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Ralph Leatham

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Sir Ralph Leatham
Leatham on his appointment as Vice Admiral Malta
Governor of Bermuda
In office
1945 – May 1946
MonarchGeorge VI
Preceded byWilliam Addis
Succeeded byAlexander Hood
Personal details
Born(1888-03-03)3 March 1888
Hemsworth, West Yorkshire
Died10 March 1954(1954-03-10) (aged 66)
Spouse
Enid Birks
(m. 1910)
Children2
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1900–1946
RankAdmiral
CommandsHMS Yarmouth
HMS Durban
HMS Ramillies
HMS Valiant
1st Battle Squadron
East Indies Station
FO-in-Charge, Malta & Malta Dockyard
Levant Station
Plymouth Station
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Ralph Leatham, KCB (3 March 1888 – 10 March 1954) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth during World War II.

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Leatham joined the Royal Navy in 1900 as a cadet on the training ship Britannia.[1] He served on various ships during World War I.[2] After the War he went on to command HMS Yarmouth, HMS Durban, HMS Ramillies and HMS Valiant.[1] He was appointed Commander of the 1st Battle Squadron on 14 June 1938 holding that post until February 1939.[1]

He served in World War II as Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station from 12 April 1939 until 16 July 1941. He was next appointed as Admiral Superintendent Malta Dockyard and Flag Officer in Charge, Malta from January 1942 taking part in actions against the Italian Navy until December 1942.[2] He became Deputy Governor of Malta in 1943 and was briefly temporary Commander-in-Chief, Levant before becoming Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth later in 1943.[1] He retired in 1946.[1]

In retirement he became Governor of Bermuda.[1]

Family

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In 1910 he married Enid Birks; they had one son and one daughter.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "LEATHAM, Sir Ralph (1886-1954), Admiral". Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. 5 February 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b "World Ships Forum".
  3. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 -- L". unithistories.com.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
1939–1941
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer, Malta
1941–1942
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
1943–1945
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Bermuda
1946–1949
Succeeded by