Peter Woodhead

Last updated

Sir Peter Woodhead
Peter Woodhead.png
Sir Peter Woodhead
Born (1939-07-30) 30 July 1939 (age 83)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1962–1994
Rank Vice-Admiral
Commands held Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
Surface Flotilla
First Flotilla
Second Flotilla
HMS Illustrious
HMS Rhyl
HMS Jupiter
HMS Avenger
Battles/wars Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Sir Anthony Peter Woodhead, KCB DL (born 30 July 1939) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic from 1991 to 1993.

Contents

Educated at Leeds Grammar School, HMS Conway and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Woodhead joined the Royal Navy in 1962. [1] He took part in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in the 1960s. He was given command of the frigate, HMS Jupiter, in 1974 and the frigate, HMS Rhyl, in 1975. [1] Promotion to captain followed on 30 June 1979. [2] Woodhead was recalled from leave and appointed as Chief of staff to the Flag Officer to support the force commander, Rear Admiral Woodward, during the Falklands War. [3] [4] The force had already departed so he had to fly to Ascension Island and rendezvous with the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes there. From 1982 to 1983 he commanded the frigate, HMS Avenger. [5] He was appointed Director of Naval Operations and Trade in 1985, Commander of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 1986 and Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1988. [1] He went on to be Flag Officer First Flotilla, in 1989. From 1990 to 1991 he was Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla. In 1991 he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, before retiring in 1994 and Rear Admiral Peter Abbott succeeding him. [6] [7] On 31 July 1988, Woodhead met with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis Thatcher aboard HMS Ark Royal (R07), while the warship was docked in Sembawang Wharves, Singapore. [8] [9]

1983 Helicopter Crash

On 4 May 1983, HMS Avenger, and sister ship HMS Ambuscade, were on the Royal Navy Armilla patrol, a permanent presence in the Persian Gulf during the 1980s and 1990s. Avenger's commanding officer, Woodhead, was returning from a visit ashore in the ships Westland Lynx, (registration XZ249) when it suffered a tail rotor failure and, nose down, plunged into the sea off Muscat, Oman. [10] The Lynx helicopter never resurfaced from its entry into the sea and for a short time there was no sign of the aircrew or ship's captain. [11] As HMS Avenger approached the crash sight the crew observed some green clothed bodies breaking the surface on the water. When it was suggested to the captain that a Westland Lynx helicopter from the Royal Army of Oman would be taking him and the other three crew members to the nearest hospital in Oman, he informed the medics "there is no fucking way I am getting into that helicopter". [12] Woodhead and the three other crew members survived the incident, with Woodhead sustaining a non-life changing injury to his back. [13]

Later life

In retirement Woodhead became Prisons Ombudsman. [14] In 2003, Alan Travis noted in UK newspaper The Guardian , "Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Woodhead, had his powers so clipped by the former Conservative home secretary, Michael Howard, that the small and little-known club that is the British and Irish Ombudsmen Association refused him membership on the grounds that he was not independent enough". [15] From 1995-2013 Woodhead was the Director of multiple charities and companies including BMT Group,who specialise in Maritime and Naval engineering. [16] Woodhead regularly attends and is involved in the management of St Luke's Church, Prestonville, Brighton. [17] [18]

Family

In 1964 Woodhead married Carol; they have one son and one daughter. [1] Lady Woodhead died in January 2016. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm</span> Aviation arm of the Royal Navy

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms. As of 2023 it is a predominantly "rotary" force, with helicopters undertaking roles once performed by biplanes such as the Fairey Swordfish. It operates the F-35 Lightning II for maritime strike and the AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin for commando and anti-submarine warfare.

This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War, often referred to as "the Task Force" in the context of the war. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War.

HMS <i>Avenger</i> (F185) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Avenger was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position.

HMS <i>Glamorgan</i> (D19) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Glamorgan was a County-class destroyer of the Royal Navy with a displacement of 5,440 tonnes. The ship was built by Vickers-Armstrongs in Newcastle Upon Tyne and named after the Welsh county of Glamorgan.

This article describes the composition and actions of the Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War. For a list of naval forces from the United Kingdom, see British naval forces in the Falklands War.

