Cyril Douglas-Pennant
Encyclopedia
Admiral The Honourable Sir Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant KCB
CBE
DSO
DSC
(7 April 1894 - 3 April 1961) was a Royal Navy
officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
, Cyril Douglas-Pennant joined the Royal Navy
in 1907. He served in World War I
.
He also served in World War II
as Captain of the cruiser
HMS Despatch
. He went on to command the assault forces which landed on Gold Beach
during the Normandy landings in 1944.
After the War he became Commandant of the Joint Services Staff College
and then Flag Officer (Air) and Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet
in 1948. He was appointed Senior Naval Representative for the British Joint Services Mission to Washington D. C. in 1950 and Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1952. He retired in 1953.
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...
CBE
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...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(7 April 1894 - 3 April 1961) was a Royal Navy
Royal 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...
officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Naval career
Born the son of Frank Douglas-Pennant, 5th Baron PenrhynBaron Penrhyn
Baron Penrhyn is a title that has been created twice. The first creation came in the Peerage of Ireland in 1783 in favour of Richard Pennant, who had previously served as a Member of Parliament for Petersfield and Liverpool. This creation became extinct on his death in 1808...
, Cyril Douglas-Pennant joined the Royal Navy
Royal 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 1907. He served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He also served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as Captain of the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
HMS Despatch
HMS Despatch (D30)
HMS Despatch was a Danae-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was launched from the yards of Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company on 24 September 1919 and commissioned on 2 June 1922....
. He went on to command the assault forces which landed on Gold Beach
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the code name of one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, during World War II....
during the Normandy landings in 1944.
After the War he became Commandant of the Joint Services Staff College
Joint Service Defence College
The Joint Service Defence College was a training academy for British military personnel in the period from 1983 to 1997. It has now been amalgamated into the Joint Services Command and Staff College.-History:...
and then Flag Officer (Air) and Second in Command of the 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...
in 1948. He was appointed Senior Naval Representative for the British Joint Services Mission to Washington D. C. in 1950 and Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1952. He retired in 1953.