Pall bearers escort the coffin of the late ADML Synnot (Rtd) from the ANZAC Memorial Chapel of St Paul at RMC Duntroon. Photo by Emma Scott.

Naval personnel from Canberra, its surrounds and well beyond stopped as one to pay respects to the late ADML Sir Anthony Synnot, KBE, AO at a funeral at the ANZAC Memorial Chapel of St Paul at RMC Duntroon on July 12.

Many hundreds of mourners from all three services helped provide a fitting tribute, which included full Naval honours, including a gun carriage and firing party.

Eulogies from son-in-law Mark Colvin and former Chief of Navy Sir Richard Peek KBE, CB, DSC, RAN (Rtd) also provided an emotive and often humourous insight to a man who achieved a broad vision for the Navy and Australian Defence Force.

Many other dignitaries also attended the service, including Governor-General The Right Revd Dr JP Hollingworth AC, OBE; CDF ADML Chris Barrie AC; Secretary of Defence Dr Allan Hawke; VCDF LTGEN Des Mueller; CN VADM David Shackleton AO; HDPE MAJGEN Simon Willis (representing CA); CAF AM Angus Houston, AM; and DCN RADM Brian Adams AM.

Many former Chiefs of Defence Force and Chiefs of Navy also provided their presence before PCHA Simon Hubbard who officiated the ceremony.

The Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Reith also expressed his sympathies to family and friends.

On completion, a wake was held at the wardroom of HMAS HARMAN.

ADML Sir Anthony Synnot was born on January 5, 1922, near Corowa, New South Wales, a descendant of an early pioneering family that arrived in Tasmania in 1836, some of whom owned land in Victoria in 1838.

He was educated at Geelong Grammar School before deciding to join the Navy in 1939 as a Special Entry Cadet Midshipman. On joining, ADML Synnot was sent to England to undertake his initial training.

It was in January 1940 that ADML Synnot joined the first of many ships, this being the cruiser HMAS CANBERRA.

During World War II he also served in HMA Ships STUART (at the Battle of Matapan and the evacuation of Greece and Crete) and QUIBERON, as well as HM Ships BARHAM and PUNJABI, the latter sunk while he was on board.

He was also involved in the escorting of Atlantic and Russian convoys, the North African landings and Indian Ocean operations.

In 1945, ADML Synnot qualified as a Specialist Gunnery Officer at HMS EXCELLENT in Portsmouth, England.

Following the war he commanded the destroyer, HMAS WARRAMUNGA. As a captain he commanded HMAS VAMPIRE.

From 1962-65, he served in Kuala Lumpur in command of the Royal Malayan Navy, which became the Royal Malaysian Navy during his term of service.

There he was awarded the Order of Chivalry Third Class, Johan Mangku Negara, Third Grade of Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (J.M.N). During this time, he also developed close relationships with Malaysian political leaders.

On return to Australia, ADML Synnot attended the Administrative Staff College at Mount Eliza in Victoria, before taking command of the aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY that took troops and supplies to Vietnam.

Then in 1967, he took command of HMAS MELBOURNE.

In 1968, he attended the Imperial Defence College in London where he was appointed Director-General Fighting Equipment on return to Australia.

He was promoted to RADM in 1970 and appointed as Chief of Naval Personnel and in 1971 as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

He became Fleet Commander in 1973 and then Director Joint Staff in the Department of Defence in 1974 when he provided organisational support for the relief effort after Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin.

On November 23 1976, ADML Synnot was promoted to the position of Chief of Naval Staff, going on to the appointment as Chief of the Defence Force Staff on April 21 1979.

It was during this time that he brought his vision for the ADF into play, vigorously seeking to improve defence capabilities by utilising improved technology.

ADML Synnot retired in 1982 and took up the position of Chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial before relinquishing that position in 1985.

He was mentioned in Dispatches in 1941, awarded the AO in 1976, the KBE in 1979 and the Hon. PSM in 1982.

On a personal level, ADML Synnot married his first wife, Virginia Davenport in 1959, she died in 1965.

In 1968, he married Anne Colvin and is survived by his wife and two daughters (Jane and Amanda) from his first marriage.

His retirement saw him spend many years on properties at Queanbeyan and Yass, where he bred cattle and carriage horses and also indulged in his passion of competitive carriage-driving.