GUERITZ, Edward Finlay (#212)
#212
Rear Admiral Edward GUERITZ CB OBE DSC
Royal Navy
Alan Pollock’s Rough Notes:
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Rear Admiral Edward GUERITZ CB OBE DSC* RN: joined as a ROYAL NAVY Cadet for the first year 1937, on to Midshipman for two years from 1938, learning his trade on HMS NEWCASTLE, a Cruiser, MASHONA, a Tribal Class Destroyer, then the Cruiser, CUMBERLAND, which he was to see visibly reinforce CDRE HARWOOD’s RIVER PLATE Force, after the Battle, so Graf Spee would have a fully armed presence to confront, as well as some purposely deceptive signals traffic.
The Midshipman returned to UK on the damaged AJAX; in the ensuing DEFENCE of BRITAIN, he was appointed to the RN BATTALION to form part of an ad hoc, mobile ANTI TANK BATTERY (with scavenged old naval guns, to illustrate the denuding of gunpower. after DUNKIRK) in Lincolnshire for the NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, then for lst GUARDS BRIGADE, later on, being switched to the RLYMOUTH-REACH Bn, as Infantry with the ROYAL MARINES after the INVASION EMERGENCY receded, he joined the Javelin class JERSEY (1,760tons, complement 220, 10 21 inch torpedo tubes) at Hull as a young, fairly inexperienced Navigating Officer, soon to confront the realities of early ACOUSTIC MINES in CONVOY & again off PLYMOUTH; 6 weeks’ repair in Isle of Dogs Winter 1940, then off to the MED. for the BOMBARDMENT of GENOA, when the Fleet Air Arm attacked SPEZIA from off the ARK ROYAL; back for the MARCH BLITZ in PORTSMOUTH then to MALTA, where HMS JERSEY, moving in to Grand Harbour, was almost blown in half by an acoustic mine or one primed set for the fourth ship past; returned via GIB on Cruiser LONDON but, as Bismarck was out, they swung out westwards. caught two German Supply Ships & sailed back via Freetown and through GIBRALTAR again with prisoners; in UK, deep specialisation followed, with two 18 month tours in COMBINED OPERATIONS (his INDIAN ARMY brother later joined too); firstly the SCOTLAND training, work up, planning & execution of the pre-emptive Vichy MADAGASCAR INVASION Mar42 (to safeguard ALAMEIN build up & INDIAN OCEAN KILINDINI Base) as PRINCIPAL BEACHMASTE ; then work up with 3rd INF DIV & the same role as LT CDR for Force “S”, landing 0830hrs D-DAY at OUISTREHAM on NORMANDY INVASION’s left flank at SWORD BEACH “S:’; wounded during the war, he signs for all COMBINED OPERATIONS & the Sth-& all DESTROYER FLOTILLAS; post-war he was active again (OBE Near East Operations for SUEZ 1956) and his last two naval appointments were as Admiral President of the ROYAL NAVAL College 1968-70, then finally as Commandant of the JOINT WARFARE Establishment 1970-72.