Terence Lewin

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mentioned in Despatches
(3)

Second World War and then commanded a destroyer, the Royal yacht, two frigates and an aircraft carrier before achieving higher command. He was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the late 1970s and in that role he worked hard to secure a decent wage for servicemen and helped win them a 32% pay rise. He went on to be Chief of the Defence Staff during the Falklands War, serving as chief war planner and as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
's chief advisor during the war. He was also the first Chief of Defence Staff to act as head of the Armed Forces rather than just Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Naval career

Born the son of Eric Lewin and Maggie Lewin (née Falconer)

Second World War broke out in September 1939 he transferred to the cruiser HMS Belfast and then two months later to the battleship HMS Valiant.[3]

The destroyer HMS Ashanti in which Lewin he took part in the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War

In the Valiant he took part in the

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 HMS Somali was hit by a torpedo.[7][8]

Lewin attended the gunnery school at

Admiralty in December 1953.[10]

Lewin was given command of the destroyer

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1976 Birthday Honours.[21]

Supplies being delivered to the destroyer HMS Bristol by helicopter during a stopover at Ascension Island on the ship's voyage to take part in the Falklands War

Lewin was appointed

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 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

Coat of arms of Terence Lewin, Baron Lewin, KG, GCB, LVO, DSC
Coronet
Coronet of a Baron
Crest
Out of a Naval Crown Azure, a Lion rampant in trian aspect Or, on its head a Baron's Coronet and Cap of Estate proper, brandishing in the dexter paw a Sword proper, Hilt, Knuckle Guard and Pommel in the form of an eagle's head Gold.
Escutcheon
Quarterly Gules and Azure, three Boars' Heads, two and one, couped Or, tusked Argent, on a Chief barry wavy of four Bleu Celeste and Argent, a Naval Gun circa 1800 proper, mounted on its Carriage Gold.
Supporters
Dexter: an Able Seaman of Her Majesty's Ship Victory, wearing the South Atlantic Medal proper.

Sinister: a Royal Marine, wearing the South Atlantic Medal proper. The whole upon a Compartment comprising a Grassy Mount with Outcrops of Rock proper, and having on each side a Sea Inlet barry wavy Argent and Azure.

Motto
FLEXIBLE BUT FIRM OF PURPOSE
Other elements
Order of the Garter circlet bearing the inscription HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
Symbolism
The three boar's heads are taken from the arms of Sir Andrew Judde, Lord Mayor of London in 1550/1, as a tribute to the Judd School in Tonbridge where Lord Lewin was educated. The red and blue background echoes the arms of an earlier Lewin family. The naval cannon is an appropriate emblem for a naval officer who has seen active service, and it is set against a pattern of blue and white waves for the sea.[28]

References

  1. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71891. Retrieved 30 August 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)     (subscription required)
  2. ^ Heathcote, p. 155
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Heathcote, p. 156
  4. ^ "No. 35679". The London Gazette. 21 August 1942. p. 3719.
  5. ^ "No. 36676". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 August 1944. p. 4010.
  6. ^ "No. 36794". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 November 1944. p. 5224.
  7. ^ "No. 35805". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 November 1942. p. 5226.
  8. ^ a b c "Obituary: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin". The Independent. 25 January 1999. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  9. ^ "No. 38681". The London Gazette. 2 August 1949. p. 3760.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Heathcote, p. 157
  11. ^ "No. 39749". The London Gazette. 9 January 1953. p. 220.
  12. ^ "No. 41450". The London Gazette. 18 July 1958. p. 4514.
  13. ^ "No. 41589". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1958. p. 5.
  14. ^ "No. 44365". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 July 1967. p. 7881.
  15. ^ "No. 44405". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 September 1967. p. 9891.
  16. ^ "No. 45214". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1970. p. 11458.
  17. ^ a b Heathcote, p. 158
  18. ^ "No. 45860". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1972. p. 2.
  19. ^ Hill, Lewin of Greenwich," 2012; Roberts, Safeguarding the Nation," 2009.
  20. ^ "No. 46138". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 November 1973. p. 14081.
  21. ^ "No. 46919". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1976. p. 8016.
  22. ^ "No. 47173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 March 1977. p. 3571.
  23. ^ "No. 47904". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 July 1979. p. 8998.
  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. ^ "No. 49176". The London Gazette. 24 November 1982. p. 15347.
  27. ISBN 1 870520 19 X
  28. ^ Chessyre, Hubert (1994–1995). "The Heraldry of the Garter Banners" (PDF). Report of the Society of the Friends of St George's and the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter. VII (6): 254. Retrieved 19 January 2022.

Sources

Further reading

  • Finlan, Alastair. The Royal Navy in the Falklands Conflict and the Gulf War: Culture and Strategy (Psychology Press, 2004).
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
1971–1973 		Succeeded by
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
1973–1975
Preceded by
Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command

1975–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Sir Edward Ashmore
First Sea Lord

1977–1979 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Defence Staff
1979–1982 		Succeeded by
Sir Edwin Bramall
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Terence_Lewin&oldid=1220727914"