the Bath in 1937. Colvin was appointed Chief of Naval Staff to the Royal Australian Navy in 1937. Under his leadership, the Royal Australian Navy expanded its naval fleet and maintained a high profile in Australia's military affairs. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Colvin was an active participant in international planning; however, by 1940 his health was failing and he resigned the following year. Colvin returned to London where he served as Naval Advisor to the Australian High Commission from 1942 to 1944. Family In 1918 he married Sibyl Kays. They had two children: John Horace Ragnar Colvin (18 June 1922 – 4 October 2003) HM Ambassador to Mongolia, 1971–1974, and spy with the Secret Intelligence Service (one child is Mark Colvin, an Australian journalist); and, Mrs. Prudence (Prue) Balfour (married in 1949 to Colin James Balfour, Commander, Royal Navy (1924 – 13 August 2009 aged 85), children Major General James Balfour CBE, b 1951, and Belinda.) References |- 1882 births 1954 deaths British naval attachés Admiral presidents of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich Ragnar Companions of the Order of the Bath Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Stubbington House School Royal Australian Navy admirals Royal Navy admirals of World War II Royal Navy personnel of World War I Military personnel from London