Michael Denny
| Sir Michael Denny | |
|---|---|
 Denny on the quarterdeck of HMS King George V in 1943 | |
| Born | 3 October 1896 |
| Died | 7 April 1972 (aged 75) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1913 - 1959 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Kenya HMS Victorious Home Fleet |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order |
Admiral Sir Michael Maynard Denny GCB CBE DSO (3 October 1896 – 7 April 1972) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Third Sea Lord.
Naval career
Educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, Wimborne Minster,[1] the Royal Naval College, Osborne and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Denny joined the Royal Navy in 1913.[2] He served in World War I and, after the War, specialised in gunnery.[2] In 1932 he joined the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. He spent two years at sea as an Executive Officer before becoming Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance at the Admiralty in 1937.[2] He was appointed Deputy Director of Naval Ordnance in 1938.[2]
He served in World War II as Senior Naval Officer for the Åndalsnes landing and then as Chief Staff Officer for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.[2] In 1942 he was given command of the cruiser HMS Kenya.[2] He became Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet later that year.[2] In 1943 he took command of the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious from which he conducted air strikes against Okinawa in Japan.[2]
After the War he became Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and Director of Personal Services and then, from 1947, Flag Officer (Destroyers) for the Mediterranean Fleet.[2] In 1949 he became Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy and in 1954 he was made Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet and Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic.[2] He was appointed Chairman of the British Joint Services Mission to Washington, D.C. and UK Representative on the NATO Standing Group in 1956.[2] He retired in 1959.[2]
In retirement he became a Director of Cammell Laird.[1]
Family
In 1923 he married Sara Annie Esme Welman.[1]
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Charles Daniel |
Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy 1949–1953 |
Succeeded by Sir Ralph Edwards |
| Preceded by Sir George Creasy |
Commander in Chief, Home Fleet 1954–1955 |
Succeeded by Sir John Eccles |
| Preceded by Sir John Whiteley |
Chief of the British Joint Staff Mission to Washington and UK Military Representative to NATO 1956–1959 |
Succeeded by Sir George Mills |