Geoffrey John Audley Miles
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Sir Geoffrey John Audley Miles, KCB
, KCSI
(2 May 1890 – 31 December 1986) was a senior Royal Navy
admiral who served as Deputy Naval Commander, South East Asia Command
under Lord Mountbatten during the Second World War, as the Senior British Representative on the Tripartite Naval Commission and as the last Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
of the unified Royal Indian Navy
.
, the third son of Audley Charles Miles (1855–1919) and Eveline Frances Cradock-Hartopp (1856–1946). He was educated at Bedford School
aboard HMS Britannia
and joined the Royal Navy
in 1905 as a Midshipman
. Specialising as a navigation officer, he first served aboard the ships HMS Victorious
(1906–1908) and HMS King Edward VII
(1908–1910). From 1910 to 1912, Miles was lent to the Royal New Zealand Navy
, and served on HMNZS Leander
. He was promoted to Lieutenant
in 1911, and the following year was made the assistant to the navigator
on HMS Neptune
, the flagship
of the Home Fleet, and was then made navigator of HMS Surprise
(HMS Alacrity
) on the China Station, serving there until 1914.
, an armed merchant cruiser in the Indian Ocean
(1914–1915), HMS Botha, a cruiser
in the Grand Fleet (1915–1916) and HMS Fearless
, a light cruiser
in the Grand Fleet (1916–1919). In 1919, he received a promotion to Lieutenant-Commander.
Miles then attended the Royal Navy Staff College aboard HMS President
, and was assigned as a staff officer aboard HMS Coventry
in 1920, under the Rear-Admiral Commanding Destroyers in the Atlantic Fleet. He was appointed as the navigating officer of the same ship in 1922 and was promoted to Commander
two years later; he was also appointed the Squadron Navigating Officer (Destroyers) in the Mediterranean Fleet
He was then assigned to the operations staff of the 3rd Battle Squadron in the Mediterranean (1925–1926) and then to the staff of the Vice-Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron & Vice-Admiral Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet. He served in this capacity aboard the battleship
HMS Barham
from 1926 to 1927.
After eleven months of gyrocompass
instruction at the Admiralty Compass Observatory (Ditton Park
, Langley), Miles was assigned as the navigation officer aboard the battlecruiser
HMS Hood
from January 1927 to May 1929, also serving as the Staff Officer (Operations) and Squadron Navigating Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron (Atlantic Fleet). He then attended the Staff College at Greenwich, and worked in the Plans Division of the Admiralty from November 1929 to August 1931, receiving a promotion to Captain
in July 1931. From 1931 to 1932, he commanded the minesweeper
HMS Pangbourne, then served as assistant director and acting director of the RN Staff College at Portsmouth from 1933 to 1935. Appointed as Captain (D) 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) and as Commanding Officer, HMS Codrington in 1935, Miles served in this capacity until July 1937, when he was assigned to the RN Tactical School at Portsmouth aboard HMS Victory
. He first served there as assistant director (1937–1938) and subsequently as director (1938–1939).
, Home Fleet, in which capacity he served for the first half of the war. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1941 and was appointed as the Naval aide-de-camp
to George VI from January through July 1941. He was appointed a CB
in the 1942 Birthday Honours and headed the British Military Mission to the Soviet Union
from June 1941 through March 1943. He then served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Levant in Alexandria, Egypt until July, then as Naval Force Commander, Eastern Expeditionary Force, at Bombay until December. On 20 December, he was appointed as Deputy Naval Commander, South East Asia Command
under Lord Mountbatten on 20 December, headquartered at New Delhi
. In March 1944, Miles was promoted to Vice-Admiral, and in July 1944, was appointed Flag Officer, Western Mediterranean, (RN base, Taranto, Italy) where he concluded his wartime service. He was knighted with the KCB
in the 1945 Birthday Honours and also appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour by the French government for his service in the Mediterranean.
, simultaneously serving as Senior British Representative on the Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission. Early in 1946, he was appointed as the final Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
of the unified Royal Indian Navy
, relinquishing his post on the day of Indian independence. He was appointed a KCSI
in the 1948 New Year Honours
for his service in India, becoming one of the final recipients of the order.
Miles retired in April 1948 with the rank of Admiral
and died on New Year's Eve, 1986 at Holyport
, Maidenhead
, Berkshire
, aged 96.
