Hilary Biggs
Sir Hilary Biggs | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 January 1905 |
| Died | 2 January 1976 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1923–1958 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | East Indies Station |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order |
Vice-Admiral Sir Hilary Worthington Biggs, KBE, CB, DSO, RN (15 January 1905 – 2 January 1976) was a senior Royal Navy officer.
Career
Hilary Worthington Biggs was born on 15 January 1905, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Biggs. After attending the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth, Biggs was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1923,[1] as a Midshipman to HMS Hood.[2] After several promotions in the 1920s, Biggs became a Lieutenant-Commander in 1934 and a Commander four years later.[1]
After the Second World War began, Biggs was posted as commander of HMS Hero in 1940; he received the Distinguished Service Order that year for his services in the Second Battle of Narvik, and was awarded a bar to the DSO for his role in the evacuation of Greece the following year. He then served in the Battle of Crete, before being posted to the Admiralty as Deputy Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord (1942–44).[2] He was promoted to Captain in 1943,[1] and commanded HMS Rotherham from 1944 (he was also Captain (D), 11th Flotilla of the Eastern Fleet), serving in the Indian Ocean.[2]
With the Second World War over, Biggs commanded HMS Royal Arthur (1946–48) and served as Assistant Chief of Supplies at the Admiralty. He was Captain of the Fleet on the Home Fleet from 1950 to 1952, and the next year became Rear-Admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel (Personal Services). In 1955, he became Flag Officer of the Home Fleet Training Squadron and then, from 1956 to 1958 was posted as the last Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station.[2]
Biggs was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1955 and three years later, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He died on 2 January 1976, leaving a widow (Florence, daughter of Sir Roger Backhouse) and four children.[1] One of his sons was Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Biggs (1938–2002).[3]
Likenesses
- Sir Hilary Worthington Biggs, by Elliott & Fry (bromide print, 4 July 1956); National Portrait Gallery, London (Photographs Collection, NPG x86358).
References
- ^ a b c d "Biggs, Vice-Adm. Sir Hilary Worthington", Who Was Who (online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007). Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Sir Hilary Biggs", The Times (London), 3 January 1976, p. 14.
- ^ "Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Biggs", The Telegraph, 3 July 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2018.