Jeremy Black (Royal Navy officer)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Sir Jeremy Black
Birth name John Jeremy Black
Born (1932-11-17)17 November 1932
Tavistock, Devon
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1950–1991
Rank Admiral
Commands held HMS Invincible
Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
Battles/wars Korean War
Falklands War
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
File:Capt J.J. Black's hat.JPG
Black's cap worn whilst in command of Invincible, on display at the Imperial War Museum

Admiral Sir John Jeremy Black, GBE, KCB, DSO, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (17 November 1932 – 25 November 2015), known as Jeremy Black or J. J. Black, was a British Royal Navy admiral who served as Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command from 1989 to 1991.

Naval career

Jeremy Black was born in Tavistock, Devon on 17 November 1932.[1] [2] He was educated at the Royal Naval College, when it was at Eaton Hall,[3] and saw service in a number of theatres including Korea and Borneo. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1960 for his work in Borneo but his most famous appointment was as captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during the Falklands War in 1982.[2] Black was an inspirational leader to his crew: this was reflected by the Ship's company designing T-shirts with 'There and Back with JJ Black' emblazoned across the front. This slogan later gave Black the title ('There and Back') of his memoirs.[4]

In October 1982, Black was promoted Rear-Admiral and appointed Commander of the First Flotilla.[2] This was followed a position in the Ministry of Defence as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1984 before being appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Systems) in 1986.[2] He became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in 1989.[2] He retired in 1991.[2]

In retirement Admiral Black held the posts of Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom.[5] Admiral Black was chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).[6]

He died after a long illness on 25 November 2015 at the age of 83.[3]

Honours and awards

  • 8 October 1982 – Captain John Jeremy Black, MBE, Royal Navy is awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Throughout Operation Corporate, Captain Black displayed outstanding qualities of professionalism, leadership and stamina in his command of HMS Invincible. She shared with HMS Hermes the provision of almost all the air power from start to finish, without which the operation could not even have been contemplated. To keep men and machinery operating at the peak of their performance for such an extended period so far away from home base has required exceptional powers of concentration, man management and perseverance and HMS Invincible's success owes much to these qualities so abundantly held by her commanding officer. In addition, HMS Invincible had to stay in the South Atlantic after cessation of hostilities to maintain a presence; in doing so she was continuously at sea far longer that any other RN ship before her. To make this transition from war to "peace" but without the advantage of an early return to the UK required a very special understanding of both men and material and again Captain Black showed outstanding leadership qualities in maintaining momentum. [8]

References

Notes

  1. General Register Office index of births registered in October, November, December, 1932 – Name: Black, John J District: Tavistock Volume: 5B Page: 456.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Black, Jeremy There and Back: The Memoirs of Admiral Sir Jeremy Black GBE, KCB, DSO, Elliott & Thompson, 2005, ISBN 978-1-904027-41-6
  5. The London Gazette: no. 56194. p. 5329. 3 May 2001. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  6. Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889)
  7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 43010. p. 4798. 8 June 1963. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49134. p. 12832. 8 October 1982. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  9. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50764. p. 2. 30 December 1986. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  10. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52563. p. 5. 14 June 1991. Retrieved 4 July 2009.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
New Post
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
1985–1986
Succeeded by
Michael Livesay
Preceded by Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Systems)
1986–1989
Succeeded by
Sir Anthony Mullens
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
1989–1991
Succeeded by
Sir John Kerr
Honorary titles
Preceded by Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
1997–2001
Succeeded by
Sir Kenneth Eaton
Preceded by Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
2001–2005
Succeeded by
Sir James Burnell-Nugent