William Andrewes

Admiral Sir William Gerrard Andrewes (3 November 1899 – 21 November 1974) was a Royal Navy officer who served in World War I and World War II, commanded the British and Commonwealth Naval Forces and Task Force 91 (part of the Joint Task Force 7, UN Combined Fleet) for the Inchon Landing during the Korean War, and went on to command of the America and West Indies Squadron and served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic.

Biography

Education and early career William Andrewes was the second son of the Rev. Canon Gerrard Thomas Andrewes, rector of the village of Chilcomb near Winchester and honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral, and Helena Louisa Kirby. He was educated at Twyford School, Winchester, before entering the Royal Naval College at Osborne in September 1912, moving to Dartmouth in 1914.

On 28 February 1944 he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, for administration and duties in preparation for the Normandy landings, with the rank of commodore, 2nd class. From November 1944 until July 1945 he served as Chief Staff Officer

Post-war and Korean War Andrewes was appointed Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier in August 1945, but a knee injury prevented him from assuming the post, and instead he commanded the carrier from December 1945 into 1947. He then served as Chief of Staff to Commander-in-Chief Portsmouth, and was appointed Naval Aide-de-camp to the King in July. In December 1947 he was appointed Senior Naval Member of the Directing Staff of the Imperial Defence College, and was promoted to rear admiral on 8 January 1948. and then Task Force 91 (comprising all Blockade, Covering Force and Escort ships in Korean waters, affiliated with the United Nations Command) in 1951.

Awards Admiral Andrewes was the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, as well as campaign medals for World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.