Daphne Mary Blundell, (19 August 1916 – 24 May 2004) was a senior British naval officer, who served as Director of the

Women's Royal Naval Service The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the World War I, First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in ...

from 1970 to 1973.

Early life and education

Blundell was born on 19 August 1916. She was educated at

St Helen's School St Helen's School London is a private day school for girls aged three to eighteen in Northwood, North West London. It is associated with the Merchant Taylors' Company and works in close collaboration with the local Merchant Taylors' School in a ...

, an all-girls

private school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

Northwood, London Northwood is an area in the London Borough of Hillingdon, North West London, located northwest of Charing Cross. Northwood was part of the ancient parish of Ruislip, Middlesex. The area was situated on the historic Middlesex boundary with Hert ...

. She studied at

Bedford College, London Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as the first higher education college for women in the United Kingdom. In 1900, it became a constituent of the University of London. Having played a leading role in the advancement of women in highe ...

, the first higher education institution for women in the United Kingdom.

Naval career

Blundell joined the

(WRNS) in November 1942. She was promoted to

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad range of sk ...

third officer (equivalent to sub-lieutenant) on 26 September 1943. During her early career, she served in Orkney, Ceylon, East Africa, and Malta. She served on the staff of Flag Officer Naval Air Command from 1964 to 1967. She was promoted to superintendent (equivalent to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

) in 1967. She was on the staff of

Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. The commanders-in-chief were based at premises in High Street, Portsmouth from the 1790s until the end of Thomas Williams (Royal Navy officer), Si ...

between 1967 and 1969. From 1969 to 1970, she was superintendent of WRNS Training and Drafting. In 1970, she was appointed Director of the WRNS and promoted to commandant (equivalent to

commodore Commodore may refer to: Ranks * Commodore (rank), a naval rank ** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom ** Commodore (India), in India ** Commodore (United States) ** Commodore (Canada) ** Commodore (Finland) ** Commodore (Germany) or ' ...

). Blundell was appointed an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 8 July 1970 and, in the

1972 Birthday Honours The 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours were appointments to orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms to reward and highlight citizens' good works, on the occasion of the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. They were announced in suppleme ...

, she was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregi ...

. She stepped down as Honorary Aide-de-Camp in July 1973, and retired from the WRNS on 24 August.

Later life

In retirement, Blundell served as President of the Association of Wrens. She never married nor had any children. Blundell died on 24 May 2004, aged 87. Her funeral was held at Holy Trinity Church, Northwood on 3 June 2004.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blundell, Daphne Mary 1916 births 2004 deaths Alumni of Bedford College, London Companions of the Order of the Bath People educated at St Helen's School People from Northwood, London Women's Royal Naval Service officers