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]
Naval career
Usborne 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
After 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
Bibliography
Terrell, Edward (1958). Admiralty brief: the story of inventions that contributed to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic . Harrap.
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