18-513: Vice Admiral Sir Hilary Worthington Biggs , KBE , CB , DSO & Bar (15 January 1905 – 2 January 1976) was a senior Royal Navy officer. Hilary Worthington Biggs was born on 15 January 1905, the son of Lieutenant Colonel C. W. Biggs. After attending the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth , Biggs was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1923, as
36-587: A midshipman to HMS Hood . After several promotions in the 1920s, Biggs became a lieutenant commander in 1934 and a commander four years later. After the outbreak of the Second World War , Biggs was posted as commander of HMS Hero in 1940; he received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) that year for his services in the Second Battle of Narvik , and was awarded a Bar to
54-537: A three-star rank , when the number of stars on the shoulder board were increased to three. Lord Admiral of England The Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom (of England beginning in the 14th century, later of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800) is the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy . Most have been courtiers or members of the British royal family , and not professional naval officers. The Lord High Admiral
72-576: A promising naval career to support Elizabeth as her consort. Upon Prince Philip's death in 2021, the identity of the holder of the office became obscure, i.e., there has been no official announcement about the office's holder since then. It is unknown whether the office of Lord High Admiral reverted back to the Crown, or if it is currently vacant, in which case it remains as such until His Majesty either assumes it, or grants it upon someone else. The Ministry of Defence had confirmed they did not hold information on
90-476: A retired full admiral, and that of Vice-Admiral of the Coast , a now obsolete office dealing with naval administration in each of the maritime counties. Vice-admirals are entitled to fly a personal flag . A vice-admiral flies a St George's cross defaced with a red disc in the hoist. The rank of vice-admiral itself is shown in its sleeve lace by a broad band with two narrower bands. Since 2001, it has been designated
108-539: A sub-committee (Navy) of the tri-service Defence Council of the United Kingdom . The ancient title of Lord High Admiral was resumed, by the sovereign personally. Elizabeth II held the title for the next 47 years, until in 2011 she conferred the office upon her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , to celebrate his 90th birthday. Philip had served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, but he gave up
126-565: Is one of the nine English Great Officers of State and since 2021 is held personally by the reigning monarch (currently King Charles III , who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces ). In 1385 Richard, Earl of Arundel, was appointed Admiral of England, reuniting the offices of Admiral of the North and Admiral of the West , separate from 1294. From 1388 the offices of Admiral of the North and of
144-592: The Royal Air Force , it is air marshal . The Royal Navy has had vice-admirals since at least the 16th century. When the fleet was deployed, the vice-admiral would be in the leading portion or van , acting as the deputy to the admiral. The rank of Vice-Admiral evolved from that of Lieutenant of the Admiralty (1546–1564) that being an officer who acted as secretary to the Lord Admiral of England and lapsed in 1876 but
162-656: The DSO for his role in the evacuation of Greece the following year. He was also awarded the War Cross, 3rd Class from Greece and Poland's Cross of Valour in 1942. Biggs then served in the Battle of Crete , before being posted to the Admiralty as Deputy Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord (1942–44). He was promoted to captain in 1943, and commanded HMS Rotherham from 1944 (he
180-706: The Home Fleet Training Squadron and then, from 1956 to 1958 was posted as the last Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station . Biggs was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1955 and, three years later, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire . He died on 2 January 1976, leaving a widow (Florence, daughter of Sir Roger Backhouse ) and four children. One of his sons
198-407: The West were again distinct, though often held by the same man, until "Admirals of England" were appointed continuously from 1406. The titles "High Admiral" and "Lord Admiral" were both used, eventually combining in "Lord High Admiral". The Lord High Admiral did not originally have command at sea, but had jurisdiction over maritime affairs and the authority to establish courts of Admiralty . During
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#1733085458180216-478: The early 17th century onwards, when an individual Lord High Admiral was appointed, there was also a Council of the Lord High Admiral which assisted him to perform some of the duties of the Admiralty . When this office was not occupied by an individual, it was "put into commission" and exercised by a Board of Admiralty headed by a First Lord of the Admiralty ; this was the usual arrangement from 1709 until it
234-478: The issue, but suggested it had been resumed by Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown. Upon Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, the office was reported to have been passed to King Charles III . The office is understood to be held by the Monarch (currently King Charles III) by default and can be granted to whomever is chosen by the Monarch. Before 1707 there was an office of Lord High Admiral of Scotland . Following
252-579: The reign of Henry VIII (1509–47) the English Navy had expanded to a point where it could not be managed by a single Lord High Admiral alone, therefore day-to-day management of the navy was handed over to a committee that later became known as the Navy Board . The navy board had Samuel Pepys as one of its members during the reign of Charles II (1660–85), and it ran side-by-side with the Board of Admiralty . From
270-500: Was Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Biggs (1938–2002). Vice admiral (Royal Navy) A vice-admiral ( VAdm ) is a flag officer rank of the Royal Navy and equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 . It is immediately superior to the rear admiral rank and is subordinate to the full admiral rank. The equivalent rank in the British Army and Royal Marines is lieutenant-general ; and in
288-657: Was also Captain (D), 11th Destroyer Flotilla of the Eastern Fleet ), serving in the Indian Ocean . With the Second World War over, Biggs commanded HMS Royal Arthur (1946–48) and served as Assistant Chief of Supplies at the Admiralty. He was Captain of the Fleet on the Home Fleet from 1950 to 1952, and the next year became rear admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel (Personal Services). In 1955, he became Flag Officer of
306-466: Was merged with the Admiralty in 1832. However, the office of Lord High Admiral, which—except for brief periods during its long history—had remained extant, was not abolished as an official naval post until 1964. In 1964, the office of First Lord of the Admiralty was also abolished and the functions of the Lords Commissioners of Admiralty were transferred to the new Admiralty Board becoming
324-412: Was revived in 1901 by King Edward VII . Prior to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided into coloured squadrons which determined his career path . The command flags flown by a Vice-Admiral changed a number of times during this period. In the Royal Navy, the rank of vice-admiral should be distinguished from the office of Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom , which is an Admiralty position usually held by
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