# Arthur Power

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{{for|his son, the Vice-Admiral|Arthur Mackenzie Power}}
{{short description|Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet (1889–1960)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [Admiral of the Fleet](/source/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_(Royal_Navy))
| name             = Sir Arthur Power
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GBE|CVO}}
| image            = Rear Admiral Arthur J Power on board HMS Cleopatra, 5 Nov 1942 IWM A 13495 (cropped).jpg
| alt              = 
| caption          = Power in 1942
| birth_name       = Arthur John Power
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1889|04|12|df=y}}
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|1960|01|28|1889|04|12|df=y}}
| birth_place      = London, England
| death_place      = [Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar](/source/Royal_Hospital_Haslar)
| burial_place     = 
| nickname         = 
| allegiance       = United Kingdom
| branch           = {{RN}}
| service_years    = 1904–1953
| rank             = [Admiral of the Fleet](/source/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_(Royal_Navy))
| service_number   = 
| unit             = 
| commands         = {{ubli|Allied Commander in Chief, Channel and Southern North Sea Command (1952)|[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_Portsmouth) (1950–52)|[Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) (1948–50)|[Second Sea Lord](/source/Second_Sea_Lord) (1946–48)|[East Indies Fleet](/source/Eastern_Fleet) (1944–45)|[1st Battle Squadron](/source/1st_Battle_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)) (1943–44)|[Flag Officer](/source/Flag_Officer), Malta (1943)|15th Cruiser Squadron (1942–43)|{{HMS|Ark Royal|91|6}} (1938)}}
| battles          = {{ubl|First World War|Second World War}}
| awards           = {{ubli|[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath)|[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire)|[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Commander_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order)|[KStJ](/source/KStJ)|[Mentioned in Despatches](/source/Mentioned_in_Despatches) (4)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36526|supp=y|page=2355|date=19 May 1944}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36771|supp=y|page=4977|date=27 October 1944}}</ref>|[Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta](/source/Order_of_Polonia_Restituta) (Poland)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35833|supp=y|page=5569|date=18 December 1942}}</ref>|[Commander of the Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit) (United States)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37448|supp=y|page=720|date=25 January 1946}}</ref>|[Grand Cross of the Order of Orange Nassau](/source/Order_of_Orange_Nassau) (Netherlands)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38563|page=1334|date=15 March 1949}}</ref>}}
| spouse           = 
| relations        = 
| other_work       = {{ubli|First and Principal Naval [Aide-de-camp](/source/Aide-de-camp) to [George&nbsp;VI](/source/George%26nbsp%3BVI) (1951–52) and [Elizabeth&nbsp;II](/source/Elizabeth%26nbsp%3BII) (1952)|[Deputy Lieutenant](/source/Deputy_Lieutenant), Southampton}}
}}
[Admiral of the Fleet](/source/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)) '''Sir Arthur John Power''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GBE|CVO}} (12 April 1889 – 28 January 1960) was a [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) officer. He took part in the [First World War](/source/First_World_War) as a gunnery officer and saw action in the [Dardanelles campaign](/source/Gallipoli_campaign). During the inter-war years he commanded the gunnery school at {{HMS|Excellent|shore establishment|6}} and then the [aircraft carrier](/source/aircraft_carrier) {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|6}}. During the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) he played a leading role in the planning for the [Allied invasion of Sicily](/source/Allied_invasion_of_Sicily) and for the [Allied invasion of Italy](/source/Allied_invasion_of_Italy) and then commanded the naval forces for the actual landing of [V Corps](/source/V_Corps_(United_Kingdom)) at [Taranto](/source/Taranto) in Italy in September 1943. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief of the [East Indies Fleet](/source/Eastern_Fleet) in the closing stages of the war and conducted naval strikes on the [Imperial Japanese Army](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Army) in [Borneo](/source/Borneo) and [Malaya](/source/British_Malaya). After the War he became [Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel](/source/Second_Sea_Lord), [Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) and then [Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_Portsmouth).

