Sidney Meyrick
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.
Sir Sidney Meyrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 March 1879 |
| Died | 18 December 1973 (aged 94) Chichester, Sussex |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1893–1940 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | 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 |
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 the Royal Naval College, 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.[3] He retired in 1940.[1]
He died at the 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 Timothy, Michael and Peter.[4]
References
- 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
- Unit histories
- The Peerage.com
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Chetwode |
Naval Secretary 1932–1934 |
Succeeded by Guy Royle |
| Preceded by Sir Matthew Best |
Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station 1937–1940 |
Succeeded by Sir Charles Kennedy-Purvis |