Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 69

Sir Henry Harwood - Ranks

British naval commander. As commander of the South American division, he commanded the British ships at the Battle of the River Plate, in which the German pocket battleship Graf Spee was trapped in Montevideo, and later scuttled (Dec 1939). He was made commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet in 1942.

Senior Officer, 9th Destroyer Division
1931-01-14 - 1932 Imperial Defence Course
1932-03-28 - 1934 Flag Captain, London (cruiser) & Chief Staff Officer to Rear-Admiral Commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron
1934-07-28 - 1936 staff, Royal Naval War College, Greenwich (HMS President)
1936-09-17 - 1939-08-25 Commodore Commanding South American Division of the America and West Indies Station & Commanding Officer, Exeter (cruiser)
1939-08-25 - 1940 Commodore / Rear-Admiral Commanding South American Division of the America and West Indies Station (December 1939 commanded action against the Admiral Graf Spee)
1940-12-02 - 1942 a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign) (HMS President)
1942-04-22 - February 1943 Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station (HMS Nile), renamed:
1943 - 1943 Commander-in-Chief, Levant
1943 - 1943 engaged in flank support & seaborne supply of Eighth Army
1944-04-15 - 1945 Flag Officer Commanding Orkneys and Shetlands (HMS Prosperine)
1945-08-15 retired (medically unfit)

Ranks

Midshipman 1904
Acting Sub-Lieutenant 1907-07-30
Sub-Lieutenant 1908-04-09, seniority 1907-07-30
Lieutenant 1908-07-30
Lieutenant-Commander 1916-07-30
Commander 1921-06-30
Captain 1928-12-31
Commodore 2nd class 1936-09-17?
MID 1941-01-01 New Year 1941
GREEK WAR CROSS 1943-04-17 services to the Greek Navy
Gold Medal of Concepcion (Chile) 1939?

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