Rear Admiral Rothesay Swan, last WWII-era Australian naval flag officer, died at 99, having served in major Pacific battles and later led youth and naval programs.

Rear Admiral Rothesay Swan, the last surviving World War II veteran promoted to flag rank in the Royal Australian Navy, died at 99 on Christmas Eve 2025. He joined the navy at 13, served as a midshipman during the 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf, and survived kamikaze attacks aboard the HMAS Shropshire. He took part in major Pacific campaigns and later commanded ships during the Indonesian Confrontation and Vietnam War. Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1978, he led the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme and organized the 1988 Bicentennial Tall Ships Festival. A respected mentor, he was honored in a naval funeral attended by top military leaders. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and two siblings; his wife Margaret died in 2023.