Desmond Dreyer
Admiral Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer, GCB, CBE, DSC, DL (6 April 1910 – 15 May 2003) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel from 1965 to 1967.
Sir Desmond Dreyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 April 1910 Warwick, Warwickshire |
| Died | 15 May 2003 (aged 93) Winchester, Hampshire |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1924–1968 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Far East Fleet (1962–65) Flag Officer, Air (Home) (1961–62) 3rd Destroyer Squadron (1953–55) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War Suez Crisis Malayan Emergency |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross |
Naval career
Born the second son of Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer, Desmond Dreyer joined the Royal Navy in 1924.[1] He served in the Second World War at sea and in the Admiralty.[1] He distinguished himself as Gunnery Officer on HMS Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, winning the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in this action.[2] He served on HMS Coventry during the Norwegian Campaign and from 1941 to 1943 on the battleships King George V and Duke of York.[3]
From July 1953 to April 1955, Dreyer commanded the 3rd Destroyer Squadron in the Mediterranean. He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in 1955 and was involved in the Suez Crisis in 1956.[2] He went on to be Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1958, Flag Officer (Flotillas) for the Mediterranean Fleet in 1960 and Flag Officer, Air (Home) in 1961.[1] He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1962: following the Malayan Emergency he co-ordinated Commonwealth naval forces in their successful resistance to Indonesian incursions into the newly formed Malaysia.[4]
Dreyer became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in 1965.[1] He was also Principal Naval Aide-de-camp to the Queen from 1965 to 1968.[1] His last appointment was as Chief Advisor (Personnel and Logistics) to Denis Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence in 1967: he retired in 1968.[1]
Later life
In retirement, Dreyer became a member of the Prices and Incomes Board and the Armed Forces' Pay Review Board.[2] He was also Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.[2] From 1970 to 1971 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).[5]
Family
In 1934, Dreyer married Elisabeth Chilton: they went on to have two sons and a daughter.[2] In 1959, following his first wife's death, he married Majorie Whiteley.[2]
References
- Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer Daily Telegraph, 21 May 2003
- "Neptune's Scrapbook: Rear Admiral D. P. Dreyer". Navy News. February 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer The Guardian, 21 May 2003
- Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir David Luce |
Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet 1962–1965 |
Succeeded by Sir Frank Twiss |
| Preceded by Sir Royston Wright |
Second Sea Lord 1965–1967 |
Succeeded by Sir Peter Hill-Norton |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Sir Wilfrid Woods |
First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp 1965–1968 |
Succeeded by Sir John Frewen |
| Court offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir William Stirling |
Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State 1973–1980 |
Succeeded by Sir John Barraclough |