Ralph Leatham

Admiral Sir Ralph Leatham KCB (3 March 1888 – 10 March 1954) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth during World War II.

Sir Ralph Leatham
Leatham on his appointment as Vice Admiral Malta
Born	(1888-03-03)3 March 1888 Hemsworth, West Yorkshire
Died	10 March 1954(1954-03-10) (aged 66)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1900–1946
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	HMS Yarmouth HMS Durban HMS Ramillies HMS Valiant Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Plymouth Command
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Naval career

Leatham joined the Royal Navy in 1900 as a cadet on the training ship Britannia.[1] He served on various ships during World War I.[2] After the War he went on to command HMS Yarmouth, HMS Durban, HMS Ramillies and HMS Valiant.[1] He was appointed Commander of the 1st Battle Squadron in 1938.[1]

He served in World War II as Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station from April 1939 and as Flag Officer in Command, Malta from 1941 taking part in actions against the Italian Navy.[2] He became Deputy Governor of Malta in 1943 and was briefly temporary Commander-in-Chief, Levant before becoming Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth later in 1943.[1] He retired in 1946.[1]

In retirement he became Governor of Bermuda.[1]

Family

In 1910 he married Enid Birks; they had one son and one daughter.[3]

References

1. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
2. World Ships Forum
3. Unit Histories

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Sir James Somerville	Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station 1939–1941	Succeeded by Sir Geoffrey Arbuthnot
Preceded by Sir Wilbraham Ford	Flag Officer, Malta 1941–1942	Succeeded by Sir Stuart Bonham Carter
Preceded by Sir Charles Forbes	Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1943–1945	Succeeded by Sir Henry Pridham-Wippell
Government offices
Preceded by Lord Burghley	Governor of Bermuda 1946–1949	Succeeded by Sir Alexander Hood