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Vice-Admiral Sir lan McGeoch KCB DSO DFC Ian McGeoch was born in Helensburgh on 26th March 1914 and was educated at Pangbourne Nautical College, and in 1931 joined the Royal Navy as a special entry cadet. From 1933, Megeoch served as a midshipman on the HMS Royal Oak in 1933 then on the destroyer HMS Boadicea before moving on to the cruiser HMS Devonshire. McGeoch volunteered to serve on submarines and in 1936 attended the course at HMS Dolphin. Promoted to Lieutenant, McGeoch joined HMS Clyde at Malta. When war broke out he was in Malta but returned to England in Janaury 1940 serving as 1st lieutenant on the H Class H43, engaged in landing secret agents on Guernsey. In July 1940 he was appointed as second-in-command of the new submarine HMS Triumph, but was selected for the Commanding Offciers Qualifying Course before he saw active service. After passing, McGeoch returned to Malta's 10th Submarine Flotilla in May 1941, where he had the role of Spare CO on frequent call while other COs stood down for a few days rest. He took command of HMS Splendid and from November 1942 to May 1943 Splendid sank more tonnage on its six patrols than any other submarine. Lieutenant McGeoch was awarded the DSO after his fourth patrol, and the DSC after his fifth. Under McGeoch's command, Splendid sank the Italian auxiliary submarine chaser San Paolo, the Italian merchants Luigi Favorita, Devoli, and XXI Aprile, the small Italian merchant Commercio, the Italian auxiliary minesweeper No. 107 / Cleopatra, and the Italian tanker Giorgio. Splendid also sank the Italian Destroyer Aviere, escorting the German transport ship Ankara with her sister ship Camicia Nera - Splendid also attacked the Ankara, but missed her. Splendid also sank the Italian merchant Emma, despite her being heavily escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Groppo, Uragano and Clio. The German merchant Sienna (the former French Astrée) was missed in the same attack. Splendid also torpedoed and damaged the Italian destroyer Velite. Splendid left Malta for the last time on 17th April 1943. This was the submarine's sixth patrol and would take her to the waters off Naples and Corsica. While off Capril on 21st April 1943, HMS Splendid ran into the German destroyer Hermes. The submarine's periscope was spotted in the calm conditions and the German destroyer made three accurately-dropped patterns of depth charges which forced Splendid to the surface, where McGeoch ordered the crew to abandon ship and ordered the submarine to be scuttled. Five officers, including McGeoch, and 25 ratings were picked up; (18 men were lost with the ship) and taken prisoner. McGeoch suffered a wound to his right eye, and never recovered its sight. Later he managed to escape from prison camp and return to duty. He had a distinguished post-war career in the Navy including a period as Flag Officer Submarines. He was appointed CB in 1966 and advanced to KCB in 1969. He retired in 1970. Sadly at the age of 93 he died on the 12th of August 2007. |
| Vice-Admiral Sir lan McGeoch KCB DSO DFC - Signed Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Pilot and Aircrew Signatures |
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