Admiral Sir Sidney Julius Meyrick
KCB (28 March 1879 – 18 December 1973) was a
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
officer who went on to be
Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station.
Naval career
Meyrick joined the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
in 1893. He served in the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
in
HMS ''Erin'' and then in
HMS ''Resolution'' in the
Grand Fleet
The Grand Fleet was the main battlefleet of the Royal Navy during the First World War. It was established in August 1914 and disbanded in April 1919. Its main base was Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.
History
Formed in August 1914 from the F ...
.
[Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]
/ref>
After the War he became Flag Captain commanding HMS ''Courageous'' and Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief of the Reserve Fleet in 1920 and then moved on to be Commander of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in 1921.[ He was made Flag Captain commanding HMS ''Revenge'' and Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet in 1922.][
He joined the Staff of the ]Royal Naval College, Greenwich
The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, was a Royal Navy training establishment between 1873 and 1998, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Royal Navy's staff college, which provided advanced training for officers. The equi ...
, in 1923 and became Director of Training and Staff Duties at the Admiralty
Admiralty most often refers to:
*Admiralty, Hong Kong
*Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964
*The rank of admiral
*Admiralty law
Admiralty can also refer to:
Buildings
* Admiralty, Traf ...
in 1926.[ He was appointed Flag Captain commanding and Captain of the Fleet to the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet in 1927 before becoming Captain of the ]Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
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in 1929 and Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy officer who advises the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on naval officer appointing (and General Officers).
Their counterpart in the British Army is the Military Secretary. The Royal Air Force equi ...
in 1932.[ He was then made Commander of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in 1934 and Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station in 1937.][
At the start of the ]Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, formations under Meyrick's command as Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station, included the 8th Cruiser Squadron and two escort ships. In 1940 he was credited with forcing the Captain of the German liner ''Columbus'' to scuttle his ship. He retired in 1940.[
He died at the family home and estate, Norton House, near ]Chichester
Chichester () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publi ...
in Sussex.[Unit histories]
/ref>
Family
In 1901 he married Judith Fullerton, the daughter of Admiral Sir John Fullerton;The Peerage.com
/ref> they had three sons, named Timothy, Michael and Peter.[
]
References
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meyrick, Sidney
1879 births
1973 deaths
Royal Navy officers of World War I
Academics of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Royal Navy vice admirals
Royal Navy admirals of World War II
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Bermuda in World War II