Michael Torrens-Spence
Encyclopedia
Captain
Frederick Michael Alexander Torrens-Spence DSO
, DSC
, AFC
(10 March 1914 – 12 December 2001) was a Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm
pilot in the Second World War. Torrens-Spence earned the distinction of holding commissions in the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force
, the British Army
and the Royal Ulster Constabulary
.
, County Antrim
, Ireland
the son of a professional soldier. Educated at "Mourne Grange Public School", Kilkeel
, at the age of 13 he attended Dartmouth Royal Naval College.
, which at that time was under the command of the Royal Air Force. After flying training he was commissioned as a pilot in both the RAF and the Navy. His first postings were on the carriers HMS Furious
and, in 1937, HMS Glorious.
to hunt German surface raiders. He was then sent home from Aden
to join the new carrier HMS Illustrious. Whilst serving on Illustrious which has been dispatched to the Mediterranean in September 1940, He took part in the attack on Italian battleship
s in the Battle of Taranto
as a Swordfish
torpedo bomber
pilot. During the Swordfish attack in Taranto
harbour, he torpedoed one of Italy's newest and largest battleships, the Littorio
, sinking her in shallow water. He was awarded the DSC for this action.
He was also involved when the Illustrious was badly damaged; Illustrious was escorting a convoy to Malta
when she was attacked by three squadrons of German Stuka dive bombers. Suffering multiple bomb hits (including Torrens-Spence's wardroom) and more than 200 casualties, Illustrious limped to Malta and eventually to America for repairs. Her aircraft were disembarked in Malta and Torrens-Spence flew to Eleusis, near Athens
in Greece
, with elements of 815 and 819 Squadrons for an active anti-shipping campaign which later earned him the award of the DSO.
At the Battle of Cape Matapan
, Torrens-Spence was ordered to find and attack a large Italian naval force. After observing an attack by aircraft from the carrier HMS Formidable achieve no result, he found a hole in the enemy smokescreen and was confronted with the Italian cruiser Pola which he then torpedoed from close range. The cruiser immediately slowed to six knots and the Italian admiral decided to divide his force leaving a large detachment to escort the Pola and sail for home. That night the Royal Navy engaged with the Italian force off Cape Matapan, and with the aid of radar sank the major part of them. The Pola's Captain was rescued by the destroyer HMS Jervis
and was heard to remark: "Either that pilot was mad or he is the bravest man in the world". Admiral Andrew Cunningham
wrote in his dispatch after the battle: "An example of the spirit of these young officers is the case of Lieutenant F.M.A. Torrens-Spence who rather than be left out, flew with the only available aircraft from Eleusis to Maleme ..... arranged his own reconnaissance and finally took off with a second aircraft in company and took part in the dawn attack."
From March 1941 to October 1941 Torrens-Spence commanded 815 Squadron in Albania
where he added to his tally. Unfortunately, this included a hospital ship which the Italians had failed to mark and illuminate. No blame was ever attached to Torrens-Spence, but he was forever saddened by the incident.
From 1942 Torrens-Spence was posted to the UK to become a test pilot
at Boscombe Down where he remained for the next three years, until posted back to Illustrious for the closing stages of the war.
. He then served in the carrier HMS Theseus
, and as commanding officer of RNAS Eglinton in Northern Ireland
.
In 1952 he was promoted Captain and sent to the Admiralty to look after future aircraft requirements as deputy director of the Air Warfare Division, naval staff. He wrote the staff requirement for the Buccaneer
strike aircraft and steered it through the Admiralty Board.
In 1955 he took command of HMS Delight
, a Daring class destroyer
deploying in British and Mediterranean waters. Afterwards he commanded a training establishment, RNAS Lossiemouth
(HMS Fulmar), before taking command of the aircraft carrier
HMS Albion
in 1959 where he spent the next two years, most of it in the Far East.
(the "B" Specials) in County Armagh
.
When the Specials were disbanded in 1970 and replaced by the Ulster Defence Regiment
, Torrens-Spence took control of the County Armagh Battalion (2 UDR)
, as a lieutenant colonel
, to get it up and running. He retired in 1972.
after Norman Stronge
was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
in an armed assault on his home, Tynan Abbey
. During this time he resided at Laurelvale House, Laurelvale
- originally the home of industrialist Thomas Sinton
. He was also a Justice of the Peace
, served as High Sheriff of Armagh
in 1979 and was aide-de-camp to the Queen. He was never overtly involved in politics but remained throughout his life a committed Unionist
holding senior office in the Co Armagh Unionist Association, yet saddened by what he saw as the governments appeasing of terrorism.
