John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse

Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse, (12 February 1928 – 17 February 1992) was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded five submarines and a frigate before achieving higher command from the 1970s. Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentine forces in April 1982, Fieldhouse was appointed Commander of the Task Force (designated Task Force 317) given responsibility for "Operation Corporate", the mission to recover the Falkland Islands. The campaign ended in the surrender of Argentine forces in June 1982. He became First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in December that year and, in that role, persuaded the British Government to fund the replacement of ships lost in the Falklands War. He went on to be Chief of the Defence Staff from 1985 until his retirement in 1988.

Early life Born in Leeds to Sir Harold Fieldhouse, who had been secretary of the National Assistance Board, and Mabel Elaine Fieldhouse (née Elliott), Fieldhouse was educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Naval career Fieldhouse joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1944. He was promoted to midshipman on 1 September 1945 and posted to the cruiser in November. he joined the Submarine Service in 1948 and was posted to the submarine in March 1949. he moved to Faslane Naval Base, Scotland to command the 10th Submarine Squadron of s. and became Flag Officer Submarines as well as NATO Commander Submarines Eastern Atlantic in November 1976. and became Controller of the Navy in January 1979.

Fieldhouse became Commander-in-Chief Fleet and NATO Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic in April 1981, and received promotion to full admiral on 23 July 1981. Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentine forces in April 1982, Fieldhouse was appointed Commander of the Task Force (designated Task Force 317) given responsibility for "Operation Corporate", the mission to recover the Falkland Islands. He conducted the campaign, which ended in the surrender of Argentine forces in June 1982, from the Northwood Command Centre. and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire on 11 October 1982 "in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic".

Fieldhouse became First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on 1 December 1982: in that role he persuaded the British Government to fund the replacement of ships lost in the Falklands War. and became Chief of the Defence Staff later that month.

Later life Fieldhouse was made a life peer as Baron Fieldhouse, of Gosport in the County of Hampshire in 1990. In retirement he became a consultant to Vosper Thornycroft plc and his interests included sailing.

Family In 1953 Fieldhouse married Margaret (Midge) Cull; they had a son and two daughters.