johnstone died on 12 May 2024, at the age of 60.[15][16]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clive Johnstone.
  1. ^ "Johnstone, Vice Adm. Clive Charles Carruthers". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U254066. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Naval vessel to fly county's flag". BBC. 12 December 2005. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Vice-Admiral Sir Clive Johnstone, commanded HMS Bulwark during the evacuation of Beirut – obituary". The Telegraph. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024.
  4. ^ "New father returns to the bridge". Birmingham Post. 28 July 1999. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Captains Commanding Royal Navy Warships" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2015.
  8. ^ "NATO Allied Maritime Command changes Commanders". mc.nato.int. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ^ "No. 61392". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 October 2015. p. 21038.
  10. ^ "NATO Maritime Command Changes Leadership". Allied Maritime Command. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  11. ^ "No. 62507". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2018. p. N5.
  12. ^ "No. 62915". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 February 2020. p. 2442.
  13. ^ "Central News" (PDF). Counties.britishlegion.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  14. ^ "About Us: Governance". The Royal British Legion. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Sir Clive Johnstone". Royal British Legion. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Sir Clive Charles Carruthers Johnstone KBE CB". The Times. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Flag Officer Sea Training
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander Allied Maritime Command
2015–2019 		Succeeded by