Michael Le Fanu

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Second World War
Mentioned in Despatches
Legion of Merit
(United States)

First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the late 1960s. In that role, in the face of economic difficulties, he worked hard to reshape the Navy as an anti-submarine force operating primarily in the Atlantic Ocean
.

Early life

Born the son of

Huguenot descent) and Georgiana Harriott Le Fanu (née Kingscote),[1] Le Fanu was educated at Bedford School and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.[2]

Naval career

Le Fanu joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1926 and was posted to the cruiser HMS Dorsetshire in the Atlantic Fleet before being promoted to midshipman on 1 September 1931 and being posted to the cruiser HMS York.[2] Promoted to sub-lieutenant on 1 May 1934,[3] he joined the destroyer HMS Whitshed in the Mediterranean Fleet in March 1935 and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 June 1935.[4] He was posted to the destroyer HMS Bulldog in the Home Fleet in September 1936 before training as a gunnery specialist during 1938 and then being posted to the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.[5]

The battleship HMS Howe in which Le Fanu served as gunnery officer during the Second World War

Le Fanu served in the Second World War being posted to the cruiser

mentioned in despatches for his services during the Norwegian campaign in Spring 1940[6] and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in November 1941 when an Italian convoy was destroyed during the Battle of the Mediterranean.[7]

The aircraft carrier HMS Eagle which Le Fanu commanded in the late 1950s

Promoted to

Eastern Fleet as gunnery officer in March 1944.[5] Promoted to commander on 31 December 1944,[9] he was posted as liaison officer between the British Pacific Fleet and the United States Third Fleet in January 1945 and was awarded the United States Legion of Merit for his actions.[10] He was also invited to attend the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in the USS Missouri on 2 September 1945.[5]

After the War Le Fanu served on the experimental staff at the shore establishment

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1963 Birthday Honours[16] and promoted to full admiral on 29 September 1965,[17] he became Commander-in-Chief, Middle East in December 1965.[15] In that role he served as Joint Commander of the three services in the Middle East during the evacuation of British Nationals during the Aden Emergency.[15]

Advanced to

First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in August 1968.[15] In the face of economic difficulties he worked hard to reshape the Navy as an anti-submarine force operating primarily in the Atlantic Ocean.[15] He was nominated for the post of Chief of the Defence Staff but never held the office because he was suddenly discovered to be terminally ill with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL).[15] He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 3 July 1970,[19] on his retirement, and died in London on 28 November 1970.[15]

Family

In 1943 Le Fanu married Prudence Grace Morgan, daughter of Admiral Sir Llewellyn Vaughan Morgan; they had two sons and a daughter.[20]

Notes

  1. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34475. Retrieved 9 September 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  2. ^ a b Heathcote, p. 153
  3. ^ "No. 34143". The London Gazette. 19 March 1935. p. 1904.
  4. ^ "No. 34211". The London Gazette. 25 October 1935. p. 6698.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Heathcote, p. 154
  6. ^ "No. 34953". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 September 1940. p. 5710.
  7. ^ "No. 35466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 February 1942. p. 901.
  8. ^ "No. 35817". The London Gazette. 8 December 1942. p. 5353.
  9. ^ "No. 36880". The London Gazette. 5 January 1945. p. 230.
  10. ^ "No. 37805". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 December 1946. p. 5912.
  11. ^ "No. 38658". The London Gazette. 5 July 1949. p. 3300.
  12. ^ "No. 41516". The London Gazette. 7 October 1958. p. 6110.
  13. ^ "No. 42051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1960. p. 3974.
  14. ^ "No. 42516". The London Gazette. 17 November 1961. p. 8344.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Heathcote, p. 155
  16. ^ "No. 43010". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1963. p. 4794.
  17. ^ "No. 43819". The London Gazette. 19 November 1965. p. 10842.
  18. ^ "No. 44484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1967. p. 2.
  19. ^ "No. 45138". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1970. p. 7183.
  20. ^ "Michael Le Fanu". Royal Naval Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.

Sources

  • Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd.
    ISBN 0-85052-835-6
    .

Further reading
Military offices
Preceded by
Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy

1961–1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
First Sea Lord

1968–1970 		Succeeded by
Sir Peter Hill-Norton
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