==Naval career==
===Early career===
Born the son of Edward John Power and Harriet Maud Power (née Windeler),<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/35592|title=Arthur Power|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/35592|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref> Power joined the training ship [HMS ''Britannia''](/source/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(1860)) as a [cadet](/source/cadet) in 1904 and, having won the King's medal as best cadet of his year, he was promoted to [midshipman](/source/midshipman) on 15 September 1905.<ref name=heath218>Heathcote, p. 218</ref> He was promoted to acting [sub-lieutenant](/source/sub-lieutenant) on 15 January 1909<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28287|page=6814|date=10 September 1909}}</ref> and to [lieutenant](/source/lieutenant) on 15 April 1910<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28424|page=7253|date=14 October 1910}}</ref> on his appointment to the [battlecruiser](/source/battlecruiser) [HMS ''Indomitable''](/source/HMS_Indomitable_(1907)) in the [Home Fleet](/source/Home_Fleet).<ref name=heath218/> He became First Lieutenant in the [destroyer](/source/destroyer) [HMS ''Nautilus''](/source/HMS_Nautilus_(1910)) in October 1912 and then attended [HMS ''Excellent''](/source/HMS_Excellent_(shore_establishment)), the gunnery school at [Portsmouth](/source/Portsmouth), in 1913.<ref name=heath219>Heathcote, p. 219</ref>

Power served as a gunnery officer throughout the [First World War](/source/First_World_War), initially in the [battleship](/source/battleship) [HMS ''Magnificent''](/source/HMS_Magnificent_(1894)), then in the [cruiser](/source/cruiser) [HMS ''Royal Arthur''](/source/HMS_Royal_Arthur_(1891)) and next in the [monitor](/source/monitor_(warship)) [HMS ''Raglan''](/source/HMS_Raglan).<ref name=heath219/> In the ''Raglan'' he saw action in the [Dardanelles campaign](/source/Gallipoli_campaign), before transferring to the battlecruiser [HMS ''Princess Royal''](/source/HMS_Princess_Royal_(1911)) in the [Grand Fleet](/source/Grand_Fleet).<ref name=heath219/> He was promoted to [lieutenant commander](/source/lieutenant_commander) on 15 April 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30640|page=4742|date=19 April 1918}}</ref>

After the war Power joined the directing staff at HMS ''Excellent''.<ref name=heath219/> Promoted to [commander](/source/commander) on 31 December 1922,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32782|supp=y|page=14|date=29 December 1922}}</ref> he became an assistant to the Director in the Naval Ordnance Department at the [Admiralty](/source/British_Admiralty) in January 1923 and, after attending the [Royal Naval Staff College](/source/Royal_Naval_College%2C_Greenwich), he became Executive Officer on [HMS ''Hood''](/source/HMS_Hood_(51)), flagship of the battlecruiser squadron in the [Atlantic Fleet](/source/Atlantic_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)) in 1925.<ref name=heath219/> He joined the directing staff at the Royal Naval Staff College in 1927 and, having been promoted to [captain](/source/Captain_(Royal_Navy)) on 30 July 1929,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33513|page=4360|date=2 July 1929}}</ref> he joined the Ordnance Committee at the [Royal Arsenal](/source/Royal_Arsenal).<ref name=heath219/> He became Flag Captain of the Second Cruiser Squadron in the Home Fleet in the cruiser [HMS ''Dorsetshire''](/source/HMS_Dorsetshire_(40)) in April 1931 and, having served on the directing staff at the [Imperial Defence College](/source/Royal_College_of_Defence_Studies) in 1933, he became commanding officer of the gunnery school HMS ''Excellent'' in October 1935.<ref name=heath219/> He was appointed a [Commander of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Commander_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) on 29 January 1936.<ref name=cvo>{{London Gazette|issue=34253|page=811|date=7 February 1936}}</ref> He went on to be commanding officer of the [aircraft carrier](/source/aircraft_carrier) [HMS ''Ark Royal''](/source/HMS_Ark_Royal_(91)) in September 1937, and in that capacity, also became Flag Captain to the Flag Officer commanding aircraft carriers in the Home Fleet in July 1939.<ref name=heath219/>