PNS <i>Tariq</i> (D-181)

PNS Tariq (DDG-181) is the lead ship of the Tariq-class destroyers in the Surface Command of the Pakistan Navy. Prior to be commissioned in the Pakistan Navy, she served in the Royal Navy, formerly designated as HMS Ambuscade as a general purpose frigate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander-in-Chief Fleet</span>

The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse</span>

Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse, was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded five submarines and a frigate before achieving higher command from the 1970s. Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentine forces in April 1982, Fieldhouse was appointed Commander of the Task Force given responsibility for "Operation Corporate", the mission to recover the Falkland Islands. The campaign ended in the surrender of Argentine forces in June 1982. He became First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in December that year and, in that role, persuaded the British Government to fund the replacement of ships lost in the Falklands War. He went on to be Chief of the Defence Staff from 1985 until his retirement in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terence Lewin</span> Royal Navy admiral of the fleet (1920–1999)

Admiral of the Fleet Terence Thornton Lewin, Baron Lewin, was a Royal Navy officer. He served in the Second World War and then commanded a destroyer, the Royal yacht, two frigates and an aircraft carrier before achieving higher command. He was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the late 1970s and in that role he worked hard to secure a decent wage for servicemen and helped win them a 32% pay rise. He went on to be Chief of the Defence Staff during the Falklands War, serving as chief war planner and as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's chief advisor during the war. He was also the first Chief of Defence Staff to act as head of the Armed Forces rather than just Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Leach</span>

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Conyers Leach, was a Royal Navy officer who, as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff during the early 1980s, was instrumental in convincing the British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, that retaking the Falkland Islands from Argentina was feasible. On account of the determination he showed in the matter, journalist and political commentator Andrew Marr described him as Thatcher's "knight in shining gold braid".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">847 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters and provides armed reconnaissance and light transport support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Along with 845 and 846 naval air squadrons, it forms part of the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron was re-formed from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron on 1 September 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">815 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

815 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron flying the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 helicopter and is the Navy's front line Wildcat Naval Air Squadron. The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. The squadron is capable of carrying out multiple roles such as: counter-narcotics, anti-piracy, Above Surface Warfare (ASW), search and rescue, disaster relief and flying and engineering training. In the early 2000s, the Navy said that the squadron was largest helicopter squadron in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">829 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

829 Naval Air Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Before it was decommissioned in March 2018, it operated the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopter.

Rear Admiral Philip Lawrence Wilcocks, was a British senior Royal Navy officer who served as Rear Admiral Surface Ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugo White</span> Royal Navy admiral (1939–2014)

Admiral Sir Hugo Moresby White, was a senior officer of the Royal Navy and subsequently Governor of Gibraltar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Reffell</span>

Admiral Sir Derek Roy Reffell, is a former Royal Navy officer and Governor of Gibraltar.

ARA <i>Alférez Sobral</i>

ARA Alférez Sobral (A-9) is an 800-ton ocean-going tug that was in service with the Argentine Navy from 1972 until 2019, where she was classified as an aviso. She had previously served in the US Navy as the fleet tug USS Salish (ATA-187). In Argentine service an aviso is a small naval vessel used for a number of auxiliary tasks, including tugging, laying buoys, and replenishing other ships, lighthouses and naval bases.

Vice Admiral Sir Alan Grose KBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer, Plymouth.

In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag Officer, Second Flotilla</span> Military unit

The Flag Officer, Second Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1971 to 1992.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Debrett's People of Today 1994
  2. ↑ "No. 47904". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 July 1979. p. 8997.
  3. ↑ "Old Conways & The Falklands War 1982" (PDF). Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Thornton, Joanna Margaret (2015). "Government Media Policy during the Falklands War. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis" (PDF). University of Kent. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "HMS Avenger (F185) | Type 21 Club" . Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1995
  7. ↑ "Service Appointments" . The Independent. 2 June 1993. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "British Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher taking a …". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "HMS Ark Royal V - 1988 Ship's Movements". arkroyal.net. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "Incident Westland Lynx HAS2 XZ249, 04 May 1983". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "HMS Avenger (F185) | Type 21 Club" . Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "HMS Avenger (F185) | Type 21 Club" . Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "HMS Avenger (F185) | Type 21 Club" . Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Jail watchdog threatens to quit The Independent, 25 February 1996
  15. ↑ Travis, Alan (9 July 2003). "A look inside". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Anthony Peter WOODHEAD personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Woodhead - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  18. ↑ "People – St Luke's Prestonville" . Retrieved 25 April 2022.
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
1991–1993		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.