Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Sir Eric James Patrick Brind, (12 May 1892 – 4 October 1963) was a senior officer in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

who served as the first Commander-in-Chief

Allied Forces Northern Europe Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) was the northern Major Subordinate command (military formation), Command of NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Allied Command Europe (ACE), located at Kolsås outside Oslo. In the case of war ...

from 1951 to 1953.

Naval career

Brind served in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

on the gunboat HMS ''Excellent'', followed by , and finally on the monitor . After the war, Brind was captain of and then of . Brind also served in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet from 1940 to 1942 when he became Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff. He was made commander of cruisers in the British Pacific Fleet in 1945. Brind became President of the

Royal Naval College, Greenwich The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, was a Royal Navy training establishment between 1873 and 1998, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Royal Navy's staff college, which provided advanced training for officers. The equi ...

, in 1946 and then Commander-in-Chief of the

Far East Fleet The Far East Fleet (also called the Far East Station) was a fleet of the Royal Navy from 1952 to 1971. During the Second World War, the Eastern Fleet included many ships and personnel from other navies, including the navies of the Netherlands, ...

in 1949. It was under Brind's command that one of his ships, sailed up the

Yangtze River The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ) is the longest river in Eurasia and the third-longest in the world. It rises at Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau and flows including Dam Qu River the longest source of the Yangtze, i ...

and was stranded there for six weeks. He was made Commander-in-Chief,

in 1951; he retired in 1953.

Honours and awards

*11 June 1946 – Vice Admiral Eric James Patrick Brind CB CBE is appointed a

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...

(KCB) for distinguished services during the war in the Far East. * 3 December 1946 – Vice Admiral Sir Eric James Patrick Brind KCB CBE is awarded

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

, officer degree for services whilst in command of units of the British Pacific Fleet attached to the United States Pacific Fleet during operations against the enemy from 15 to 14 March 1945. *1 January 1951 – Admiral Sir Eric James Patrick Brind KCB CBE is promoted to

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

References

External links

Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945
, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Brind, Patrick 1892 births 1963 deaths Admiral presidents of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Officers of the Legion of Merit Royal Navy admirals of World War II Royal Navy personnel of World War I People from Paignton Military personnel from Devon