Geoffrey John Kirkby
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Kirkby, DSC
and two bar
s, (26 August 1918 – 24 October 1998) was a captain
in the Royal Navy
of the United Kingdom
. He served during the Second World War
, mainly at sea in small ships, and became one of the Royal Navy's most decorated officers.
Torricelli and capturing the vessel's signal books. Kirkby was serving on board HMS Kingston
at the time.
, where Rear-Admiral Vian
defended a Malta convoy against a far superior Italian force.
Kingston took part in a torpedo raid, for which the ship had to close within three miles of the Italian heavy units, and which led to the award of Kirkby's second DSC.
landing at Omaha Beach
.
The action which led to the award of his third DSC came in a series of fierce actions spread over four nights which frustrated the German
efforts to evacuate Le Havre
in August 1944.
between 1961 and 1962. He developed the reputation as an inspirational leader and an outstanding ship handler.
One of his two daughters is Dame
Emma Kirkby
, a soprano
singer.
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
and two bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
s, (26 August 1918 – 24 October 1998) was a captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
in 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...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He served during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, mainly at sea in small ships, and became one of the Royal Navy's most decorated officers.
First DSC (June 1940)
At 21 years old, Kirkby was awarded his first Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for boarding the sinking Italian Navy submarineRegia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
Torricelli and capturing the vessel's signal books. Kirkby was serving on board HMS Kingston
HMS Kingston (F64)
HMS Kingston was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by J. Samuel White and Company at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 6 October 1937 as part of an order for six similar destroyers....
at the time.
Second DSC (March 1942)
Kirkby, while still serving on board Kingston, took part in the Second Battle of SirteSecond Battle of Sirte
The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval engagement in which the escorting warships of a British convoy to Malta frustrated a much more powerful Regia Marina squadron. The British convoy was composed of four merchant ships escorted by four light cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, and 17 destroyers...
, where Rear-Admiral Vian
Philip Vian
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Louis Vian, GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars was a British naval officer who served in both World Wars....
defended a Malta convoy against a far superior Italian force.
Kingston took part in a torpedo raid, for which the ship had to close within three miles of the Italian heavy units, and which led to the award of Kirkby's second DSC.
Third DSC (August 1944)
Kirkby was now on board which, for the Normandy landings, acted as a marker for US ForcesMilitary of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
landing at Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
.
The action which led to the award of his third DSC came in a series of fierce actions spread over four nights which frustrated the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
efforts to evacuate Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
in August 1944.
Post war
One of his post war appointments was as captain of HMS DianaHMS Diana (D126)
HMS Diana was one of the Daring Class of destroyers planned during the Second World War by the Royal Navy. The design therefore reflected developments of the Pacific campaign, including long range and the ability to efficiently Replenish At Sea .-Size:...
between 1961 and 1962. He developed the reputation as an inspirational leader and an outstanding ship handler.
One of his two daughters is Dame
Dame (title)
The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
Emma Kirkby
Emma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
, a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
singer.