Wilfrid Patterson

Sir Wilfrid Rupert Patterson
Sir Wilfrid Rupert Patterson
	File:Admiral Sir Wilfred Rupert Patterosn.jpg Photo from The National Portrait Gallery, 1943
Born	20 November 1893; Belfast, Ireland
Died	12 December 1954 (aged 61); Charing Cross Hospital, London
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1906–1950
Rank	Admiral
Commands	5th Cruiser Squadron (1945–46); 2nd Cruiser Squadron (1944); HMS King George V (1940–42); HMAS Canberra (1938–40); HM Australian Squadron (1939); HMS Hawkins (1936–38); HMS Folkestone (1935)
Battles / wars	First World War; Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath; Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; Mentioned in Despatches; Legion of Merit (United States)

Admiral Sir Wilfrid Rupert Patterson KCB, CBE, CVO (20 November 1893 – 15 December 1954) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy. He was the Commodore Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron from September to November 1939. He participated in the naval battle that sunk the German battleship Bismarck.

Naval career

Born on 20 November 1893 in Belfast, Ireland, the son of William Robert Patterson and Elizabeth Fleming. He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15 September 1906 and specialised in gunnery. He was appointed the Commodore Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron between 2 September 1939 and 1 November 1939.

In recognition of the role played while commanding HMS King George V in the destruction of the Bismarck, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath on 14 October 1941.^[1] He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 11 June 1946.^[2]

He was present at the surrender of the Japanese.^[3]

Notes

^ "No. 35307". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1941. p. 5945.
^ "No. 37603". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1946. p. 2881.
^ Certificate confirming the presence of Admiral Sir Wilfred Rupert Patterson at the Surrender of the Japanese, 12 September 1945.

Military offices
Preceded by Rear Admiral Wilfred Custance	Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron September – November 1939	Succeeded by Rear Admiral John Gregory Crace

[1] "No. 35307". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1941. p. 5945.

[2] "No. 37603". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1946. p. 2881.

[3] Certificate confirming the presence of Admiral Sir Wilfred Rupert Patterson at the Surrender of the Japanese, 12 September 1945.

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v t e Fleet Commanders of the Royal Australian Navy
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet	Sir George Patey Sir William Pakenham Arthur Leveson Sir Lionel Halsey John Dumaresq Albert Addison Thomas Wardle
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron	George Hyde Edward Evans Leonard Holbrook Robin Dalglish Wilbraham Ford Richard Lane-Poole Wilfred Custance Wilfrid Patterson John Crace Victor Crutchley John Collins Charles Nichols Harold Farncomb John Collins Harold Farncomb
Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet	John Eccles John Eaton Roy Dowling Henry Burrell David Harries Henry Burrell Galfry Gatacre Hastings Harrington Alan McNicoll Otto Becher Thomas Morrison Victor Smith Richard Peek Gordon Crabb David Stevenson William Dovers David Stevenson William Dovers Anthony Synnot David Wells Geoffrey Gladstone Neil McDonald James Willis David Leach Peter Doyle John Stevens Michael Hudson Geoffrey Woolrych Ian Knox Peter Sinclair
Maritime Commander Australia	Peter Sinclair Ian MacDougall Ken Doolan Robert Walls Donald Chalmers Chris Oxenbould Chris Ritchie John Lord Geoffrey Smith Raydon Gates Rowan Moffitt Davyd Thomas
Commander Australian Fleet	Davyd Thomas Nigel Coates Steve Gilmore Tim Barrett Stuart Mayer Jonathan Mead Mark Hammond Jonathan Earley