D. B. H. Wildish

Summary

Denis Bryan Harvey "Dick" Wildish CB (24 December 1914 – 2 April 2017) was a vice admiral in the Royal Navy. He was born in Kent and was the son of Rear Admiral Sir Henry William Wildish,[1] who also served in the Royal Navy.

D. B. H. Wildish
Birth nameDenis Bryan Harvey Wildish
Born(1914-12-24)24 December 1914
Milton, Kent, England, UK
Died2 April 2017(2017-04-02) (aged 102)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1926–1972
RankVice admiral
Battles/warsSpanish Civil War
World War II

Biography edit

Appointed as damage control lieutenant of Prince of Wales in 1940, and directed her emergency repairs following the Battle of the Denmark Strait. He was wounded when Prince of Wales was sunk on 10 December 1941, and subsequently assigned to the Singapore naval base until February 1942. Wildish avoided capture when Singapore fell, being transferred to the destroyer Isis.[2]

Postwar, Wildish was Superintendent of HM Dockyard, Devonport, and Director General of Personal Services and Naval Training.[3][4] He was promoted to vice admiral on 6 April 1970,[5] and assumed the position of Director General of Personal Services and Naval Training and Deputy Second Sea Lord. He retired in 1972.[6][7][8]

Personal life edit

He married (11 June 1941 at St Hildeburgh's Church, Hoylake) Leslie Henrietta Jacob (died 12 January 2009, aged 88), second daughter of Captain C.W. Jacob, and Mrs Jacob, of Merle Dene, Bidston; they had two daughters. He turned 100 in December 2014.[9] He died on 2 April 2017 at the age 102.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "King's Collections : Archive Catalogues : WILDISH, V Adm Denis Bryan Harvey (b.1914)".
  2. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - W".
  3. ^ "Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering International". 1970.
  4. ^ "Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering International". 1970.
  5. ^ "No. 45083". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 April 1970. p. 4465.
  6. ^ "Private Papers Vice Admiral D B H Wildish CB (Documents.16650)". Imperial War Museums.
  7. ^ "Engineering". 1970.
  8. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - W".
  9. ^ "Cricket fan to celebrate being 100 not out". Northumberland Gazette. 24 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  10. ^ Staff (7 April 2017). "Denis Wildish Obituary". legacy.com. Retrieved 7 April 2017.