Lewin Of Greenwich

Hill Richard

Description

Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin is perhaps best known for his role as Chief of the Defence Staff during the Falklands War. However, this was merely the culmination of a remarkable career that spanned four decades, that encompassed every Naval conflict since the Second World War, and saw some of the widest-reaching reforms made to the Royal Navy in recent times. In short Lord Lewin was one of the most important figures in the defence of the Realm for the best part of forty years.Joining the Royal Navy in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War, Lewin served in HMS Ashanti Escorting convoys of merchant ships through the War's most dangerous waters from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. As a junior Lieutenant in possibly the most active destroyer of the War, he was awarded a DSC and three Mentions in Despatches. After the War he commanded a destroyer, a frigate squadron and a carrier, held important Ministry posts as well as National and NATO commands.His Service career reached its zenith when in 1979 he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff presiding over the planning of Trident and the next stage of the nuclear deterrent, and initiating reforms in the higher organization of defence that provedviable for the rest of the century. When war broke out in the South Atlantic Lewin's influence was crucial, and apart from the Prime Minister herself, he was arguably the most important actor in the Falklands Conflict. He was awarded a life peerage and the Garter in 1982. He died on January 22nd 1999. The author was granted exclusive access to all of Lewin's archive.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Memoir

Informations

• Publié par: Lewin of Greenwich Organisation
• Date de parution: 29 novembre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781909270862
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

LEWIN OF GREENWICH
THE AUTHORISED BIOGRAPHY OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET LORD LEWIN
RICHARD HILL
Contents
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
NOTES
FOREWORD

