Henry Harwood

Admiral Sir Henry Harwood Harwood (19 January 1888 – 9 June 1950) was a Royal Navy officer who commanded the British squadron at the Battle of the River Plate during the Second World War.

Early life Following education at Stubbington House School, Harwood entered the Royal Navy in 1904 and specialised in torpedoes. He served in the First World War.

Second World War Harwood commanded a squadron consisting of the heavy cruisers and , and the light cruisers HMS Achilles and . He flew his broad pennant in Ajax as his flagship. For this action, Harwood was promoted to rear admiral and knighted.

From December 1940 to April 1942, Rear-Admiral Harwood served as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff. In the 1956 film, The Battle of the River Plate, Harwood was played by Anthony Quayle.