James Wilfred Jefford
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
James Wilfred Jefford (22 March 1901 - 1 January 1980) was the first Commander-in-Chief
of the Royal Pakistan Navy
, serving from its inception in 1947 until 1953. Most of his early career was in the Royal Indian Navy
.
Jefford served in the Royal Navy
as a midshipman
during the First World War and was commissioned into the Royal Indian Marine as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1922. He was promoted Commander, RIN, in 1941, Captain, RIN, in 1946, and Rear-Admiral in 1947. On the inception of the Dominion of Pakistan
in 1947 he transferred to the special list of the Royal Navy
and was appointed Flag Officer
commanding the new Royal Pakistan Navy. His title was upgraded to Commander-in-Chief in 1950, and he was promoted Vice-Admiral in the Royal Pakistan Navy, in 1953, the same year that his command was terminated.
He was Chairman of the Penang Harbour Board from 1955 to 1957 and also of the Penang Port Commission from 1956 to 1957, when he retired.
During the Second World War he commanded HMIS Indus
and HMIS Godavari
.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
James Wilfred Jefford (22 March 1901 - 1 January 1980) was the first Commander-in-Chief
Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
of the Royal Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
, serving from its inception in 1947 until 1953. Most of his early career was in the Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
.
Jefford served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
during the First World War and was commissioned into the Royal Indian Marine as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1922. He was promoted Commander, RIN, in 1941, Captain, RIN, in 1946, and Rear-Admiral in 1947. On the inception of the Dominion of Pakistan
Dominion of Pakistan
The Dominion of Pakistan was an independent federal Commonwealth realm in South Asia that was established in 1947 on the partition of British India into two sovereign dominions . The Dominion of Pakistan, which included modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, was intended to be a homeland for the...
in 1947 he transferred to the special list of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and was appointed Flag Officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
commanding the new Royal Pakistan Navy. His title was upgraded to Commander-in-Chief in 1950, and he was promoted Vice-Admiral in the Royal Pakistan Navy, in 1953, the same year that his command was terminated.
He was Chairman of the Penang Harbour Board from 1955 to 1957 and also of the Penang Port Commission from 1956 to 1957, when he retired.
During the Second World War he commanded HMIS Indus
HMIS Indus (U67)
HMIS Indus was a Grimsby class sloop of the Royal Indian Navy launched in 1934 and sunk during the Second World War in 1942. She was a slightly enlarged version of other vessels in the Grimsby class. She was named after the Indus River. Indus served mainly as an escort vessel, and she was...
and HMIS Godavari
HMIS Godaveri (U53)
HMIS Godaveri was a Black Swan class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy during World War II.Godaveri was transferred to Pakistan in 1948 after the Partition of India and eventually renamed PNS Sind.-History:...
.