Lambert Jackson Woodburne

Vice-Admiral Lambert Jackson "Woody" Woodburne DVR, SD, SM, South African Navy (13 July 1939 – 5 July 2013) is a former Chief of the South African Navy (1 July 1990 to 31 August 1992). He is only one of two people to have received the Van Riebeeck Decoration, which he received for Special Forces operations in Tanzania.

Early life
He was born in Kimberley, South Africa in 1939. Woodburne's father was a former South African Air Force wartime pilot who farmed near Maclear in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Woodburne was schooled in the Eastern Cape and Swaziland and served in the Naval Gymnasium at Saldanha Bay in 1958. He then joined the Permanent Force and enrolled for a Bachelor of Military Science (B. Mil) degree studying at both Stellenbosch University and the Faculty of Military Science at the South African Military Academy from 1960 to 1961. He did not graduate and after his time at the Academy he started maritime service on frigates.

Military career
He completed the Specialist Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Course in the United Kingdom where he came top of the class. On his return to South Africa he became the Officer in Charge of the Naval Diving School (now known as SAS Simonsberg) in Simon's Town for two years. The Navy 'Diver of the Course' which still receives the Woody Woodburne Shield. Woodburne went on to command the mine sweepers SAS Mosselbaai and SAS Johannesburg.

The establishment of an elite Submarine Branch was a milestone for the South African Navy. Woodburne was trained as a submariner in South Africa and thereafter in Toulon, France during 1970. As a Lt Cdr, he became the commanding officer of SAS Emily Hobhouse (S98) in 1971; a position held until 1974. During submarine’s work-up in France, he was described as one of the “best foreign submariners ever worked up in France”, which earned him the Southern Cross Medal.

In 1972, the SAS Emily Hobhouse landed Special Forces troops, led by Commandant Jan Breytenbach off of Dar es Salaam This mission earned Lt Cdr Woodburne the Van Riebeeck Decoration

From 1975 to 1977 he was assigned to the Agosta submarine project. After this he served with the Special Forces (1978–1983) where he attained the rank of Captain. These were "exciting and dangerous years" said Woodburne in an interview after announcing his retirement in August 1992.

From 1983 to 1985 he was the military attaché in Argentina. In 1986 Commodore Woodburne became Director of Naval Operations, then seven months later Chief of Naval Staff Operations. In January 1989 Rear-Admiral Woodburne moved to the Western Cape as Flag Officer Commanding Naval Command West. On 1 July 1990 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral and appointed as Chief of the South African Navy; a position he held until retirement on 31 August 1992.

Woodburne married Vivienne Kemp and the couple had two daughters, but they divorced after his retirement.

He died in 2013.

Awards and decorations
Vice Admiral Woodburne's medal group is unique as it contains the Van Riebeeck Decoration plus 2 Southern Cross Medals - the 1952-1975 version with no post nominal titles and the later version which allowed the wearer to use the post nominal title SM

The citation for the Van Riebeeck Decoration reads: Lieutenant Commander Lambert Woodburne distinguished himself by displaying outstanding leadership, perseverance and devotion to duty in a special task of a delicate and dangerous nature during 1972. One occasion, during that year, he was placed in command of an extremely sensitive task in the interest of the security of the State, in the execution of which a great deal had to be relied upon his own judgement and initiative and which demanded positive and dynamic leadership from him. He tackled and executed this difficult task with great courage and daring and, with his personal example, inspired the other members of the team that took part in this task. His positive leadership, perseverance in the face of great odds and his outstanding devotion to duty undoubtedly played a decisive role in the successful execution of the task.

Illness
Admiral Woodburne was diagnosed with Progressive supranuclear palsy in 2007 and was confined to a wheelchair. He died on 5 July 2013 and was accorded a military funeral in Simonstown.