Commander David Kyrle Hankinson Royal Navy

David joined RNC Dartmouth as a 13 year old cadet in Jan 1942 in the first scholarship term under the A.V Alexander Scheme. He joined HMS Kenya’s gunroom on the AW&I Squadron as a senior midshipman. In the gunroom there were four future Admirals, Admiral Sir David Hallifax, Vice Admiral Sir David Brown, Admiral Sir Peter Stanford and Rear Admiral John Carlill. The Senior Midshipman was later Sir Hugh Cubitt.
David was one of the three ‘Duty Davids’ in the gunroom.
He was already a distinguished painter and painted HMS Kenya’s ‘Crossing the Line Certificate’. His journal sketches were a delight to see and included a calypso dancer. I learnt how to do a watercolour wash from him for my journal sketches.
He became a Long ‘G’ after being a DGO.
I did not meet him till 40 years later at an evening presentation of Vice Admiral Sir Roddie MacDonald’s work.
David produced from his wallet a copy of a portrait he had done of Princess Diana for some frigate’s wardroom.