David James Stiles (5 Feb 1935 - 28 Dec 2021)

In loving memory of David James Stiles who sadly passed away on 28th December 2021

David was born in Southend on the 5th Feb 1935. His father David George Stiles, his mother Hagar Margaret Ishmael, and his loving grandmother Margaret Eleanor Lamb all played a significant role in his early years. David was brother to Delcie, Betty, Ron and Clark.

Very few achieved the promotion that David did during his naval career. As a Special Duty officer he rose swiftly through the ranks. From boy seaman second class, all the way up to Lieutenant Commander, he gain the respect of his fellow servicemen and women. As a young man he boxed for the navy and ran field gun for Chatham. He was one of the first Principle Warfare recruits, and went on as a Gunnery Instructor to train a generation of other officers.

David met his wife Joan when he was home on leave. David was 18 and Joan 15. He was earning a little extra, working on a carrousel at the Kursel amusement park in Southend. They were married for 65 years, something else few achieve. Together they had “his three girls” as David called his daughters. Kim, Karen and Lisa. His job took the family around the world. Living in Australia for 3 years, during which time he could be home every night. A real treat for any serviceman’s family.

As a seasoned commanding officer, he was rightly proud that he could bring a ship into harbour without the aid of tug boats. Apparently he parked his ship like he parked his car, so we assume fast and accurate. He helped with disaster relief in the Caribbean. He also saw active service. Shot at in Cyprus, making front page news when he got rammed in the Atlantic cod wars, and took command of a covert ammunition ship during the Falklands. He refused medals, only accepting the ones he felt he had earnt. He accepted four, a long service good conduct medal, a South Atlantic Falklands medal, a Northern Ireland Campaign medal and a medal for training the guards for the Queen’s Sliver Jubilee. But his proudest moment in his career was when he took command of not one, but two ships. HMS Glasserton and HMS Hoggeston. After a short time working as a retried officer, David joined civilian life where his put a life time of experience and knowledge to good use, working at Ferranti computer systems.

He was a loved husband, brother, dad, grandad and great grandad. His salty sea dog stories, his playfulness, his singing and his big heart will be missed ❤️