BUCKINGHAM PALACE.
It is not given to many people to make an indelible mark on history. Terry Lewin is probably best known as the Admiral who was Chief of the Defence Staff during the Falklands conflict. Less well known is the fact that he was the last person to hold that position who had served throughout the Second World War. In contrast to some other occupations, senior officers in the services only become senior with the passage of time and the exposure to a great deal of experience. It was this experience of a ‘hot war’ that was to be so valuable during the campaign in the South Atlantic.
This is the biography of a man, whose character and intellect enabled him to introduce imaginative administrative and social reforms, which are so essential to keeping the Royal Navy an effective fighting force in an era of rapidly changing technology. Admiral Lewin is acknowledged to have made a significant contribution to the development of his service, but the climax of his professional career was when he became the principal military advisor to Mrs. Thatcher’s Government and found himself master-minding a very difficult confrontation thousands of miles from this country.
The fascination of this book is the mixture of fortuitous events and deliberate decisions that eventually propelled Terry Lewin to the very top of the British military pyramid. I think the author has succeeded in creating an accurate portrait of the person that I first came to know when we were Midshipmen together and then, after his retirement, when we served as fellow Trustees of the National Maritime Museum. I remember him as a man of great simplicity, immense enthusiasm and with a cheerful disposition, which tended to mask the steely resolve of a dedicated and brilliant professional.
HRH Prince Philip
INTRODUCTION
When, near the end of his life, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin asked me to write his biography, I agreed without hesitation, I knew him well enough, having worked for him in several appointments, to realise there was nothing tentative about the invitation and one does not refuse a request in such circumstances. His career had spanned over 40 revolutionary years in the history of the Royal Navy and the national defence, and his life almost the last 80 years of the century, so there was no doubt about the scale of the task, and we both knew that. Characteristically, he did a tremendous amount to help in those last few weeks, taping over 50,000 words which were transcribed by a helper in the village, and putting together the more important of his extensive papers with pithy guidance notes on the covers. He also gave me the privilege of two interviews, the first vivid and vigorous and lasting two hours, the second, on a bad day, saddening but still illuminated by his spirit and the fortitude of his family. So all the best of this book comes from him.
We had some discussion over the title. He had long wanted to do a series for the quarterly Naval Review called ‘Whitehall Warrior’, covering his seven posts in the Admiralty and Ministry of Defence. As editor, I was sad that he had never got round to it. But we quickly agreed that it was an inappropriate title for a full biography, because he was so much more than that – what on earth had his war record in HMS Ashanti to do with Whitehall, to say nothing of the Far East Station and the Fleet? Eventually we settled on Lewin of Greenwich. His taking that title for his peerage was an indication of his deep relationship with the whole of that great complex: Observatory, Museum, Queen’s House and College. He had learnt in it, lived in it, presided over it and deplored its fragmentation.
There was a subtext too, which I put to him and he readily agreed. There is a conscious echo in the title of Ruddock Mackay’s masterly biography of Jacky Fisher, Fisher of Kilverstone . For both men presided over revolutions in Britain’s naval forces. Fisher brought them to a great-power zenith; Lewin controlled, in a way that this book will do its best to explain, the transition to a worthy maritime fighting arm of a modern medium power. Paradoxically, Fisher emerged somewhat tarnished, Lewin gleaming. Their styles could scarcely have been more different: Fisher abrasive, flamboyant, temperamental, emphatic to the point of brutality; Lewin calm, rational, studied, often conciliatory. But both were great persuaders, both could charm their way out of a hornets’ nest, both were of steely determination and both had the saving grace of humour.
Guided by notes left by Lord Lewin, research followed a rigorous schedule. There must have been over 50 interviews, stretching between Falmouth and the Isle of Skye; one of the pleasures was meeting mutual friends once again. Many correspondents wrote reminiscences in response to appeals in service journals. Official documents, mostly from our great Public Record Office, were essential source material on Lewin’s Whitehall work; it was unfortunate that one of his most important Ministry of Defence appointments, that of Vice Chief of Naval Staff from 1971 to 1973, was still barred by the 30-year rule. The papers from those years will be a rich seam to be mined by anyone undertaking a more definitive biography in say twenty years’ time. Libraries and archives at colleges and museums were invariably helpful in providing information, often of vital importance.
When compiling a list of individuals who had helped, I found it came to nearly 150 names, and this will appear on another page. It is also the only place in the book where full decorations are given, and I hope they are right; any mistakes are mine. But there are a few names that do not appear there, because they ought to be mentioned separately. They are first Lady Lewin, who has acted throughout with the utmost kindness at a terribly difficult time for her; Emily Roe, their granddaughter, who put together his papers and managed them with such skill; and Tim Lewin, Terry’s eldest son, who has kept close touch and provided many endearing memories. Tim has read the whole script and made valuable comments. The rest of the family has been equally supportive: Susie Roe, whose recent OBE for her work for the Woodland Trust would surely have delighted her father as much as any of his own honours; and Jonathan Lewin, who before he fell ill found and provided audio and video tapes that were indispensable source material. His tragically early death a May 2000 at the age of 40 was greatly mourned by all who knew him.
Two of Terry’s closest friends have also read the text and made important additions and corrections: Vice Admiral Sir Roderick Macdonald, KBE and Captain Tony Sainsbury, VRD, MA, RNR. Their advice and constant contact has been invaluable and heartening.
Finally, and as always with a new book, I have to thank my wife Patricia: this time particularly for her forbearance in accepting that I would dedicate the best part of a year to an unexpected and exacting (though, for me, exciting) task, and also for her patience in giving me the run of the family computer and the benefit of her superior expertise in its use. Without that kind of support, I don’t know how authors get through.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following individuals have kindly provided material for this book by interview, telephone call, letter, provision of documents or any other means within their power. It is acknowledged with much gratitude. This also the only part of the book in which their full titles and decorations appear; every effort has been made to ensure these are accurate on the date of publication. All errors and omissions are mine.
His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM, GBE, AC, QSO
Admiral Sir Peter Abbott, GCB Mr Jim Allaway, Navy News Mr R. E. Amory Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Ashmore, GCB, DSC Captain C. K. S. Aylwin, RN Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Baird, KCB Dr P. Baly Captain A. R. Barnden, RN Captain D. W. Beadle, CBE, RN Mr Tony Beasley Mr J H. Beattie Captain C. P. R. Belton, RN Admiral Sir Jeremy Black, GBE, KCB, DSO Field Marshal the Lord Bramall, KG, GCB, OBE, MC, JP Air Vice Marshal D. Brook, CB Mr David Brown, Naval Historical Branch Commander I. W. V. Browne, RN Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, KCB Rear Admiral J. H. Carlill, OBE, DL Rt. Hon. the Lord Carrington, KG, GCMG, CH, MC, PC Admiral Sir Simon Cassels, KCB Commander John Casson, RN Captain C. J. T. Chamberlen, LVO. RN Geraldine Charles, National Maritime Museum Rear Admiral R. A. G. Clare Commander R. A. Clarkson, LVO, RN Rt. Hon. Sir Frank Cooper, GCB, CMG Commander P. S. Cotes, RN Lieut.-Cdr. M. A. Critchley, RN Mr J. R. Crole Rear Admiral T. R. Cruddas, CB Commander John Davis, RN Captain Desmond Dickens, Trinity House Rear Admiral C. C H. Dunlop, CB, CBE, DL Lieut.-Cdr. D. C. Eve, RN Mr J. Ferguson Mr J. D. Ferguson Lieut.-Col, Jon Fleming Captain D. W. Foster, RN Commander H. L. Foxworthy, OBE, RN Commander Chris Furse, OBE, RN Captain R. W. Garson, CBE, RN Captain D. J. I. Garstin, RN Rear Admiral J R, S. Gerard-Pearse, CB Captain James Goldrick, RAN Mr R. Gorman Mr W. M. Graham, VRD Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, GCB, CBE Rear Admiral Sir Paul Greening. GCVO Commander P. G. Gregson, RN Lieut.-Cdr, J. G. Grindle, RN Captain D. Hart Dyke, CBE, LVO, RN Captain G. G. W. Hayhoe, CBE, RN Admiral Sir Peter Herbert, KCB, OBE Rear Admiral J B. Hervey, CB, OBE Rear Admiral W. A Higgins, CB, CBE Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Hill-Norton, GCB Mr J. G. Holcombe Mr Adrian Holloway Mr Stephen Howarth Brigadier Miles Hunt-Davis, CVO, C