Robert Cunliffe | |
Birth Date: | 15 March 1895 |
Birth Place: | Woolwich, Kent, England |
Death Place: | Pakenham, Suffolk, England |
Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
Branch: | Royal Navy |
Serviceyears: | 1912–1946 |
Rank: | Commodore |
Commands: | HMS Milford Dover Command HMS Illustrious |
Battles: | World War I World War II |
Awards: | Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Commodore Robert Lionel Brooke Cunliffe CBE (15 March 1895 – 29 November 1990) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, Dover.
Cunliffe joined the Royal Navy in September 1912.[1] He was present at the Battle of Jutland in June 1916 during the First World War.[2] He became commanding officer of the sloop HMS Milford in December 1937.[1] He also served during the Second World War as Captain of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, from December 1939, Commander-in-Chief, Dover, from April 1942 and captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious from August 1942.[3] He went on to be Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport in August 1944 before retiring in January 1946.[4] While serving in the Royal Navy, Cunliffe played first-class cricket for the Royal Navy Cricket Club, making ten appearances between 1914 - 1929.[5] He scored 335 runs at an average of 20.93, which included three half centuries and a high score of 87.[6] With the ball, he took 16 wickets with his leg break googly bowling, with best figures of 5 for 78.[7]