Edward Neville Syfret

Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret, GCB, KBE (20 June 1889 – 10 December 1972) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in both World Wars. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy, in the Second World War.

Naval career

Born the son of Edward Ridge Syfret of Cape Town in South Africa and educated at Diocesan College, South Africa and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Syfret joined the Royal Navy in 1904 and, in his early service years, specialised in naval gunnery.^[2] In World War I he became Gunnery Officer in the light cruisers HMS Aurora, HMS Centaur and HMS Curacoa.^[2] In 1927 he was Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet.

Syfret served in the Second World War initially as Captain of HMS Rodney.^[2] In 1939 he became Naval Secretary.^[2] He was made commander of the 18th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad,^[2] the invasion of Madagascar in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. He was appointed Commander of Force H later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.^[2]

After the war he became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; he retired in 1948.^[2]

Family

In 1913 he married Hildegarde Warner. They had one son and one daughter.

References