William Gladstone Agnew
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral Sir William Gladstone Agnew was a British Royal Navy officer.
Agnew was the fifth son of Charles Morland Agnew
and Evelyn Mary agnew nee Naylor. Agnew was educated at the Navy College in Osborne and at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, joining the Navy in 1911. During World War I he served aboard the Battleships HMS Glory and HMS Royal Oak as well as the destroyer HMS Skilful. During the inter war years Agnew served aboard HMS Durban and as gunnery officer aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.
In 1940 he was transferred to the cruiser HMS Aurora
as commanding officer. His command was moved to the Meditarranean in 1941 and together with HMS Penelope and destroyers HMS Lance and HMS Lively formed Force K
based in Malta. Commodore Agnew commanded force K during the destruction of the Duisburg convoy on 8 November 1941 and was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath for this action. In June 1943 the Aurora was used to convey King George VI to Malta and Agnew was awarded the CVO for this service.
Agnew was given command of HMS Excellent, the Royal Navy gunnery school in 1943. In 1946 he was given command of HMS Vanguard and was in command during the royal tour of South Africa. On conclusion of the tour he was promoted K.C.V.O. In August 1947 Agnew was appointed director of personal services at the Admiralty, where he remained until October 1949. In January 1950 he retired from the navy at his own request, and later in the year was promoted to vice-admiral on the retired list.
After retirement from the navy he was general secretary of the Playing Fields Association and was active in local government.
Agnew married Patricia Caroline Bewley in 1930 and had no children.
Agnew was the fifth son of Charles Morland Agnew
Charles Morland Agnew
Charles Morland Agnew OBE , was a British art dealer and philanthropist.-Early life:He was the second son of William Agnew and his wife Mary née Kenworthy. He was eductaed at Rugby School before he matriculated to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1874...
and Evelyn Mary agnew nee Naylor. Agnew was educated at the Navy College in Osborne and at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, joining the Navy in 1911. During World War I he served aboard the Battleships HMS Glory and HMS Royal Oak as well as the destroyer HMS Skilful. During the inter war years Agnew served aboard HMS Durban and as gunnery officer aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.
In 1940 he was transferred to the cruiser HMS Aurora
HMS Aurora (12)
HMS Aurora was an Arethusa-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Portsmouth Dockyard , with the keel being laid down on the 27 July 1935. She was launched on the 20 August 1936, and commissioned 12 November 1937....
as commanding officer. His command was moved to the Meditarranean in 1941 and together with HMS Penelope and destroyers HMS Lance and HMS Lively formed Force K
Force K
Force K was the designation for three British Royal Navy task forces during World War II. The first Force K operated from West Africa in 1939. The second and third Force Ks operated from Malta in 1941-1943.-First Force K:...
based in Malta. Commodore Agnew commanded force K during the destruction of the Duisburg convoy on 8 November 1941 and was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath for this action. In June 1943 the Aurora was used to convey King George VI to Malta and Agnew was awarded the CVO for this service.
Agnew was given command of HMS Excellent, the Royal Navy gunnery school in 1943. In 1946 he was given command of HMS Vanguard and was in command during the royal tour of South Africa. On conclusion of the tour he was promoted K.C.V.O. In August 1947 Agnew was appointed director of personal services at the Admiralty, where he remained until October 1949. In January 1950 he retired from the navy at his own request, and later in the year was promoted to vice-admiral on the retired list.
After retirement from the navy he was general secretary of the Playing Fields Association and was active in local government.
Agnew married Patricia Caroline Bewley in 1930 and had no children.