| Benjamin Bryant | |
| Birth Date: | 16 September 1905 |
| Birth Place: | Madras, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Death Place: | Worthing, West Sussex, England |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1919–1957 |
| Rank: | Rear Admiral |
| Commands: | (1953–54) HMNB Devonport (1951–53) (1945–47) (1945) (1944–45) (1944) (1941–43) (1938–41) |
| Battles: | Second World War |
| Awards: | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
Rear Admiral Benjamin Bryant, (16 September 1905 – 23 November 1994) was a Royal Navy officer noted for his submarine exploits during the Second World War. In terms of ships sunk, Bryant was the most successful British submarine commander to survive the war.[1] He was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, (Training) from July 1954 to February 1957.
Bryant was born in Madras, British India, then the winter capital of the Madras Presidency; his father, John Forbes Bryant, was a member of the Indian Civil Service. His mother was Mary Ada (née Genge). He had an elder brother Joseph and elder sister May. Bryant returned from India as a boy and attended Oundle School and then the Royal Naval College, Osborne and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
Bryant published a book, One Man Band: The Memoirs of a Submarine C.O.,[2] in 1958 about his experience up to and including the Second World War.
As a lieutenant commander, Bryant served aboard from 3 September 1938 to 12 October 1941. He then commanded from 14 October 1941 to 27 April 1943,[3] the submarine depot ship from 16 June 1944 to 10 October 1944, and the submarine depot ship from 30 October 1944 to 4 February 1945. Following promotion to captain, he commanded the submarine depot ship from 5 February to 11 May 1945, which was followed by command of from 26 June 1945 to 4 June 1947.
For his services during the Second World War, Bryant was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 9 May 1940,[4] Mentioned in Despatches on 12 May 1942, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 23 March 1943,[5] which was followed by two Bars to the DSO on 11 May and 6 July the same year.[6] He was later appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1956.[7]