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{{Short description|Royal Navy Admiral (1910-2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|name= Sir Desmond Dreyer
| name = Admiral Desmond Dreyer
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| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DSC|DL}}
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|nickname=
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|birth_date= {{birth date|1910|04|06|df=yes}}
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| nickname =
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|birth_place= [[Warwick]], Warwickshire
|death_date= {{death date and age|2003|05|15|1910|04|06|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|04|06|df=yes}}
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| birth_place = [[Warwick]], Warwickshire
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|death_place= [[Winchester]], Hampshire
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| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|05|15|1910|04|06|df=yes}}
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|placeofburial=
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| death_place = [[Winchester]], Hampshire
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|allegiance= United Kingdom
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| placeofburial =
|branch= [[Royal Navy]]
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| allegiance = United Kingdom
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|serviceyears= 1924–1968
|rank= [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
| branch = [[Royal Navy]]
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| serviceyears = 1924–1968
|unit=
|commands= [[Eastern Fleet|Far East Fleet]] (1962–65)<br/>[[Flag Officer, Air (Home)]] (1961–62)<br/>[[3rd Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Destroyer Squadron]] (1953–55)
| rank = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
| unit =
| commands = [[Eastern Fleet|Far East Fleet]] (1962–65)<br />[[Flag Officer, Air (Home)]] (1961–62)<br />[[3rd Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Destroyer Squadron]] (1953–55)
|battles= [[Second World War]]<br/>[[Suez Crisis]]<br/>[[Malayan Emergency]]
| battles = [[Second World War]]<br />[[Suez Crisis]]<br />[[Malayan Emergency]]
|awards= [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
| awards = [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br />[[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<br />[[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
|relations=
| relations =
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| laterwork =
}}
}}
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DSC|DL}} (6 April 1910 – 15 May 2003) was a senior [[Royal Navy]] officer who served as [[Second Sea Lord|Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel]] from 1965 to 1967.
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DSC|DL}} (6 April 1910 – 15 May 2003) was a senior [[Royal Navy]] officer who served as [[Second Sea Lord|Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel]] from 1965 to 1967.


==Naval career==
==Naval career==
Born the second son of Admiral [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer]], Desmond Dreyer joined the [[Royal Navy]] in 1924.<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/DREYER.shtml Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer] Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives</ref> He served in the [[Second World War]] at sea and in the [[Admiralty]].<ref name=lh/> He distinguished himself as Gunnery Officer on {{HMS|Ajax|22|6}} at the [[Battle of the River Plate]] in December 1939, winning the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Cross]] for his role in this action.<ref name=tele>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1430646/Admiral-Sir-Desmond-Dreyer.html Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer] Daily Telegraph, 21 May 2003</ref> He served on {{HMS|Coventry|D43|6}} during the [[Norwegian Campaign]] and from 1941 to 1943 on the battleships {{HMS|King George V|41|2}} and {{HMS|Duke of York|17|2}}.<ref name="nn">{{cite newspaper|title=Neptune's Scrapbook: Rear Admiral D. P. Dreyer|newspaper=[[Navy News]] |date=February 1961 |page=5|url=https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/196102|accessdate=25 August 2018}}</ref>
Born the second son of Admiral [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer]], Desmond Dreyer joined the [[Royal Navy]] in 1924.<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/DREYER.shtml Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer] Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives</ref> He served in the [[Second World War]] at sea and in the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]].<ref name=lh/> He distinguished himself as Gunnery Officer on {{HMS|Ajax|22|6}} at the [[Battle of the River Plate]] in December 1939, winning the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Cross]] for his role in this action.<ref name=tele>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1430646/Admiral-Sir-Desmond-Dreyer.html Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer] Daily Telegraph, 21 May 2003</ref> He served on {{HMS|Coventry|D43|6}} during the [[Norwegian campaign]] and from 1941 to 1943 on the battleships {{HMS|King George V|41|2}} and {{HMS|Duke of York|17|2}}.<ref name="nn">{{cite news|title=Neptune's Scrapbook: Rear Admiral D. P. Dreyer|newspaper=[[Navy News]] |date=February 1961 |page=5|url=https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/196102|accessdate=25 August 2018}}</ref>


