Thomas Baird

Baird was born in Canterbury, Kent on 17 May 1924.{{cite book |title=Baird, Vice-Adm. Sir Thomas (Henry Eustace) |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-6209 |publisher=Who's Who 2022 | doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U6209 | isbn=978-0-19-954088-4 |access-date=2 September 2022}} He was born into a military family, one of five children, but chose a naval career because he wanted to live " separate life" from that of his family.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Sarah |title=Former Navy chief recalls surviving Nazi raid as he celebrates 100th birthday |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/royal-navy-nazi-south-ayrshire-dartmouth-college-kent-b2547184.html |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=The Independent |date=18 May 2024}} He enrolled in the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in Devon at the age of 13. In 1941, he joined the Royal Navy.Debrett's People of Today 1994

His first posting was as a midshipman on board HMS Trinidad as part of the Arctic Convoy. On 16 May 1942, the day before Baird's 18th birthday, the ship was attacked by German warplanes after leaving Murmansk, and was subsequently scuttled. Baird was evacutated to Iceland and then returned to Greenock.

He became Captain of the destroyer HMS Glamorgan in 1971.[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/ROYAL%20NAVY%20WARSHIPS.pdf Captains of Royal Navy Warships] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714184102/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/ROYAL%20NAVY%20WARSHIPS.pdf |date=14 July 2015 }} He was appointed Captain of the Fleet in 1973, Chief of Staff, Naval Home Command in 1976 and Director-General of Naval Personnel Services in 1978. He went on to be Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1979 before retiring in 1982.[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf Listing compiled by historian Colin Mackie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315105247/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf |date=15 March 2012 }}

Baird was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1980 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=48212 |date=13 June 1980 |page=2 |supp=y}}

In retirement he was made Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Erskine Hospital in Renfrewshire. He also became Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran.[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1992/jun/11/her-majestys-deputy-lieutenants-in HM Deputy Lieutenants in Scotland] Hansard, 11 June 1992

In 1953 he married Angela Florence Ann Paul; they have one son and one daughter. Lady Baird died on 14 May 2009.{{cite web|url=http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/99013/baird|title=Baird|work=The Telegraph|location=London|accessdate=1 June 2019}} Baird now lives in Symington, South Ayrshire. {{As of|2024|6}}, he has five grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.{{cite news |title=Veteran’s diary written as teenage seaman recalls life in Arctic Convoys |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/national/24376190.veterans-diary-written-teenage-seaman-recalls-life-arctic-convoys/ |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=The Herald |date=10 June 2024 |location=Glasgow |language=en}}

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{{succession box|title=Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland|before=Sir Cameron Rusby|after=Robert Squires|years=1979–1982}}

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Category:1924 births

Category:Living people

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Ayrshire and Arran

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Royal Navy vice admirals

Category:British men centenarians