Death of Lt Cdr David Bryan Burstall RN
2 Nov 2022 - I have been informed by James Burstall that his father David, an MCDOA member, crossed the bar yesterday (1 Nov 2022) at the age of 91. He contracted Covid earlier this year which then became long Covid and subsequently triggered a long dormant case of Mesothelioma about which he had previously been unaware. For someone who had been extremely active in his later years, his illness was mercifully short; he had been out riding his new recumbent bicycle only two weeks beforehand. David and his wife Jane attended the dedication of the Vernon Monument in July and he was always a keen supporter of the project.
David qualified as a CDO (Clearance Diving Officer) at HMS VERNON in May 1955 with Peter Roberts VC under the tutelage of Sydney 'Jackie’ Warner MBE DSC, Eric Gash and CD1 Willy Wyvill. He subsequently served as the Diving Officer of the Isles class Admiralty trawler HMS ANNET studying ground mine behaviour on the seabed.
HMS ANNET: Built by Cook, Welton & Gemmill at Beverley, UK and commissioned as an anti-submarine vessel / minesweeper on 19 June 1943. Converted to a wreck dispersal vessel in 1946. Sold to Scottish Fisheries Inspectorate as a patrol vessel 28 May 1958 and renamed ULVA. Laid up in 1971 and broken up at Dalmuir in 1972.
In the late 1950s, David spent two years in Iran training divers in the Shah’s Imperial Iranian Navy before commanding the Ton class minesweeper HMS SOBERTON. Promoted to Lt Cdr in March 1961, he served as the Far East Fleet Clearance Diving Officer based in Singapore (1962-64) during Konfrontasi (the Confrontation with Indonesia),
This photo, depicting members of the Far East Fleet CD Team in the early 1960s, was sent to me by ex-CD1 Leo Whelan who crossed the bar on 9 October 2018. He took it on the beach at Pulau Tioman and it shows David Burstall sitting far right on a Gemini inflateable dinghy.
Members of the Far East Fleet Clearance Diving Team on the beach at Pulau Tioman near Singapore circa 1963
Back Row: Ginge Turton, Pincher Martin (Brum), Trevor Gibson
Middle Row: Dave Coote, Bungy Edwards (Boy Seaman on board HMS REPULSE), Ginge Bishard, Lt Cdr David Burstall
Front Row: Jock Allardyce, Stafford Cripps, Jesse James
David served in the destroyers HMS DECOY and HMS DELIGHT (1965-66) and ended up at HMS VERNON until leaving the RN in 1969 and eventually practising as a solicitor. He lived most of his later life in the Petersfield area. I used to correspond with him quite often and remember attending a reception in Petersfield relating to his work providing children from Chernobyl with some respite in this country.
I am sure all members of our community will join me in extending our sincere condolences to David's wife Jane, son James, daughter Nicola and his other relatives, close friends and former colleagues.
I will publish funeral details when available.
From MCDOA member John Grattan OBE (Qualified CDO 1958.)
“Sad news indeed. Just a little aside, Rob, but I was actually David’s best man. We had a raucous stag night at the Bristol restaurant and the girls dined at John Wills’ home on the Downs. It remains a mystery as to how I got David to the church on time to meet his stunning bride!
They hired the Clifton Suspension Bridge for the day to ensure no delays between the church and Ashton Court for the reception. Happy, happy days and so wonderful to remember the two of them together for so many years. Even in Portsmouth this summer, they seemed in great form and travelled back home together by train.
Yours aye,
John & Marjorie”
From MCDOA member Bob Lusty (Qualified CDO on commissioning as Sub Lt Apr 1968. MCD Conversion Nov 1969):
“Hello Rob,
Sorry to get the news that David has passed over the Bar. I had the pleasure of a long chat with him during the Vernon Mine Warfare & Diving Monument’s dedication ceremony in July,
My condolences to the family.
Bob Lusty”
From MCDOA member Mike Gillam (Qualified CDO Sep 1955. MCD Conversion Feb 1967):
“Hi Rob
Very many thanks for letting me know about David, a long time good friend. He was a year above me at Dartmouth and, I think, qualified as a CDO before me. However he took over the from me in Iran and as FCDO FES.
I suggest you check that Peter Roberts was his classmate as Peter definitely was my classmate. The second dickey on our course was Bob Lusty who will confirm, but funny things happened in those days and it is possible that he spent time on both courses.
Yours
Mike”
By Webmaster: Yes, Peter Roberts VC did straddle two courses in 1955 owing to an injury.