===Second World War===
[[File:HMS Ark Royal h85716.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Power commanded {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}} in the early months of the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War)]]
[[File:SC180476.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The [Allied invasion of Sicily](/source/Allied_invasion_of_Sicily), for which Power conducted the planning]]
Power served in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) as assistant chief of the Naval Staff from May 1940 and was granted promotion to [rear admiral](/source/rear_admiral) on 25&nbsp;June 1940.<ref name=heath219/> Appointed a [Companion of the Order of the Bath](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) on 1&nbsp;July 1941,<ref name=cb>{{London Gazette|issue=35204|supp=y|page=3735|date=10 June 1948}}</ref> he became commander of the [15th&nbsp;Cruiser Squadron](/source/15th_Cruiser_Squadron) in the [Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) with his flag in the cruiser {{HMS|Cleopatra|33|6}} in August&nbsp;1942.<ref name=heath219/>

Appointed [Flag Officer in charge of Malta](/source/Malta_Dockyard) in May&nbsp;1943, he played a leading role in the planning for the [Allied invasion of Sicily](/source/Allied_invasion_of_Sicily) in July&nbsp;1943, and, having been promoted to [vice admiral](/source/vice_admiral) on 4&nbsp;August 1943,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36133|page=3648|date=13 August 1943}}</ref> he led the planning for the [Allied invasion of Italy](/source/Allied_invasion_of_Italy) and then commanded the naval forces for the actual landing of [V Corps](/source/V_Corps_(United_Kingdom)) at [Taranto](/source/Taranto) in September&nbsp;1943.<ref name=heath219/> Following the landings, he became head of the Allied military mission to the Italian government and was briefly Commander of the [1st&nbsp;Battle Squadron](/source/1st_Battle_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)) and second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet.<ref name=heath219/>

Advanced to [Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) on 1&nbsp;January 1944,<ref name=kcb>{{London Gazette|issue=36309|supp=y|page=3|date=31 December 1943}}</ref> Power became commander of the 1st&nbsp;Battle Squadron and second in command of the [Eastern Fleet](/source/Eastern_Fleet) with his flag in the battlecruiser {{HMS|Renown|1916|6}} in January&nbsp;1944.<ref name=heath219/> He went on to be commander-in-chief of that fleet, renamed the [East Indies Fleet](/source/East_Indies_Station), in November&nbsp;1944, and conducted naval strikes on the [Imperial Japanese Army](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Army) in [Borneo](/source/Borneo) and [Malaya](/source/British_Malaya).<ref name=heath219/> Flying his flag in ''Cleopatra'', the first British ship to enter [Singapore](/source/Singapore) since its fall in the [Battle of Singapore](/source/Battle_of_Singapore) over three years earlier, Power arrived in style to attend the final surrender of the Japanese there in September&nbsp;1945.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/the-final-surrender-1597089.html |title=The final surrender|work= The Independent|date= 20 August 1995|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref>{{clear}}

