Commodore W E Warwick CBE,RD RNR (23 December 1968)

[Lynda Bradford]

Commodore William Eldon Warwick CBE,RD RNR
(23 December 1968)

First Captain to take command of QE2
Known as Bil Warwick

Thank-you to Cunard for this photo

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Background:
Born: 12 November 1912
Native of Birkenhead, Liverpool
Father was an Architect
Died: 27 February 1999 aged 86

Navy Career:
1928: Joined the British Navy Service as an Officer Cadet onboard HMS Conway
1937:  Gained Master Mariner's Certificate in 1936
1937: Joined Cunard in 1937, as third officer on the Lancastria*. 
1937: Commissioned in the Royal Navy Reserve
1939-1945:  Served in the WW2 on Costal Patrol, North Atlantic Convoy Duty and Normandy Landings
Post war returned to Cunard
1950’s: First Command Cargo Ship Alsatia
1958:  Assumed Command of Carinthia
1964-1966 Master of Caronia
http://www.caronia2.info/captains.php#m1
1966:  Named as Master of QE2 and liaised with shipbuilders during the construction of the ship. 
1967:  Captain William Warwick took part in BBC Desert Island Discs
1968-1972: Master of QE2
1970: Given title of Commodore

*The Lancastria was sunk with heavy loss of lives during evacuation from St Nazaire in 1940

Served as a relief Master on both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth
Queen Mary
(15 September 1965)

Media Links and Sources of Information

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/15/world/william-e-warwick-commodore-of-qe2-dies-at-86.html
pay to view

Herald Scotland
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/commodore-william-warwick-1.301594

Queen Elizabeth 2 the Authorised Story by Potter and Frost (chapter 14: Master and Crew)

QE2 Story Discussion Topics that Feature Commodore W E Warwick:

QE2 Home Movie 1970 Commodore William Warwick Cocktails
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,392.msg4056.html#msg4056



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