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.
Benjamin Bryant | |
---|---|
Real Admiral Benjamin Bryant, 1957 | |
Born | Madras, India | 16 September 1905
Died | 23 November 1994 89) Worthing, West Sussex, England | (aged
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1919–1957 |
Rank | Rear Admiral |
Commands held | HMS 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/wars | Second World War |
Awards | Companion 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
- "U-Boat net Commanders". Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- Bryant, Ben (1980). Submarine Commander. New York: Bantam Books (published 1958).
- "HMS SAFARI (P 211 – ex-P 61) – S-class Submarine". naval-history.net. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (34845). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 9 May 1940. p. 2786. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (35950). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 23 March 1943. p. 1369. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (36081). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 6 July 1943. p. 3055. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (40787). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 31 May 1956. p. 3101. Retrieved 3 September 2013.