Thomas Hope Troubridge | |
Birth Date: | 1 February 1895 |
Birth Place: | Southsea, Hampshire, England |
Death Place: | Hawkley, Hampshire, England |
Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
Branch: | Royal Navy |
Serviceyears: | 1908–1949 |
Rank: | Vice admiral |
Commands: | Flag Officer, Air (Home) (1946–47) Fifth Sea Lord (1945–46) Task Force 88 (1944) (1942) (1941–42) (1940) (1933–34) (1930–31) |
Battles: | First World War Second World War |
Awards: | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Bar Mentioned in dispatches (4) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
Relations: | Admiral Sir Ernest Troubridge (father) |
Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hope Troubridge, (1 February 1895 – 29 September 1949) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Fifth Sea Lord from 1945 to 1946.
The son of Admiral Sir Ernest Troubridge and Edith Mary (Duffus), Troubridge was born in Southsea, Hampshire, on 1 February 1895. He joined the Royal Navy in 1908,[1] and served in the First World War. In 1936 he became naval attaché in Berlin.[2] He also served in the Second World War, initially as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier [1] carrying much needed sugar back to Britain in July 1940 and then making a number of air strikes on shipping in Norwegian waters and on the seaplane base at Tromsø through October 1940.[3]
Troubridge was given command of the battleship in June 1941 and then the aircraft carrier in January 1942.[4] In 1943, he was appointed Rear Admiral Combined Operations and flag officer commanding overseas assault forces,[1] and in June 1944 he led the invasion and capture of Elba.[5]
After the war Troubridge was appointed Fifth Sea Lord and then, from 1946, Flag Officer, Air (Home).[2] His last appointment was as Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet in 1948.[2]
Troubridge married Lily Emily Kleinwort in August 1925. They had four children: Their eldest son, Peter, became 6th Troubridge baronet on death of his cousin in 1963.[6] Their fourth child, Thomas, married Marie Christine von Reibnitz (later Princess Michael of Kent) in 1971: the marriage was annulled in 1978.[7]