Edward Neville Syfret
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Sir Edward Neville Syfret GCB
, KBE
(20 June 1889 – 10 December 1972) was a British naval officer who served with the Royal Navy
in World War I
and World War II
. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal
, the critical Malta convoy
. Syfret was born 20 June 1889 near Cape Town
, South Africa
and died on 10 December 1972, in London.
in South Africa
and educated at Diocesan College
, South Africa
and the Britannia Royal Naval College
, where he became Chief Cadet Captain, Syfret joined the Royal Navy in 1904 and, in his early service years, specialised in naval gunnery. In World War I
he became Gunnery Officer in the light cruisers HMS Aurora, HMS Centaur
and HMS Curacoa
In 1927 he was Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet.
Syfret served in World War II
initially as Captain of HMS Rodney
. In 1939 he became Naval Secretary
. He was made commander of the Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad
, the invasion of Madagascar
in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal
, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. He was appointed Commander of Force H
later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
After the War he became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; he retired in 1948.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Edward Neville Syfret 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...
, KBE
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...
(20 June 1889 – 10 December 1972) was a British naval officer who served with 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 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...
and 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...
. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
, the critical Malta convoy
Malta Convoys
The Malta Convoys were a series of Allied supply convoys that sustained the besieged island of Malta during the Mediterranean Theatre of the Second World War...
. Syfret was born 20 June 1889 near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and died on 10 December 1972, in London.
Naval career
Born the son of Edward Ridge Syfret of Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and educated at Diocesan College
Diocesan College
The Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is more commonly known, is an independent, all-boys school situated in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, where he became Chief Cadet Captain, Syfret joined the Royal Navy in 1904 and, in his early service years, specialised in naval gunnery. 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 became Gunnery Officer in the light cruisers HMS Aurora, HMS Centaur
HMS Centaur (1916)
HMS Centaur was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was the nameship of the Centaur group of the C-class of cruisers....
and HMS Curacoa
HMS Curacoa (D41)
HMS Curacoa, named after the island Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea, was a Ceres group C-class light cruiser. In 1942, she became one of the Royal Navy's major accidental losses during the Second World War.-First World War:...
In 1927 he was Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet.
Syfret 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...
initially as Captain of HMS Rodney
HMS Rodney
Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Rodney, at least the last five after Admiral George Brydges Rodney. A seventh was planned but never completed:...
. In 1939 he became Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
. He was made commander of the Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad
Battle of Madagascar
The Battle of Madagascar was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy-French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November.-Geo-political:...
, the invasion of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. He was appointed Commander of Force H
Force H
Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany....
later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
After the War he became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; he retired in 1948.
Honours and awards
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath 1 January 1948 (KCB 8 September 1942, CB 25 November 1941)
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire 18 December 1945
- Mention in Despatches 25 August 1942
- 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...
(United States) 7 September 1943 - Croix de GuerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(France) 17 May 1918