Benjamin Bryant (naval officer)

Rear Admiral Benjamin Bryant CB DSO** DSC (16 September 1905 – 23 November 1994) was a Royal Navy officer noted for his submarine exploits during World War II. In terms of ships sunk, Bryant was the most successful British submarine ace to survive the war.[1]. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, (Training) from July 1954 to February 1957,

Benjamin Bryant
Real Admiral Benjamin Bryant, 1957.
Born(1905-09-16)16 September 1905
Madras, India
Died23 November 1994(1994-11-23) (aged 89)
Worthing, West Sussex, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1927–1957
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldDeputy Chief of Naval Personnel, (Training) (1954-1957)
HMS Adamant (1945–47)
HMS Forth (1945)
HMS Cyclops (1944–45)
HMS Montclare (1944)
HMS Safari (1941–43)
HMS Sealion (1938–41)
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars
Distinguished Service Cross
Mentioned in Despatches

Early life and career

Bryant was born in Madras in India where his father, John Forbes Bryant, was a member of the Indian Civil Service. His mother was Mary Ada (née Genge). He had an elder brother Joseph and elder sister May.

He returned from India as a boy and attended Oundle School and then the Royal Naval College, Osborne and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Bryant published a book[2] in 1958 about his experience up to and including World War II.

World War II

HMS Sealion (72S)

Between 3 September 1938 and 12 October 1941 Bryant was the lieutenant commander aboard HMS Sealion (72S).

HMS Safari (P211)

Between 14 October 1941 and 27 April 1943 he was the commander aboard HMS Safari (P211).[3]

HMS Montclare (F85)

Between 16 June 1944 and 10 October 1944 Bryant was the commander aboard the submarine depot ship, HMS Montclare (F85).

HMS Cyclops (F31)

Between 30 October 1944 and 4 February 1945 Bryant was the Commander aboard the submarine depot ship HMS Cyclops (F31).

HMS Forth (A187)

Between 5 February 1945 and 11 May 1945 Bryant was the captain aboard the submarine depot ship, HMS Forth (A187)

HMS Adamant (A164)

Between 26 June 1945 and 4 June 1947 Bryant was the captain aboard the submarine depot ship, HMS Adamant (A164).

Honours and awards
  • 9 May 1940 – Distinguished Service Cross – Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Bryant Royal Navy.[4]
  • 12 May 1942 – Mentioned in Despatches – Benjamin Bryant Royal Navy.
  • 23 March 1943 – Distinguished Service Order – Commander Benjamin Bryant DSC, Royal Navy.[5]
  • 11 May 1943 – Bar to the Distinguished Service Order – Commander Benjamin Bryant DSO, DSC, Royal Navy.
  • 6 July 1943 Second Bar to the Distinguished Service Order – Commander Benjamin Bryant DSO, DSC, Royal Navy.[6]
  • 31 May 1956 – Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) – Rear Admiral Benjamin Bryant.[7]

References
  1. "U-Boat net Commanders". Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  2. Bryant, Ben (1980). Submarine Commander. New York: Bantam Books (published 1958).
  3. "HMS SAFARI (P 211 – ex-P 61) – S-class Submarine". naval-history.net. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  4. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (34845). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 9 May 1940. p. 2786. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  5. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (35950). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 23 March 1943. p. 1369. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (36081). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 6 July 1943. p. 3055. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  7. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette (40787). His Majesty's Stationery Office. 31 May 1956. p. 3101. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
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