Philip King Enright
Encyclopedia
Sir Philip King Enright (4 August 1894–29 September 1960) was a British admiral of the Royal Navy
, who served during World War II.
, Greenwich, before joining the Navy aged 15 as a "Boy, 2nd Class" on 19 April 1910 at , a naval training school based at Shotley, near Ipswich
in Suffolk
,; later he attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Promoted to lieutenant
on 19 May 1922 (with seniority backdated to 28 June 1919), Enright served aboard , a submarine depot ship based at Portland
, between 1923-25. He then served aboard the cruiser in the Mediterranean Fleet
in 1925-26. In 1927 he was aboard the destroyer flotilla leader
on the China Station
, receiving promotion to lieutenant commander
on 28 June of that year, and from 1928 until 1931 was on the battleship of the Atlantic Fleet, being promoted again, to commander
, on 31 December 1931. He spent most of 1932 serving as Executive Officer of the light cruiser
in the Mediterranean.
From March 1934 to February 1936 Enright was Executive Officer at the naval training school HMS Ganges, then from May 1936 to July 1937 was Naval Officer-in-Charge at Aden
, receiving promotion to captain
on 30 June 1937. Between the end of 1937 and 1939 he was commander of the sloop
on the China Station, then served as both commander of the light cruiser and as Flag Captain
to the Vice Admiral commanding the Reserve Fleet Destroyer Flotillas from July 1939 until February 1941.
From August 1942 into 1943 he served as Captain of the Fleet
, Mediterranean Fleet, then from February 1943 until the end of the year on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Levant, based at Alexandria
. From July 1944 until April 1946 he commanded the heavy cruiser
in the Eastern Fleet.
From July 1946 until January 1947 he served as Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George VI
, receiving promotion to rear admiral
on 8 January 1947. In 1947-48 he was Flag Officer of the Training Squadron. Promoted to vice admiral
on 1 May 1950, he served as Admiral Superintendent of the Devonport Dockyard
until May 1953.
Enright retired from the Navy on 15 September 1953, receiving promotion to admiral that day.
Admiral Enright died at Exmouth
, Devon
, on 29 September 1960.
(CBE) on 11 June 1946, a Companion of the Order of the Bath
(CB) on 1 January 1949, and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1952 New Years Honours.
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...
, who served during World War II.
Biography
Enright was born in Liskeard, Cornwall, the son John and Bridget E. Enright, and received his schooling at the Royal Hospital SchoolRoyal Hospital School
The Royal Hospital School, , is a British co-educational independent boarding school with naval traditions. It admits pupils from age 11 to 18 through Common Entrance or the school's own exam...
, Greenwich, before joining the Navy aged 15 as a "Boy, 2nd Class" on 19 April 1910 at , a naval training school based at Shotley, near Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
,; later he attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
on 19 May 1922 (with seniority backdated to 28 June 1919), Enright served aboard , a submarine depot ship based at Portland
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
, between 1923-25. He then served aboard the cruiser in the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
in 1925-26. In 1927 he was aboard the destroyer flotilla leader
Flotilla leader
A flotilla leader was a warship suitable for commanding a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships, typically a small cruiser or a large destroyer...
on the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
, receiving promotion to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
on 28 June of that year, and from 1928 until 1931 was on the battleship of the Atlantic Fleet, being promoted again, to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, on 31 December 1931. He spent most of 1932 serving as Executive Officer of the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
in the Mediterranean.
From March 1934 to February 1936 Enright was Executive Officer at the naval training school HMS Ganges, then from May 1936 to July 1937 was Naval Officer-in-Charge at Aden
Aden Protectorate
The Aden Protectorate was a British protectorate in southern Arabia which evolved in the hinterland of Aden following the acquisition of that port by Britain in 1839 as an anti-piracy station, and it continued until the 1960s. For administrative purposes it was divided into the Western...
, receiving promotion to captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
on 30 June 1937. Between the end of 1937 and 1939 he was commander of the sloop
Grimsby class sloop
With the realisation that war was approaching, 13 Grimsby class sloops were laid down in the mid to late 1930s. Of these eight were built in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy, four in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy and one for India...
on the China Station, then served as both commander of the light cruiser and as Flag Captain
Flag captain
In the Royal Navy, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's...
to the Vice Admiral commanding the Reserve Fleet Destroyer Flotillas from July 1939 until February 1941.
From August 1942 into 1943 he served as Captain of the Fleet
Captain of the fleet
In the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries a Captain of the Fleet could be appointed to assist an admiral when the admiral had ten or more ships to command....
, Mediterranean Fleet, then from February 1943 until the end of the year on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Levant, based at Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. From July 1944 until April 1946 he commanded the heavy cruiser
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
in the Eastern Fleet.
From July 1946 until January 1947 he served as Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, receiving promotion to rear admiral
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
on 8 January 1947. In 1947-48 he was Flag Officer of the Training Squadron. Promoted to vice admiral
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
on 1 May 1950, he served as Admiral Superintendent of the Devonport Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
until May 1953.
Enright retired from the Navy on 15 September 1953, receiving promotion to admiral that day.
Admiral Enright died at Exmouth
Exmouth
Exmouth is a town in Devon. It may also refer to:Places*Exmouth Peninsula in Southern Chile*Exmouth, Western AustraliaPeople*Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth , a British naval officerShips...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, on 29 September 1960.
Awards
Enright was made a Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) on 11 June 1946, a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB) on 1 January 1949, and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1952 New Years Honours.