Archibald Geoffrey Miles, Royal Artillery (1922–1993)
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Geoffrey John Audley Miles, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(2 May 1890 – 31 December 1986) was a senior Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
admiral who served as Deputy Naval Commander, South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
under Lord Mountbatten during the Second World War, as the Senior British Representative on the Tripartite Naval Commission and as the last Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy was the title of the commanding officer of the Royal Indian Navy from its formation in 1934 until India became a republic on 26 January 1950, when the prefix "Royal" was dropped...
of the unified Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
.
Early life
Miles was born in Chelsea, LondonChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, the third son of Audley Charles Miles (1855–1919) and Eveline Frances Cradock-Hartopp (1856–1946). He was educated at Bedford School
Bedford School
Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...
aboard HMS Britannia
HMS Britannia
Six ships and a shore establishment of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Britannia, after Britannia, the goddess and personification of Britain....
and joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1905 as a Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
. Specialising as a navigation officer, he first served aboard the ships HMS Victorious
HMS Victorious
Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Victorious.*The first Victorious, launched in 1785 at Blackwall Yard, London, was a third-rate ship of the line, with an armament of 74 guns....
(1906–1908) and HMS King Edward VII
HMS King Edward VII
HMS King Edward VII, named after King Edward VII, was the lead ship of her class of Royal Navy pre-dreadnought battleships.-Technical characteristics:HMS King Edward VII was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 8 March 1902...
(1908–1910). From 1910 to 1912, Miles was lent to the Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
, and served on HMNZS Leander
HMNZS Leander
HMNZS Leander was a light cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II. She was the lead ship of a class of eight ships, the Leander class light cruiser and was initially named HMS Leander.- History :...
. He was promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1911, and the following year was made the assistant to the navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
on HMS Neptune
HMS Neptune
Nine ships and a naval base of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Neptune after the Roman god of the ocean: was a 90-gun second rate launched in 1683. She was rebuilt in 1710 and 1730 before being renamed HMS Torbay in her new incarnation as a third rate in 1750. She was sold in 1784. was a...
, the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the Home Fleet, and was then made navigator of HMS Surprise
HMS Surprise
Thirteen ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Surprise or HMS Surprize, including:* HMS Surprize, a 24-gun sixth rate launched in 1746 and sold in 1770.* HMS Surprize, a 28-gun sixth rate launched in 1774 and sold in 1783....
(HMS Alacrity
HMS Alacrity
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Alacrity: was an 18-gun Cruizer class brig-sloop launched in 1806 and captured by the French in 1811. was a 10-gun Cherokee class brig-sloop launched in 1818 and sold in 1835. was a wooden screw sloop launched in 1856 and sold in 1864. was the former...
) on the China Station, serving there until 1914.
Navigation officer
During the First World War, Miles served as navigator of several ships, HMS Empress of RussiaRMS Empress of Russia
The RMS Empress of Russia was an ocean liner built in 1912-1913 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan on the Clyde in Scotland for Canadian Pacific steamships . This ship regularly traversed the trans-Pacific route between Canada and the Far East...
, an armed merchant cruiser in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
(1914–1915), HMS Botha, a cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
in the Grand Fleet (1915–1916) and HMS Fearless
HMS Fearless
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Fearless: was a 12-gun gunvessel launched in 1794 and wrecked in 1804 in Plymouth Sound in the company of a dockyard lighter. Heavy weather forced both vessels to cut from Cawsand Bay and drove them ashore near Redding Point. That only one man was...
, a light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
in the Grand Fleet (1916–1919). In 1919, he received a promotion to Lieutenant-Commander.
Miles then attended the Royal Navy Staff College aboard HMS President
HMS President
Five ships and one shore establishment of the Royal Navy have been named HMS President, after the office of president meaning one who presides over an assembly...
