Robert Theobald was the son of Frank and Rose Theobald and husband of Ivy Theobald, of Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.

He joined the submarine service in 1930, aged 24, and joined HMS TRIUMPH in March 1940, as she worked up for her Mediterranean deployment. He was probably the longest serving submariner in TRIUMPH, and one of the crew’s oldest members.

As a Leading Seaman, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (London Gazette of 20 January 1942) “for courage, skill and resolution in successful submarine patrols“.  As an Acting Petty Officer, he was also Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette of 5 May 1942) “for daring, enterprise and devotion to duty in successful patrols in HM Submarines“.

His specific citation for the MiD reads: “For courage, coolness and efficiency as Gunlayer and Second Coxswain of HMS TRIUMPH in three patrols since he was last recommended. During this period THOOBALD’s excellent gunlaying resulted in severe damage to a large tanker, in spite of long range and the answering fire of a shore battery, and in the sinking of 2 caiques.  THEOBALD’s excellent handling of the fore-hydroplanes materially assisted in the success of four out of five torpedo attacks on enemy shipping, and he set a fine example of coolness during the ensuing depth charge counter attacks“.

Robert Theobald died when HMS TRIUMPH was lost with all hands having apparently struck a mine in the Aegean Sea.  He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 52, Column 1.