Admiral Sir

Edward Neville Syfret

GCB, KBE
Vice Admiral Syfret in his office at the Admiralty, January 1944
Born(1889-06-20)20 June 1889
Newlands, South Africa
Died10 December 1972(1972-12-10) (aged 83)
Highgate, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1904–1948
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHome Fleet (1945–48)
Force H (1942–43)
18th Cruiser Squadron (1941)
HMS Rodney (1938–39)
HMS Ramillies (1938)
Naval Gunnery School, Devonport (1934–35)
HMS Caradoc (1932–34)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Croix de guerre (France)[1]
Children2

Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret, GCB, KBE (20 June 1889 – 10 December 1972) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in both World Wars. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy, in the Second World War.

Born the son of Edward Ridge Syfret of Cape Town in South Africa and educated at Diocesan College, South Africa and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Syfret joined the Royal Navy in 1904 and, in his early service years, specialised in naval gunnery.[2] He played in a Navy v Army cricket match at Lord's in 1911 and 1912.[3][4]

First World War

In World War I he became gunnery officer in the light cruisers HMS Aurora, HMS Centaur and HMS Curacoa.[2] In 1927 he was fleet gunnery officer, Mediterranean Fleet.

Inter War Years

With the rank of commander he was appointed to HMS Volunteer in 1928 before promotion to captain the following year.[5][6] In 1932 he was put in command of HMS Caradoc on the China Station in 1932.[7]

Second World War

Syfret served in the Second World War initially as Captain of HMS Rodney.[2] In 1939 he became Naval Secretary.[2] He was made commander of the 18th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad,[2] the invasion of Madagascar in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. Following Pedestal he was made a KCB "for bravery and dauntless resolution in fighting an important convoy through to Malta in the face of relentless attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft and surface forces."[8]

He was appointed Commander of Force H later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.[2]

After the war he became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; he retired in 1948.[2]

Family

In 1913 he married Hildegarde Warner. They had one son and one daughter.

References

  1. ↑ Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 – S
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ↑ "Royal Navy v Army". The Times. No. 39601. 2 June 1911.
  4. ↑ "Cricket Royal Navy v Army". The Times. No. 39914. 1 June 1912.
  5. ↑ "Naval Appointments". The Times. 18 July 1928. p. 20.
  6. ↑ "Naval Promotions". The Times. 1 July 1929. p. 8.
  7. ↑ "Royal Navy". The Times. 17 June 1932. p. 9.
  8. ↑ "Obituary Sir Neville Syfret". The Times. No. 58654. 11 December 1972.
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