Michael Le Fanu
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Michael Le Fanu GCB
, DSC
(2 August 1913 – 28 November 1970) was a Royal Navy
admiral
and First Sea Lord.
, the son of Captain Hugh Barrington le Fanu RN. He was educated at Bedford School
before joining Britannia Royal Naval College
in 1926.
in 1940, and decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross
in 1942. He was promoted to commander
on 31 December 1944. From February to September 1945, Le Fanu was posted as the British Pacific Fleet
Liaison Officer to the United States Fifth Fleet, and later the United States Third Fleet. For his services throughout this, he was awarded the United States Legion of Merit
.
Le Fanu was elevated to the rank of captain
on 30 June 1949. In 1957, he was given command of and in 1958 went on to be Director-General, Weapons. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours
List of 1960. In 1961, he became Controller of the Navy
and in 1965 Joint Commander of the three services in the Middle East during the evacuation of British Nationals. He served as First Sea Lord
from 1968 to 1970.
On 3 July 1970, Le Fanu was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet
, and was selected for the post of Chief of the Defence Staff
but never held the office because he was suddenly discovered to be terminally ill and died shortly after his retirement.
Le Fanu married Prudence Grace Morgan, daughter of Admiral Sir Llewellyn Vaughan Morgan; they had two sons and a daughter.
Le Fanu is the subject of a biography entitled Dry Ginger by the author Richard Baker
.
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir Michael Le Fanu GCB
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...
, DSC
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...
(2 August 1913 – 28 November 1970) was a 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
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 First Sea Lord.
Early life
Le Fanu was born at Lindfield, West SussexLindfield, West Sussex
Lindfield is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The parish lies to the north-east of Haywards Heath, of which the village is a part of the built-up area. It stands on the upper reaches of the River Ouse...
, the son of Captain Hugh Barrington le Fanu RN. 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...
before joining Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
in 1926.
Career
Le Fanu served as a Gunnery Officer on and then during the Second World War. While aboard Aurora, he was Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the Norwegian CampaignNorwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in 1940, and decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross
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...
in 1942. He 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...
on 31 December 1944. From February to September 1945, Le Fanu was posted as the British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
Liaison Officer to the United States Fifth Fleet, and later the United States Third Fleet. For his services throughout this, he was awarded the United States Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
Le Fanu was elevated to the rank of 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....
on 30 June 1949. In 1957, he was given command of and in 1958 went on to be Director-General, Weapons. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday 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...
List of 1960. In 1961, he became Controller of the Navy
Third Sea Lord
The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was formerly the Naval Lord and member of the Board of Admiralty responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy...
and in 1965 Joint Commander of the three services in the Middle East during the evacuation of British Nationals. He served as First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
from 1968 to 1970.
On 3 July 1970, Le Fanu was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
, and was selected for the post of Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
but never held the office because he was suddenly discovered to be terminally ill and died shortly after his retirement.
Le Fanu married Prudence Grace Morgan, daughter of Admiral Sir Llewellyn Vaughan Morgan; they had two sons and a daughter.
Le Fanu is the subject of a biography entitled Dry Ginger by the author Richard Baker
Richard Baker
Richard Baker may refer to:*Richard Baker , English chronicler*Richard Baker , BBC broadcaster*Richard Baker , British composer and conductor*Richard Baker Richard Baker may refer to:*Richard Baker (chronicler) (1568–1645), English chronicler*Richard Baker (broadcaster) (born 1925), BBC...
.
Honours and awards
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath 1 January 1968
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath 8 June 1963 (CB 11 June 1960)
- Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished 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...
24 February 1942 - Mention in Despatches 26 September 1940, 4 June 40, 1 January 1946
- Officer of the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(United States) 3 December 1946 - Bronze Star MedalBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
(United States) 2 December 1946
Further reading
- Dry Ginger - The biography of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Le Fanu, Baker, R., 1977, W.H. Allan, ISBN 0-491-01788-X
- The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, Heathcote T. A., Pen & Sword Ltd, 2002, ISBN 0 85052 835 6