Sir

Jeremy Black
Birth nameJohn Jeremy Black
Born(1932-11-17)17 November 1932
Tavistock, Devon
Died25 November 2015(2015-11-25) (aged 83)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1946–1991
RankAdmiral
Commands heldCommander-in-Chief Naval Home Command (1989–91)
Flag Officer First Flotilla (1982–84)
HMS Invincible (1981–82)
HMS Fife (1977–79)
HMS Decoy (1969–70)
HMS Fiskerton (1961–63)
Battles/warsKorean War
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Falklands War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Black's cap worn whilst in command of Invincible, on display at the Imperial War Museum

Admiral Sir John Jeremy Black, GBE, KCB, DSO (17 November 1932 – 25 November 2015), known as Jeremy Black or J. J. Black, was a senior Royal Navy officer. He commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during the Falklands War, and later served as Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command from 1989 until his retirement in 1991.

Naval career

Jeremy Black was born in Tavistock, Devon on 17 November 1932.[1][2] He was educated at the Royal Naval College, when it was at Eaton Hall,[3] and saw service in a number of theatres including Korea and Borneo. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1960 for his work in Borneo but his most famous appointment was as captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during the Falklands War in 1982.[2] Black was an inspirational leader to his crew: this was reflected by the ship's company designing T-shirts with 'There and Back with JJ Black' emblazoned across the front. This slogan later gave Black the title ('There and Back') of his memoirs.[4]

In October 1982, Black was promoted to rear admiral and appointed Flag Officer First Flotilla.[2] This was followed by a position in the Ministry of Defence as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1984 before being appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Systems) in 1986.[2] He became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in 1989.[2] He retired in 1991.[2]

Later life and death

In retirement Black held the posts of Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom.[5] Black was chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).[6]

Black died after a long illness on 25 November 2015 at the age of 83.[3]

Honours and awards

Notes

  1. ^ General Register Office index of births registered in October, November, December, 1932 – Name: Black, John J District: Tavistock Volume: 5B Page: 456.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. ^ a b "Admiral Sir Jeremy Black – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  4. ^ Black, Jeremy There and Back: The Memoirs of Admiral Sir Jeremy Black GBE, KCB, DSO, Elliott & Thompson, 2005, ISBN 978-1-904027-41-6
  5. ^ "No. 56194". The London Gazette. 3 May 2001. p. 5329.
  6. ^ "Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889)". Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  7. ^ "No. 43010". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1963. p. 4798.
  8. ^ "No. 49134". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1982. p. 12832.
  9. ^ "No. 50764". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1986. p. 2.
  10. ^ "No. 52563". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1991. p. 5.

External links

Military offices New title Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff 1985–1986 Succeeded byMichael Livesay Preceded bySir Donald Hall Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Systems) 1986–1989 Succeeded bySir Anthony Mullens Preceded bySir John Woodward Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command 1989–1991 Succeeded bySir John Kerr Honorary titles Preceded bySir Nicholas Hunt Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom 1997–2001 Succeeded bySir Kenneth Eaton Preceded bySir Nicholas Hunt Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom 2001–2005 Succeeded bySir James Burnell-Nugent
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