Terence Lewin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:EngvarB Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Admiral of the Fleet Terence Thornton Lewin, Baron Lewin (19 November 1920 – 23 January 1999) was a career Royal Navy officer, best known for his service as Chief of the Defence Staff during the Falklands War in 1982, in which he acted both as chief war planner and senior military advisor for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Joining the Royal Navy in 1939, Lewin served at sea throughout the Second World War, taking part in numerous campaigns and receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in 1942. First promoted to command his own ship in 1955, Lewin commanded the destroyer HMS Corunna, the Royal yacht, two frigates and an aircraft carrier before achieving higher command. He served as the 88th First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the late 1970s, fighting to secure a decent wage for British servicemen, helping to win them a 32% pay rise. Lewin rose to become the 9th Chief of the Defence Staff in 1979 and held the office for three years, the first holder of that office to act directly as head of the British military, rather than just as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Lewin retired from the Royal Navy in October 1982, becoming Chairman of the Trustees of the National Maritime Museum and President of the Society for Nautical Research among other roles, also maintaining interest as a military historian. He died in 1999 at the age of 78.

Naval career

Born the son of Eric Lewin and Maggie Lewin (née Falconer)[1] and educated at The Judd School in Tonbridge, where he was head prefect in 1938, Lewin joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939.[2] He was initially posted to the training ship HMS Vindictive but when the Second World War broke out in September 1939 he transferred to the cruiser Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and then two months later to the battleship Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"..[3]

File:HMS Ashanti.jpg
The destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in which Lewin he took part in the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War

In the Valiant he took part in the Norwegian Campaign in April and May 1940 and then in the attack on the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940.[3] He transferred to the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in October 1941 and then to the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in January 1942.[3] During a long period of service in the Ashanti he took part in the Arctic Convoys, and having been promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1942, he took part in Operation Pedestal to relieve Malta in August 1942 and then the allied landings in North Africa in November 1942 before returning to the Arctic Convoys again and finally taking part in the allied landings in Normandy in June 1944.[3] He served with distinction being mentioned in despatches three times[4][5][6] and being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1942 for saving the lives of many fellow servicemen when the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". was hit by a torpedo.[7][8]

Lewin attended the gunnery school at Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in Spring 1945 and then joined the staff there in May 1945.[3] He was posted to the cruiser Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". as gunnery officer in April 1946 and, after attending the advanced gunnery course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1947, he returned to the staff at HMS Excellent in December.[3] Promoted to lieutenant commander on 1 July 1949,[9] he became gunnery officer of the First Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet.[10] He rejoined the staff of HMS Excellent in January 1952 and, having been promoted to commander on 31 December 1952,[11] he joined the staff of the Second Sea Lord at the Admiralty in December 1953.[10]

Lewin was given command of the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in October 1955[3] before joining HMY Britannia in April 1957 as the executive officer.[3] Promoted to captain on 30 June 1958,[12] he went back to the Admiralty as Assistant Director of the Tactical Ship Requirements and Staff Duties Division in November 1958 and then, having been appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1959 New Year Honours,[13] he became Assistant Director of the Tactical and Weapons Policy Division in 1960.[10] After attending the Imperial Defence College in 1961,[10] he was appointed Captain (F) of the 17th Frigate Squadron in December 1961 sailing successively in the frigates Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and then Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"..[10] He went back to the Admiralty again as Director of Tactical and Weapons Policy in December 1963 and took command of the aircraft carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in May 1966.[10]

Flag rank

Lewin was appointed Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 7 July 1967[14] and promoted to rear admiral on 7 January 1968,[15] on appointment as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) before becoming Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet in August 1969.[10] Promoted to vice admiral on 7 October 1970,[16] he became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff in January 1971.[17] He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1973 New Year Honours.[18] As VCNS two of his most important projects were the approval of the Sea Harrier and the beginning of "group deployments," as the UK's far-flung naval forces had mostly disappeared.[19] He was promoted to full admiral on 1 December 1973,[20] on appointment as Commander-in-Chief Fleet and NATO Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic and became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in November 1975[17] before being advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1976 Birthday Honours.[21]

File:HMS Bristol storing at Ascension Island 1982.JPG
Supplies being delivered to the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". by helicopter during a stopover at Ascension Island on the ship's voyage to take part in the Falklands War

Lewin was appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on 1 March 1977.[22] In that role he worked hard to secure a decent wage for servicemen and helped win them a 32% pay rise.[8] Promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 6 July 1979,[23] he went on to be Chief of the Defence Staff in September 1979 and served as a member of the War Cabinet during the Falklands War giving Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher his resolute support when losses began to be suffered.[24]

Lewin was the first Chief of Defence Staff to act as professional head of the Armed Forces rather than just Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.[25] He was created a life peer, as Baron Lewin, of Greenwich in Greater London in October 1982[26] on his retirement.[25]

Later life

In retirement, Lewin became Chairman of the Trustees of the National Maritime Museum, President of the Society for Nautical Research, a Liveryman of the Skinners' Company and of the Shipwrights' Company and an elder brother of Trinity House.[27] His interests included military history: he was an expert on the life of Captain Cook.[8] He was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter in April 1983.[25] He died at his home at Ufford in Suffolk on 23 January 1999.[25]

Family

In 1944, Lewin married Jane Branch-Evans; they had two sons and a daughter.[3]

Coat of Arms

Template:Infobox COA wide

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Template:Link note Template:Subscription required
  2. ↑ Heathcote, p. 155
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Heathcote, p. 156
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  8. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g Heathcote, p. 157
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  17. ↑ a b Heathcote, p. 158
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  19. ↑ Hill, Lewin of Greenwich," 2012; Roberts, Safeguarding the Nation," 2009.
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  24. ↑ Heathcote, p.159; Stephen Prince "British command and control in the Falklands Campaign." Defense & Security Analysis 18.4 (2002): 333–349.
  25. ↑ a b c d Heathcote, p. 159
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  27. ↑ People of Today 1994, Debrett, Template:ISBN

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Sources

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Prince, Stephen. "British command and control in the Falklands Campaign." Defense & Security Analysis 18.4 (2002): 333–349.

Further reading

  • Finlan, Alastair. The Royal Navy in the Falklands Conflict and the Gulf War: Culture and Strategy (Psychology Press, 2004).
Military offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
1971–1973 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
1973–1975 Template:S-ttl/check
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
1975–1976 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check First Sea Lord
1977–1979 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Chief of the Defence Staff
1979–1982 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Chiefs of Defence Staff Script error: No such module "Military navigation".

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Terence_Lewin&oldid=1647903"