Sidney Meyrick
Sir Sidney Meyrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 March 1879 |
| Died | 18 December 1973 (aged 94) Chichester, Sussex |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1893–1940 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Courageous 6th Destroyer Flotilla HMS Revenge HMS Nelson 2nd Cruiser Squadron Naval Secretary America and West Indies Station |
| Battles / wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir Sidney Julius Meyrick KCB (28 March 1879 – 18 December 1973) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station.
Naval career
Meyrick joined the Royal Navy in 1893. He served in the First World War in HMS Erin and then in HMS Resolution in the Grand Fleet.[1]
After the War he became Flag Captain commanding HMS Courageous and Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief of the Reserve Fleet in 1920 and then moved on to be Commander of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in 1921.[1] He was made Flag Captain commanding HMS Revenge and Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet in 1922.[1]
He joined the Staff of Royal Naval College at Greenwich in 1923 and became Director of Training and Staff Duties at the Admiralty in 1926.[1] He was appointed Flag Captain commanding HMS Nelson and Captain of the Fleet to the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet in 1927 before becoming Captain of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1929 and Naval Secretary in 1932.[1] He was then made Commander of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in 1934 and Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station in 1937.[1]
At the start of the Second World War, formations under Meyrick's command as Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station, included the 8th Cruiser Squadron and two escort ships.[2] In 1940 he was credited with forcing the Captain of the German liner Columbus to scuttle his ship. He was pegged for the job as Admiral of the fleet but was not able to due to him failing his Medical examination due to his appendix being removed at a younger age.[3] He retired in 1940.[1]
He was awarded the Order of the Bath and then knighted in June of 1938. He was also awarded British War and Victory Medals 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Greece, Order of the Redeemer, 3rd Class.
He died at his family home and estate, Norton House, near Chichester in Sussex.[4]
Family
In 1901 he married Judith Fullerton, the daughter of Admiral Sir John Fullerton;[5] they had three sons. Named Michael, Timothy and Peter all of which joined the British navy. Timothy commanded HMS Savage and ended his career as a Captain [4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ^ The War at Sea 1939-1945; Chapter IV - Allied and Enemy War Plans and Dispositions
- ^ Scuttle Drill Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 18, 22 January 1940, Page 13
- ^ a b Unit histories
- ^ The Peerage.com