From July 1953 to April 1955, Dreyer commanded the [[3rd Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)|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.<ref name=tele/> He went on to be [[Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff|Assistant Chief of Naval Staff]] in 1958, Flag Officer (Flotillas) for the Mediterranean Fleet in 1960 and [[Flag Officer, Air (Home)]] in 1961.<ref name=lh/> He was appointed [[Eastern Fleet|Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet]] in 1962: following the [[Malayan Emergency]] he co-ordinated Commonwealth naval forces in their successful resistance to [[Indonesia]]n incursions into the newly formed [[Malaysia]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/may/21/guardianobituaries.military Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer] The Guardian, 21 May 2003</ref>
From July 1953 to April 1955, Dreyer commanded the [[3rd Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)|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.<ref name=tele/> He went on to be [[Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (United Kingdom)|Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff]] in 1958, Flag Officer (Flotillas) for the Mediterranean Fleet in 1960 and [[Flag Officer, Air (Home)]] in 1961.<ref name=lh/> He was appointed [[Eastern Fleet|Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet]] in 1962: following the [[Malayan Emergency]] he co-ordinated Commonwealth naval forces in their successful resistance to [[Indonesia]]n incursions into the newly formed [[Malaysia]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/may/21/guardianobituaries.military Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer] The Guardian, 21 May 2003</ref>


Dreyer became [[Second Sea Lord|Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel]] in 1965.<ref name=lh/> He was also [[List of First and Principal Naval Aides-de-Camp|Principal Naval Aide-de-camp]] to [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] from 1965 to 1968.<ref name=lh/> 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.<ref name=lh/>
Dreyer was promoted to full [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|admiral]] on 5 June 1965,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=43708|page=6520| date=9 July 1965}}</ref> and became [[Second Sea Lord|Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel]] in 1965.<ref name=lh/> He was also [[List of First and Principal Naval Aides-de-Camp|Principal Naval Aide-de-camp]] to [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] from 1965 to 1968.<ref name=lh/> 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.<ref name=lh/>


==Later life==
==Later life==
In retirement, Dreyer became a member of the Prices and Incomes Board and the Armed Forces' Pay Review Board.<ref name=tele/> He was also [[Deputy Lieutenant]] of [[Hampshire]].<ref name=tele/> From 1970 to 1971 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).<ref>[http://royalnavyclub.org/History.html Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889)].</ref>
In retirement, Dreyer became a member of the Prices and Incomes Board and the Armed Forces' Pay Review Board.<ref name=tele/> He was also [[Deputy Lieutenant]] of [[Hampshire]].<ref name=tele/> From 1970 to 1971 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).<ref>[http://royalnavyclub.org/History.html Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831164040/http://royalnavyclub.org/History.html |date=31 August 2018 }}.</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
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[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Warwickshire]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Suez Crisis]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Suez Crisis]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
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[[Category:Royal Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Royal Navy officers of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Navy officers of World War II]]
[[Category:People from Warwick]]

Latest revision as of 13:44, 29 April 2024

Admiral

Admiral Desmond Dreyer

GCB, CBE, DSC, DL
Born(1910-04-06)6 April 1910
Warwick, Warwickshire
Died15 May 2003(2003-05-15) (aged 93)
Winchester, Hampshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1924–1968
RankAdmiral
Commands heldFar East Fleet (1962–65)
Flag Officer, Air (Home) (1961–62)
3rd Destroyer Squadron (1953–55)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Suez Crisis
Malayan Emergency
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Cross

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.

Naval career[edit]

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 was promoted to full admiral on 5 June 1965,[5] and 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[edit]

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).[6]

Family[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sir Desmond Parry Dreyer Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  2. ^ a b c d e f Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer Daily Telegraph, 21 May 2003
  3. ^ "Neptune's Scrapbook: Rear Admiral D. P. Dreyer". Navy News. February 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. ^ Obituary: Sir Desmond Dreyer The Guardian, 21 May 2003
  5. ^ "No. 43708". The London Gazette. 9 July 1965. p. 6520.
  6. ^ Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889) Archived 31 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet
1962–1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Sea Lord
1965–1967 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
1965–1968 		Succeeded by
Court offices
Preceded by Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State
1973–1980 		Succeeded by
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