===Later career===
Power was appointed a [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) on 1 January 1946<ref name=gbe>{{London Gazette|issue=37407|page=13|date=28 December 1945}}</ref> and became [Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel](/source/Second_Sea_Lord) in February 1946.<ref name=heath220>Heathcote, p. 220</ref> Promoted to full [admiral](/source/admiral) on 6 May 1946,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37615|supp=y|page=3078|date=18 June 1946}}</ref> he proceeded to manage the run-down in naval manpower after the War.<ref name=heath220/> He went on to be [Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) in May 1948 and, having been advanced to [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) on 2 January 1950,<ref name=gcb>{{London Gazette|issue=38797|supp=y|page=2|date=30 December 1949}}</ref> he became [Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_Portsmouth) in September 1950.<ref name=heath220/> He was also appointed [First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp](/source/List_of_First_and_Principal_Naval_Aides-de-Camp) to [the King](/source/George_VI) on 15 January 1951<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39175|page=1441|date=16 March 1951}}</ref> and was double-hatted as [NATO](/source/NATO) Allied Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Southern North Sea Command from 1952.<ref name=heath220/> He attended the funeral of [King George VI](/source/George_VI) in February 1952<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39575|supp=y|page=3366|date=17 June 1952}}</ref> and was promoted to [Admiral of the Fleet](/source/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)) on 22 April 1952.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39571|page=3238|date=13 June 1952}}</ref>

Power retired in September 1952 and became a [Deputy Lieutenant](/source/Deputy_Lieutenant) of [Southampton](/source/Southampton) on 27 April 1953<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39841|page=2421|date=1 May 1953}}</ref> shortly before attending the [coronation](/source/coronation) of [Queen Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II) in June 1953.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40020|supp=y|page=6268|date=17 November 1953}}</ref> He died at the [Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar](/source/Royal_Hospital_Haslar) on 28 January 1960.<ref name=heath220/>

==Family==
In 1918 Power married Amy Bingham; they had three sons (including Vice Admiral [Sir Arthur Mackenzie Power](/source/Arthur_Mackenzie_Power)).<ref name=odnb/> Following the death of his first wife in 1945, he married Margaret Joyce Watson in 1947.<ref name=odnb/>

== Legacy ==
The Power Papers are housed at the [British Library](/source/British_Library). The papers can be accessed through the British Library catalogue.<ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/IAMS_VU2:IAMS032-001961813 Power Papers], archives and manuscripts catalogue, the British Library. Retrieved 2 June 2020</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Heathcote |first=Tony |title=The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995 |publisher=Pen & Sword Ltd |year=2002 |isbn=0-85052-835-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sir Arthur John Power}}
* {{NPG name}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[Sir Stuart Bonham Carter](/source/Stuart_Bonham_Carter)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Flag Officer, Malta](/source/Malta_Dockyard)|years=May – October 1943}}
{{s-aft|after=[Sir Louis Hamilton](/source/Louis_Keppel_Hamilton)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[Sir Geoffrey Layton](/source/Geoffrey_Layton)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station](/source/East_Indies_Station)|years=1945–1946}}
{{s-aft|after=[Sir Clement Moody](/source/Clement_Moody_(Royal_Navy_officer))}}
|-
{{succession box | title=[Second Sea Lord](/source/Second_Sea_Lord) | before=[Sir Algernon Willis](/source/Algernon_Willis) | after=[Sir Cecil Harcourt](/source/Cecil_Harcourt)| years=1946–1948}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Sir Algernon Willis}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet)|years=1948–1950}}
{{s-aft|after=[Sir John Edelsten](/source/John_Edelsten)}}
|-
{{succession box | title=[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_Portsmouth) | before=Sir Algernon Willis | after=Sir John Edelsten| years=1950–1952}}
|-
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef | before=[Sir Henry Moore](/source/Henry_Ruthven_Moore)}}
{{s-ttl | title=[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp](/source/List_of_First_and_Principal_Naval_Aides-de-Camp) | years=1949–1952}}
{{s-aft | after=[Sir Rhoderick McGrigor](/source/Rhoderick_McGrigor)}}
{{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Power, Arthur John}}
Category:Royal Navy admirals of the fleet
Category:Royal Navy admirals of World War II
Category:Royal Navy officers of World War I
Category:Commanders of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Category:Commanders of the Legion of Merit
Category:Knights of the Order of St John
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Category:Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Category:1889 births
Category:1960 deaths
Category:Academics of the Royal College of Defence Studies
Category:Lords of the Admiralty
Category:Admiralty personnel of World War II
Category:Military personnel from London

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arthur Power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Power) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Power?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.