British Navy Admiral. Born to Scottish parents in Dublin, he entered "HMS Britannia" as a naval cadet in 1897, then served ashore in the Naval Brigade in South Africa. He commanded a destroyer in World War I, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and two bars. Serving mainly in destroyers in the inter-war period, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in June 1939. After the outbreak of World War Ii he had success against the Italian Fleet at Calabria, Taranto and Matapan. He directed the evacuation of troops from Greece and Crete in April and May 1941, which was achieved without air cover. From April 1942 was head of the Naval Staff mission to Washington, DC. Promoted to Admiral of the Fleet in January 1943 and re-appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in February 1943, he worked closely with American General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the planning of the Allied landings in North Africa and later Sicily. In September 1943 he oversaw the surrender of the Italian Fleet. He was appointed First Sea Lord in October 1943, and attended the major conferences (Teheran, Yalta, Potsdam etc). He retired from the Royal Navy in June 1946, and was created 1st Viscount of Hyndhope.
British Navy Admiral. Born to Scottish parents in Dublin, he entered "HMS Britannia" as a naval cadet in 1897, then served ashore in the Naval Brigade in South Africa. He commanded a destroyer in World War I, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and two bars. Serving mainly in destroyers in the inter-war period, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in June 1939. After the outbreak of World War Ii he had success against the Italian Fleet at Calabria, Taranto and Matapan. He directed the evacuation of troops from Greece and Crete in April and May 1941, which was achieved without air cover. From April 1942 was head of the Naval Staff mission to Washington, DC. Promoted to Admiral of the Fleet in January 1943 and re-appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in February 1943, he worked closely with American General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the planning of the Allied landings in North Africa and later Sicily. In September 1943 he oversaw the surrender of the Italian Fleet. He was appointed First Sea Lord in October 1943, and attended the major conferences (Teheran, Yalta, Potsdam etc). He retired from the Royal Navy in June 1946, and was created 1st Viscount of Hyndhope.
Bio by: Ronald Land
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