Chris Bennett (admiral)

South African military personnel (1937–2021)

Rear Admiral Chris Bennett SD SM SAN (Rtd) (8 December 1937^[1] – 17 August 2021)^[2] was the author of a number of books.

Naval career

Bennett was born in KweKwe. He attended school at Kingswood College before joining the South African Navy.

He commanded the Minesweeper SAS Mosselbaai in 1972.^[3]: 195 He was promoted to rear admiral in 1986 and appointed as Flag Officer Commanding Naval Command West until January 1989.^[4] In 1989 he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff^[5] and then as Chief of Naval Support.^[6] He retired in 1990^[7][2]

Awards and decorations

• Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Pro Patria Medal
• Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
• Permanent Force Good Service Medal

Books

• Three Frigates - The South African Navy Comes of Age (2nd ed.). Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing. 2006. ISBN 978-1-920169-02-2. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
• South Africa's Navy : A Navy of the People and for the People. SA Navy. 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41446-3. with Arne Söderlund
• Bennett, Chris (2011). South African Naval events: day by day, 1488 to 2009. Simon's Town, South Africa: Naval Heritage Trust. ISBN 9780620430142. OCLC 730229500.

References

1. "Chris Bennett - Who's Who". WhosWho.co.za. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
2. Bosazza, Mike (20 September 2021). "In Memory of R Adm Chris Bennett (Ret)". Naval Heritage Trust, South Africa. Cape Town. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
3. Goosen, C (1973). South Africa's Navy - the first Fifty years. W. J. Flesch & partners. ISBN 0-949989-02-9.
4. "Vlootbevel oorhandig" [Navy command handed over] (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 21 January 1989. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
5. "Persoonlik" [Personal] (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 8 October 1988. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
6. "Vloot-steun kry nuwe hoof" [Fleet support gets new head] (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 26 November 1990. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
7. Bennett, Chris. "The loss of SAS President Kruger: 18 February 1982". www.saspresidentkruger.com/. Retrieved 30 September 2014.

External links

• "Just Done Productions Publishing website". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.