, and was assigned as a staff officer aboard HMS Coventry
HMS Coventry
Six ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Coventry, after the city of Coventry in the West Midlands. was the Spanish 28-gun ship San Miguel, captured in 1658, but in turn taken by the French in 1666. was a 48-gun fourth-rate ship-of-the-line launched in 1695, captured by the French in...
in 1920, under the Rear-Admiral Commanding Destroyers in the Atlantic Fleet. He was appointed as the navigating officer of the same ship in 1922 and was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
two years later; he was also appointed the Squadron Navigating Officer (Destroyers) in the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
He was then assigned to the operations staff of the 3rd Battle Squadron in the Mediterranean (1925–1926) and then to the staff of the Vice-Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron & Vice-Admiral Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet. He served in this capacity aboard the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
HMS Barham
HMS Barham
Three warships of the Royal Navy have been given the name HMS Barham in honour of Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham. A fourth was planned but never completed:...
from 1926 to 1927.
After eleven months of gyrocompass
Gyrocompass
A gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which bases on a fast-spinning disc and rotation of our planet to automatically find geographical direction...
instruction at the Admiralty Compass Observatory (Ditton Park
Ditton Park
Ditton Park was part of the Manor of Ditton which was in what was formerly the south east corner of the English county of Buckinghamshire, before the county boundary reorganisations of 1974 & 1998 which moved it to the Slough Unitary Authority, which is in the ceremonial county of Berkshire.Ditton...
, Langley), Miles was assigned as the navigation officer aboard the battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
HMS Hood
HMS Hood
Three ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Hood after several members of the Hood family, who were notable Navy officers: was a 91-gun second-rate ship of the line, originally laid down as HMS Edgar, but renamed in 1848 and launched in 1859. She was used for harbour service from 1872 and was...
from January 1927 to May 1929, also serving as the Staff Officer (Operations) and Squadron Navigating Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron (Atlantic Fleet). He then attended the Staff College at Greenwich, and worked in the Plans Division of the Admiralty from November 1929 to August 1931, receiving a promotion to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in July 1931. From 1931 to 1932, he commanded the minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
HMS Pangbourne, then served as assistant director and acting director of the RN Staff College at Portsmouth from 1933 to 1935. Appointed as Captain (D) 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) and as Commanding Officer, HMS Codrington in 1935, Miles served in this capacity until July 1937, when he was assigned to the RN Tactical School at Portsmouth aboard HMS Victory
HMS Victory
HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. She is most famous as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805....
. He first served there as assistant director (1937–1938) and subsequently as director (1938–1939).
Wartime
In July 1939, Miles was appointed as commanding officer of the battleship HMS Nelson and as the Flag CaptainFlag captain
In the Royal Navy, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's...
, Home Fleet, in which capacity he served for the first half of the war. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1941 and was appointed as the Naval aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to George VI from January through July 1941. He was appointed a CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in the 1942 Birthday Honours and headed the British Military Mission to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
from June 1941 through March 1943. He then served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Levant in Alexandria, Egypt until July, then as Naval Force Commander, Eastern Expeditionary Force, at Bombay until December. On 20 December, he was appointed as Deputy Naval Commander, South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
under Lord Mountbatten on 20 December, headquartered at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. In March 1944, Miles was promoted to Vice-Admiral, and in July 1944, was appointed Flag Officer, Western Mediterranean, (RN base, Taranto, Italy) where he concluded his wartime service. He was knighted with the KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in the 1945 Birthday Honours and also appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour by the French government for his service in the Mediterranean.
Postwar
In August 1945, Miles was appointed as the Senior British Representative on the Tripartite Naval Commission in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, simultaneously serving as Senior British Representative on the Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission. Early in 1946, he was appointed as the final Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy was the title of the commanding officer of the Royal Indian Navy from its formation in 1934 until India became a republic on 26 January 1950, when the prefix "Royal" was dropped...
of the unified Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
, relinquishing his post on the day of Indian independence. He was appointed a KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in the 1948 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
for his service in India, becoming one of the final recipients of the order.
Miles retired in April 1948 with the rank of Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
and died on New Year's Eve, 1986 at Holyport
Holyport
Holyport is a village in the civil parish of Bray, about 2 miles south of Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-Amenities:Despite its size, Holyport possesses a small retail area...
, Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, aged 96.
Personal life
On 22 February 1918, Miles married Alison Mary Cadell (13 October 1898 - 20 May 1981), the daughter of Henry Moubray Cadell (1860–1934), geologist and geographer, and Elinor Simson (1868–1943). The couple had two sons: Lieutenant-Commander Peter Tremayne Miles, RN (1920–1995) and LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Archibald Geoffrey Miles, Royal Artillery (1922–1993)