Vice-Admiral Cecil Vivian Usborne, CB, CMG (17 May 1880 – 31 January 1951) was a high-ranking officer in the British Royal Navy. He served as the Director of Naval Intelligence between 1930 and 1932. His son Henry Usborne was a Member of Parliament 1945–59.[1]
Cecil Vivian Usborne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 May 1880 |
| Died | 31 January 1951 (aged 70) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Vice admiral |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Naval career
editUsborne entered the navy as an acting sub-lieutenant. He was confirmed in this rank in July 1899,[2] and promoted to lieutenant in January 1900.[3] He was further promoted to commander in July 1912,[4] and a captain before 1918. He became deputy director of Naval Ordnance in January 1919 and deputy director of Gunnery and Anti-Aircraft Warfare in August 1922.[5]
In April 1928 he was appointed a Naval aide-de-camp to the King[6] and promoted to rear admiral.[7] He served as the Director of Naval Intelligence between 1930 and 1932.[5] Promotion to vice-admiral came in January 1933.[8]
He was brought back into the Navy during the Second World War as Naval Adviser to the First Sea Lord to develop anti-U-boat weapons. As his assistant he employed Edward Terrell who had developed plastic armour.
Usborne was also Captain of the Tactical School, Portsmouth.[1]
Honours
editAfter service during the First World War, he was appointed a Commander of the Greek Order of the Redeemer by Alexander, King of the Hellenes in April 1918,[9] a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by King George V in June 1918,[10] and an Officer of the French Légion d′honneur in May 1919.[11] In June 1930 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Vice-Admiral Cecil Vivian Usborne". The Usborne Family. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "No. 27236". The London Gazette. 9 October 1900. p. 6180.
- ^ "No. 27308". The London Gazette. 26 April 1901. p. 2858.
- ^ "No. 28623". The London Gazette. 2 July 1912. p. 4748.
- ^ a b "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "No. 33376". The London Gazette. 17 April 1928. p. 2741.
- ^ "No. 33378". The London Gazette. 24 April 1928. p. 2900.
- ^ "No. 33900". The London Gazette. 6 January 1933. p. 127.
- ^ "No. 30616". The London Gazette. 6 April 1918. p. 4265.
- ^ "No. 30723". The London Gazette. 3 June 1918. p. 6530.
- ^ "No. 31360". The London Gazette. 27 May 1919. p. 6505.
- ^ "No. 3475". The London Gazette. 3 June 1930. p. 2858.
- Bibliography
- Terrell, Edward (1958). Admiralty brief: the story of inventions that contributed to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. Harrap.