He was married to Rachel Torrens-Spence, with whom he had four children. One of his sons, Brigadier Edward John Torrens-Spence CBE, was British Embassy military attache to the United States.
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...
Frederick Michael Alexander Torrens-Spence DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, 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...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(10 March 1914 – 12 December 2001) 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...
Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
pilot in the Second World War. Torrens-Spence earned the distinction of holding commissions in the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
.
Early life
Known as 'Tiffy', Torrens-Spence was born in WhiteabbeyWhiteabbey
Whiteabbey is a townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
the son of a professional soldier. Educated at "Mourne Grange Public School", Kilkeel
Kilkeel
Kilkeel is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the main fishing port on the Down coast, and its harbour houses one of the largest fishing fleets in Ireland. It had a population of 6,338 people according to the 2001 Census...
, at the age of 13 he attended Dartmouth Royal Naval College.
Military career
After initial service in the fleet Torrens-Spence volunteered for flying duties with the Fleet Air ArmFleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
, which at that time was under the command of the Royal Air Force. After flying training he was commissioned as a pilot in both the RAF and the Navy. His first postings were on the carriers HMS Furious
HMS Furious (47)
HMS Furious was a modified cruiser built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. Designed to support the Baltic Project championed by the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Lord John Fisher, they were very lightly armoured and armed with only a few heavy guns. Furious was modified while...
and, in 1937, HMS Glorious.
World War II
When war broke out, Torrens-Spence was serving on Glorious which was sent through the Suez CanalSuez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
to hunt German surface raiders. He was then sent home from Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
to join the new carrier HMS Illustrious. Whilst serving on Illustrious which has been dispatched to the Mediterranean in September 1940, He took part in the attack on Italian 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...
s in the Battle of Taranto
Battle of Taranto
The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11–12 November 1940 during the Second World War. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, flying a small number of obsolescent biplane torpedo bombers from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea...
as a Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
torpedo bomber
Torpedo bomber
A torpedo bomber is a bomber aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes which could also carry out conventional bombings. Torpedo bombers existed almost exclusively prior to and during World War II when they were an important element in many famous battles, notably the...
pilot. During the Swordfish attack in Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
harbour, he torpedoed one of Italy's newest and largest battleships, the Littorio
Italian battleship Littorio
|-External links:...
, sinking her in shallow water. He was awarded the DSC for this action.
He was also involved when the Illustrious was badly damaged; Illustrious was escorting a convoy to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
when she was attacked by three squadrons of German Stuka dive bombers. Suffering multiple bomb hits (including Torrens-Spence's wardroom) and more than 200 casualties, Illustrious limped to Malta and eventually to America for repairs. Her aircraft were disembarked in Malta and Torrens-Spence flew to Eleusis, near Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, with elements of 815 and 819 Squadrons for an active anti-shipping campaign which later earned him the award of the DSO.
At the Battle of Cape Matapan
Battle of Cape Matapan
The Battle of Cape Matapan was a Second World War naval battle fought from 27–29 March 1941. The cape is on the southwest coast of Greece's Peloponnesian peninsula...
, Torrens-Spence was ordered to find and attack a large Italian naval force. After observing an attack by aircraft from the carrier HMS Formidable achieve no result, he found a hole in the enemy smokescreen and was confronted with the Italian cruiser Pola which he then torpedoed from close range. The cruiser immediately slowed to six knots and the Italian admiral decided to divide his force leaving a large detachment to escort the Pola and sail for home. That night the Royal Navy engaged with the Italian force off Cape Matapan, and with the aid of radar sank the major part of them. The Pola's Captain was rescued by the destroyer HMS Jervis
HMS Jervis (F00)
HMS Jervis was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy named after Admiral John Jervis . Jervis was laid down by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited, at Hebburn-on-Tyne on 26 August 1937...
and was heard to remark: "Either that pilot was mad or he is the bravest man in the world". Admiral Andrew Cunningham
Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
wrote in his dispatch after the battle: "An example of the spirit of these young officers is the case of Lieutenant F.M.A. Torrens-Spence who rather than be left out, flew with the only available aircraft from Eleusis to Maleme ..... arranged his own reconnaissance and finally took off with a second aircraft in company and took part in the dawn attack."
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
where he added to his tally. Unfortunately, this included a hospital ship which the Italians had failed to mark and illuminate. No blame was ever attached to Torrens-Spence, but he was forever saddened by the incident.
