Michael Denny
Sir Michael Denny | |
---|---|
![]() Denny in March 1945. | |
Born | 3 October 1896 Kempley, Gloucestershire, England |
Died | 7 April 1972 | (aged 75)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1913−1959 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held | HMS Kenya HMS Victorious Home Fleet |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order |
Admiral Sir Michael Maynard Denny GCB CBE DSO (3 October 1896 – 7 April 1972) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Third Sea Lord.
Educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, Wimborne Minster,[1] the Royal Naval College, Osborne and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Denny joined the Royal Navy in 1909.[2] He served in World War I and, after the War, specialised in gunnery.[2] In 1932 he joined the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. He spent two years at sea as an Executive Officer before becoming assistant director of Naval Ordnance at the Admiralty in 1937.[2] He was appointed deputy director of Naval Ordnance in 1938.[2]
He served in World War II as Senior Naval Officer for the Åndalsnes landing and then as Chief Staff Officer for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.[2] In 1942 he was given command of the cruiser HMS Kenya.[2] He became Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet later that year.[2] In 1943 he took command of the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious from which he conducted air strikes against Okinawa in Japan.[2]
After the War he became Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and Director of Personal Services and then, from 1947, Flag Officer (Destroyers) for the Mediterranean Fleet.[2] In 1949 he became Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy and in 1954 he was made Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet and Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic.[2] He was appointed Chairman of the British Joint Services Mission to Washington, D.C. and UK Representative on the NATO Standing Group in 1956.[2] He retired in 1959.[2]
In retirement he became a Director of Cammell Laird.[1]
Family
In 1923 he married Sara Annie Esme Welman.[1]
References
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- 1896 births
- 1972 deaths
- Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College
- Royal Navy admirals
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Lords of the Admiralty
- People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Wimborne Minster
- People educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne
- British naval attachés
- Military personnel from Gloucestershire
- Royal Navy personnel of World War I
- Royal Navy personnel of World War II