Derek Empson

Admiral Sir Leslie Derek Empson, GBE, KCB (29 October 1918 – 20 September 1997) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command from 1974 to 1975.

Sir Derek Empson
Born	29 October 1918 Sleaford, England[1]
Died	20 September 1997 (aged 78) Hampshire, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1940–1976
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Naval Home Command (1974–75) Far East Fleet (1969–71) Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers (1967–68) Carrier Strike Group Two (1967–68) HMS Eagle (1963–65) HMS Falcon (1952–54) 767 Naval Air Squadron (1946–48)
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Naval career

Educated at Eastbourne College,[2] Empson joined the Royal Navy at HMS St Vincent as a pilot 1940.[3] He served in the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War.[3]

Empson was appointed Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in 1957 and then became Commanding Officer of HMS Eagle in 1963.[3] He went on to be Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers in 1967 and then Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air) in 1968.[3] He was made Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1969 and Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in 1971.[3] Finally he became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and Flag Officer Portsmouth Area in 1974.[3] He retired in 1975.[3]

Later life

In retirement, Empson worked as a consultant for EMI.[4] He also held the posts of Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom.[5]

References

1. Who's who in the World, Issues 1976–1977
2. Eastbourne College
3. Sir Leslie Derek Empson Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
4. Asia / Pacific Conference Report Billboard, 17 March 1979
5. "No. 50721". The London Gazette. 18 November 1986. p. 14834.