Born in Cape Town, Syndercomb attended school in Sea Point. His nautical career began in January 1948 with a two-year cadetship at the SA Nautical College General Botha.[2]
Early career
His seagoing career began in the British merchant service in 1950 as a cadet, and his first command came 10 years later in South Africa's Department of Sea Fisheries when he was appointed master of the fisheries survey vessel, Sardinops.
In 1959 he managed to fit in a course of studies at the University of Southampton[1] before transferring from the merchant service to the SA Navy in 1960 as a junior officer.
1966 – 1969 Officer in Charge SAN Radar School in Durban.
1969 – 1972 Project officer. Promoted to commander.
In October 1972 he became commanding officer of the destroyer SAS Jan van Riebeeck[1] for two years before being appointed Senior Staff Officer Operations on the staff of the Commander of Naval Operations.[4] This was followed by a one-year stint as a project officer for the Strike Craft project and then as commanding officer of the newly formed strike craft squadron from June 1976, in the rank of captain.
In 1979 he completed the Special Joint Staff Course at the South African Defence College and in January 1980 was appointed Director of Naval Operations and promoted to Commodore[1] In October 1982 he became a rear admiral and Chief of Naval Staff Operations.[1][5]
In 1985 he was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of the S.A. Navy.[6]
^"Vloot neem afskeid van hoof" [Navy bids farewell to chief]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). NASPERS. 31 March 1989. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
^"Meer presteerders nodig, sê SP" [More performers needed says State President]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). NASPERS. 26 May 1989. Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