From 1942 Torrens-Spence was posted to the UK to become a test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
at Boscombe Down where he remained for the next three years, until posted back to Illustrious for the closing stages of the war.
Post War
He remained in the Navy after the war becoming chief inspector of the Empire Test Pilots' SchoolEmpire Test Pilots' School
The Empire Test Pilots' School is a British training school for test pilots and flight test engineers of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. It was established in 1943, the first of its type...
. He then served in the carrier HMS Theseus
HMS Theseus (R64)
HMS Theseus was a Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1943 by Fairfield at Govan, and launched on 6 July 1944.-Workup and initial service:...
, and as commanding officer of RNAS Eglinton in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
In 1952 he was promoted Captain and sent to the Admiralty to look after future aircraft requirements as deputy director of the Air Warfare Division, naval staff. He wrote the staff requirement for the Buccaneer
Blackburn Buccaneer
The Blackburn Buccaneer was a British low-level subsonic strike aircraft with nuclear weapon delivery capability serving with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force between 1962 and 1994, including service in the 1991 Gulf War...
strike aircraft and steered it through the Admiralty Board.
In 1955 he took command of HMS Delight
HMS Delight (D119)
HMS Delight was a Daring-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1950 and broken up at Inverkeithing in 1971.-External links:*...
, a Daring class destroyer
Daring class destroyer (1949)
The Daring class was a class of eleven destroyers built for the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Constructed after World War II, and entering service during the 1950s, eight ships were constructed for the RN, and three ships for the RAN. Two of the RN destroyers were subsequently sold to and...
deploying in British and Mediterranean waters. Afterwards he commanded a training establishment, RNAS Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
(HMS Fulmar), before taking command of the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
HMS Albion
HMS Albion (R07)
HMS Albion was a 22,000 ton Centaur-class light fleet carrier of the Royal Navy.-Construction and modifications:She was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd. Her keel was laid down in March 1944 and she was launched in May 1947...
in 1959 where he spent the next two years, most of it in the Far East.
Northern Ireland
After leaving the Royal Navy Torrens-Spence was appointed as the Commandant of the Ulster Special ConstabularyUlster Special Constabulary
The Ulster Special Constabulary was a reserve police force in Northern Ireland. It was set up in October 1920, shortly before the founding of Northern Ireland. It was an armed corps, organised partially on military lines and called out in times of emergency, such as war or insurgency...
(the "B" Specials) in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
.
When the Specials were disbanded in 1970 and replaced by the Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
, Torrens-Spence took control of the County Armagh Battalion (2 UDR)
2nd Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment
2nd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment was amalgamated in 1991 with the 11th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment to form the 2nd/11th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment....
, as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, to get it up and running. He retired in 1972.
Later life
In 1981 he became Lord Lieutenant of ArmaghLord Lieutenant of Armagh
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Armagh. The office was created on 23 August 1831....
after Norman Stronge
Norman Stronge
Captain Sir Charles Norman Lockhart Stronge, 8th Baronet, MC, PC , JP was a senior Unionist politician in Northern Ireland....
was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
in an armed assault on his home, Tynan Abbey
Tynan Abbey
Tynan Abbey, County Armagh, Northern Ireland was a large neo-gothic-romantic country house built circa 1750 and situated outside the village of Tynan...
. During this time he resided at Laurelvale House, Laurelvale
Laurelvale
Mullavilly-Laurelvale is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was once two settlements but they have since merged. The village is 3 miles south of Portadown and 1.5 miles northwest of Tandragee. In the 2001 Census Mullavilly-Laurelvale had a population of 1,258.-Name:The village covers...
- originally the home of industrialist Thomas Sinton
Thomas Sinton
Thomas Sinton, JP was an Irish industrialist and magistrate. Sinton made a significant impact upon the Irish linen trade; not least establishing the village of Laurelvale, County Armagh....
. He was also a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, served as High Sheriff of Armagh
High Sheriff of Armagh
The High Sheriff of Armagh is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Armagh. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
in 1979 and was aide-de-camp to the Queen. He was never overtly involved in politics but remained throughout his life a committed Unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
holding senior office in the Co Armagh Unionist Association, yet saddened by what he saw as the governments appeasing of terrorism.
He was married to Rachel Torrens-Spence, with whom he had four children. One of his sons, Brigadier Edward John Torrens-Spence CBE, was British Embassy military attache to the United States.