Robert Drayson

Robert Quested Drayson DSO (5 June 1919 – 15 October 2008), known to his friends as Bob Drayson, was an English naval officer and schoolmaster.

During the Second World War Drayson was decorated for sinking the German Navy auxiliary cruiser Komet. After the War he returned to Cambridge, graduated, and taught at St. Lawrence College and Felsted, then was head master of Reed's School and Stowe before becoming lay chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich.

Born in Ramsgate, Kent, Drayson was educated at Chatham House School, St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate, and Downing College, Cambridge, arriving there in 1938 to read Modern Languages. At school he excelled at field hockey, cricket and middle-distance running.

The Second World War broke out when Drayson had been at Cambridge for a year. He joined the Royal Navy as a rating, but was sent to take an officer training course at the newly established HMS King Alfred, then at Hove. After joining the fleet he spent the whole war serving in the motor torpedo boats of the home coastal forces. Shipping on board MTB 236 as her first lieutenant, he was given temporary command of her in 1942, with the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant, shortly before the MTB took part in an action off Barfleur which sank the German auxiliary cruiser Komet while she was heading through the English Channel aiming for the Indian Ocean. Drayson on MTB 236 fired two torpedoes at Komet at a range of some 500 yards, setting her on fire. After an explosion, Komet sank with all hands. Drayson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "great skill and bravery" and went on to command MTB 701.

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