Wilfrid Patterson

Summary

Admiral Sir Wilfrid Rupert Patterson KCB CVO CBE (20 November 1893 – 15 December 1954) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy. He was the Commodore Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron from September to November 1939. He participated in the naval battle that sunk the German battleship Bismarck.

Sir

Wilfrid Patterson

Portrait by Walter Stoneman, 1943
Birth nameWilfrid Rupert Patterson
Born(1893-11-20)20 November 1893
Belfast, Ireland
Died12 December 1954(1954-12-12) (aged 61)
Charing Cross, London, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1906–1950
RankAdmiral
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards

Naval career edit

Born on 20 November 1893 in Belfast, Ireland, the son of William Robert Patterson and Elizabeth Fleming. He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15 September 1906 and specialised in gunnery. He was appointed the Commodore Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron between 2 September 1939 and 1 November 1939.

In recognition of the role played while commanding HMS King George V in the destruction of the Bismarck, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 14 October 1941.[1] He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 11 June 1946.[2]

He was present at the surrender of the Japanese army in Singapore 12 September 1945.[3]

Notes edit

  1. ^ "No. 35307". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1941. p. 5945.
  2. ^ "No. 37603". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1946. p. 2881.
  3. ^ Certificate confirming the presence of Admiral Sir Wilfred Rupert Patterson at the Surrender of the Japanese, 12 September 1945.
Military offices
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Wilfred Custance
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron
September – November 1939
Succeeded by
Rear Admiral John Gregory Crace