20 Facts About Rhoderick McGrigor

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick Robert McGrigor, was a senior Royal Navy officer.

Rhoderick McGrigor fought in the First World War and saw action during the Gallipoli Campaign and then the Battle of Jutland.

Rhoderick McGrigor served in the Second World War, taking part in the sinking of the Bismarck in May 1941, carrying out the office of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and commanding the 1st Cruiser Squadron during operations off the Norwegian coast and convoys to North Russia.

Rhoderick McGrigor transferred to the battleship HMS Africa in the Home Fleet in May 1912 and, having been promoted to sub-lieutenant on 15 January 1913, moved to the battleship HMS Agamemnon in the Home Fleet in October 1913 and then on to the destroyer HMS Foxhound in the Mediterranean Fleet in March 1914.

Rhoderick McGrigor was posted to the cruiser HMS Highflyer in June 1919 and, having been promoted to lieutenant commander on 15 October 1922, he attended the War Staff Course at the Royal Naval Staff College in late 1923.

Rhoderick McGrigor became commanding officer of the destroyer HMS Versatile in the Home Fleet in August 1932 and, having been promoted to captain on 31 December 1933, he joined the Training and Staff Duties Division of the Admiralty in August 1934.

Rhoderick McGrigor was appointed Captain, 4th Destroyer Flotilla, with the Home Fleet in September 1936.

Rhoderick McGrigor was promoted to rear admiral on 8 July 1941.

Rhoderick McGrigor served as Flag Officer, Sicily, where he was wounded, for three months before being redeployed as Flag Officer, Taranto and Adriatic until the end of 1943.

Rhoderick McGrigor was mentioned in despatches for Operation Counterblast.

Rhoderick McGrigor was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1945 Birthday Honours.

From 1945 onwards, Rhoderick McGrigor was appointed to a number of influential shore posts.

Rhoderick McGrigor became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff in October 1945 and, having been promoted to full admiral on 2 September 1948, he became Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet in January 1949.

Rhoderick McGrigor commanded Exercise Verity, a major multi-lateral naval exercise for the Western Union Defense Organization, in 1949 and went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in March 1950.

Rhoderick McGrigor was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1951 New Year Honours.

Rhoderick McGrigor became First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on 20 December 1951 and, having attended the funeral of King George VI in February 1952, he was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II on 1 April 1952.

Rhoderick McGrigor attended the coronation of The Queen in June 1953.

Rhoderick McGrigor was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 1 May 1953 and retired in April 1955.

Rhoderick McGrigor received honorary degrees of LLD from the University of St Andrews in 1953 and the University of Aberdeen in 1955; he was Rector of the University of Aberdeen from 1954 to 1957.

Rhoderick McGrigor died following an operation in Aberdeen on 3 December 1959.