Arthur Power
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Arthur John Power GCB
, GBE
, CVO
(12 April 1889 – 28 January 1960) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service in World War I and World War II.
in 1909 and served in World War I. He became Commander of HMS Excellent, the Gunnery School at Portsmouth, in 1935 and went on to command HMS Ark Royal
in 1938.
He served in World War II as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff from 1940 and as Commander of 15th Cruiser Squadron from 1942. He was appointed Flag Officer in charge of Malta in 1943 and Second in Command of the Eastern Fleet later in the year. In November 1944 he became Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station which had been formed from the former Eastern Fleet. Power was present at the final surrender of the Japanese in Singapore
in September 1945.
After the War he was made Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
and then Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
from 1948. He was made Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
in 1950 and Naval Commander-in-Chief, Home (designate) in 1951. Finally he became Allied Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Southern North Sea Command in 1952. He retired in 1953.
In 1918 he married Amy Bingham; they had three sons (including Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Mackenzie Power
). Following the death of his first wife he married Margaret Joyce Watson in 1947.
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
Sir Arthur John Power GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, GBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(12 April 1889 – 28 January 1960) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service in World War I and World War II.
Naval career
Power joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1909 and served in World War I. He became Commander of HMS Excellent, the Gunnery School at Portsmouth, in 1935 and went on to command HMS Ark Royal
HMS Ark Royal (91)
HMS Ark Royal was an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy that served during the Second World War.Designed in 1934 to fit the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty, Ark Royal was built by Cammell Laird and Company, Ltd. at Birkenhead, England, and completed in November 1938. Her design...
in 1938.
He served in World War II as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff from 1940 and as Commander of 15th Cruiser Squadron from 1942. He was appointed Flag Officer in charge of Malta in 1943 and Second in Command of the Eastern Fleet later in the year. In November 1944 he became Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station which had been formed from the former Eastern Fleet. Power was present at the final surrender of the Japanese in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in September 1945.
After the War he was made Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...
and then Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
from 1948. He was made Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
in 1950 and Naval Commander-in-Chief, Home (designate) in 1951. Finally he became Allied Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Southern North Sea Command in 1952. He retired in 1953.
In 1918 he married Amy Bingham; they had three sons (including Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Mackenzie Power
Arthur Mackenzie Power
Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Mackenzie Power KCB MBE was a Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer, Plymouth.-Naval career:...
). Following the death of his first wife he married Margaret Joyce Watson in 1947.
Honours and awards
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(2 Jan 1950, New Year HonoursNew Year HonoursThe New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
); KCB (1 Jan 1944, New Year Honours); CB (1 Jul 1941, King's Birthday Honours) - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
01.01.1946 (New Year Honours) - Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(29 Jan 1936) - Mention in Despatches (21 Dec 1943, Operation Husky), (23 May 1944, Operation Avalanche), (15 Jun 1944, ArSksSbng&Sbya Apr-May 1944); 31 Oct 1944, Operation Crimson)
- Polonia Restituta 3rd class (Poland) (22 Dec 1942, services to Polish Navy)
- Commander of the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(US) (29 Jan 1946) - Grand Cross of the Order of Orange Nassau (Netherlands) (15 Mar 1949) (services to Royal Netherlands Navy)
- Knight of the Order of the Hospital of St John of JerusalemVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(1 Jan 1951)