Sir Richard Fitch | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Dick |
| Born | (1929-06-02)2 June 1929 |
| Died | 15 February 1994(1994-02-15) (aged 64) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Service years | 1942–1988 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Flag Officer Third Flotilla HMS Hermes HMS Apollo HMS Berwick |
| Conflicts | Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
AdmiralSir Richard George Alison Fitch,KCB (2 June 1929 – 15 February 1994) was a seniorRoyal Navy officer who served asSecond Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel from 1986 to 1988.
Educated atRoyal Naval College Dartmouth, Fitch joined theRoyal Navy as a cadet in 1942.[1]
Fitch was madeCommanding Officer of thefrigateHMS Berwick in 1966 and then joined the staff of the Flag Officer Second-in-Command for theFar East Fleet in 1967.[1] He was made commander of thefrigateHMS Apollo in 1973 and then becameNaval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in 1974.[1]
Fitch was made captain of theaircraft carrierHMS Hermes in 1976 and Director of Naval Warfare at theMinistry of Defence in 1978.[2] He went on to beNaval Secretary in 1980 and Flag Officer Third Flotilla in 1983.[2] He was madeSecond Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel as well as President of theRoyal Naval College, Greenwich in 1986,[2] and retired from the navy in November 1988.[3]
In retirement Fitch became aLloyd's name.[1] Facing large underwriting losses, he committed suicide bycarbon monoxide poisoning in his car.[4]
In 1969 Fitch married Kathleen Marie-Louise Igert; they went on to have one son.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Naval Secretary 1980–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Second Sea Lord 1986–1988 | Succeeded by |