Edward Neville Syfret

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Admiral

| name = Sir Edward Neville Syfret

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|KBE}}

| image = Vice Admiral Syfret WWII IWM A 21413.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| alt =

| caption = Vice Admiral Syfret in his office at the Admiralty, January 1944

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1889|6|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Newlands, South Africa

| death_date = {{death date and age|1972|12|10|1889|6|20|df=y}}

| death_place = Highgate, England

| placeofburial =

| allegiance = United Kingdom

| branch = Royal Navy

| serviceyears = 1904–1948

| rank = Admiral

| unit =

| commands = Home Fleet (1945–48)
Force H (1942–43)
18th Cruiser Squadron (1941)
{{HMS|Rodney|29|6}} (1938–39)
{{HMS|Ramillies|07|6}} (1938)
Naval Gunnery School, Devonport (1934–35)
{{HMS|Caradoc|D60|6}} (1932–34)

| battles = First World War
Second World War

| awards = Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Croix de guerre (France)[http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersS2.html Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 – S]

| children = 2

| relations =

| laterwork =

}}

Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|KBE}} (20 June 1889 – 10 December 1972) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in both World Wars. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy, in the Second World War.

Naval career

Born the son of Edward Ridge Syfret of Cape Town in South Africa and educated at Diocesan College, South Africa and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Syfret joined the Royal Navy in 1904 and, in his early service years, specialised in naval gunnery.[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/SYFRET.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives] He played in a Navy v Army cricket match at Lord's in 1911 and 1912.{{Cite news|date=2 June 1911|title=Royal Navy v Army|work=The Times|issue=39601}}{{Cite news|date=1 June 1912|title=Cricket Royal Navy v Army|work=The Times|issue=39914}}

= First World War =

In World War I he became gunnery officer in the light cruisers HMS Aurora, {{HMS|Centaur|1916|6}} and {{HMS|Curacoa|D41|6}}.

= Inter War Years =

In 1927 he was fleet gunnery officer, Mediterranean Fleet.

With the rank of commander he was appointed to {{HMS|Volunteer|D71|6}} in 1928 before promotion to captain the following year.{{Cite news |date=18 July 1928 |title=Naval Appointments |pages=20 |work=The Times}}{{Cite news |date=1 July 1929 |title=Naval Promotions |pages=8 |work=The Times}} In 1932 he was put in command of {{HMS|Caradoc|D60|6}} on the China Station in 1932.{{Cite news |date=17 June 1932 |title=Royal Navy |pages=9 |work=The Times}}

= Second World War =

Syfret served in the Second World War initially as Captain of {{HMS|Rodney|29|6}}. In 1939 he became Naval Secretary. He was made commander of the 18th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. Following Pedestal he was made a KCB "for bravery and dauntless resolution in fighting an important convoy through to Malta in the face of relentless attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft and surface forces."{{Cite news|date=11 December 1972|title=Obituary Sir Neville Syfret|work=The Times|issue=58654}}

He was appointed Commander of Force H later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

After the war he became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; he retired in 1948.