Edward Neville Syfret

Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret GCB, KBE (20 June 1889 – 10 December 1972) was a British naval officer who served with the Royal Navy in World War I and World War II. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy. Syfret was born 20 June 1889 near Cape Town, South Africa and died on 10 December 1972, in London.

Naval career
Born the son of Edward Ridge Syfret of Cape Town in South Africa and educated at Diocesan College, South Africa and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Syfret joined the Royal Navy in 1904 and, in his early service years, specialised in naval gunnery. In World War I he became Gunnery Officer in the light cruisers HMS Aurora, HMS Centaur and HMS Curacoa In 1927 he was Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet.

Syfret served in World War II initially as Captain of HMS Rodney. In 1939 he became Naval Secretary. He was made commander of the Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. He was appointed Commander of Force H later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

After the War he became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; he retired in 1948.

Family
In 1913 he married Hildegarde Warner. They had one son and one daughter.

Honours and awards

 * Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath 1 January 1948 (KCB 8 September 1942, CB 25 November 1941)
 * Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire 18 December 1945
 * Mention in Despatches 25 August 1942
 * Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) 7 September 1943
 * Croix de Guerre (France) 17 May 1918