Benjamin Bryant (naval officer)

Rear Admiral Benjamin Bryant, CB, DSO & Two Bars, DSC (16 September 1905 – 23 November 1994) was a Royal Navy officer noted for his submarine exploits during the Second World War. In terms of ships sunk, Bryant was the most successful British submarine ace to survive the war.[1] He was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, (Training) from July 1954 to February 1957.

For other people with the same name, see Benjamin Bryant.

Benjamin Bryant
Real Admiral Benjamin Bryant, 1957
Born(1905-09-16)16 September 1905
Madras, India
Died23 November 1994(1994-11-23) (aged 89)
Worthing, West Sussex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1919–1957
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldHMS Glasgow (1953–54)
HMNB Devonport (1951–53)
Royal Navy Submarine School (1947–49)
HMS Adamant (1945–47)
HMS Forth (1945)
HMS Cyclops (1944–45)
HMS Montclare (1944)
HMS Safari (1941–43)
HMS Sealion (1938–41)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars
Distinguished Service Cross
Mentioned in Despatches

Early life

Bryant was born in Madras, India, where his father, John Forbes Bryant, was a member of the Indian Civil Service. His mother was Mary Ada (née Genge). He had an elder brother Joseph and elder sister May. Bryant returned from India as a boy and attended Oundle School and then the Royal Naval College, Osborne and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Bryant published a book, One Man Band: The Memoirs of a Submarine C.O.,[2] in 1958 about his experience up to and including the Second World War.

Second World War

As a lieutenant commander, Bryant served aboard HMS Sealion from 3 September 1938 to 12 October 1941. He then commanded HMS Safari from Between 14 October 1941 to 27 April 1943,[3] the submarine depot ship HMS Montclare from 16 June 1944 to 10 October 1944, the submarine depot ship HMS Cyclops from 30 October 1944 to 4 February 1945. Following promotion to captain, he commanded the submarine depot ship HMS Forth from 5 February to 11 May 1945, which was followed by command of HMS Adamant from 26 June 1945 to 4 June 1947.

For his services during the Second World War, Bryant was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 9 May 1940,[4] Mentioned in Despatches on 12 May 1942, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 23 March 1943,[5] which was followed by two Bars to the DSO on 11 May and 6 July the same year.[6] He was later appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1956.[7]

References
  1. "U-Boat net Commanders". Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  2. Bryant, Ben (1980). Submarine Commander. New York: Bantam Books (published 1958).
  3. "HMS SAFARI (P 211 – ex-P 61) – S-class Submarine". naval-history.net. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  4. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (34845). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 9 May 1940. p. 2786. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  5. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (35950). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 23 March 1943. p. 1369. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (36081). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 6 July 1943. p. 3055. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  7. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (40787). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 31 May 1956. p. 3101. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
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