Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1999 (1917-1999) (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent
1 volume
Scope and content
Privately published memoir, D.B.H.W. , covering his life and career, 1917-1999; including account of childhood and education; early service in RN, 1928-1933; decision to transfer to Engineering Branch, 1933; construction of HMS PRINCE of WALES and establishment of Damage Control Department, 1940-1941; account of engagement with the German battleship BISMARCK and the sinking of HMS HOOD, May 1941; account of 'Atlantic Meeting' between Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Aug 1941; the loss of HMSS PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE, Dec 1941; service as Engineer Officer, HMS ISIS, Indian Ocean, 1942-44; post-war service in aircraft carriers HMS IMPLACABLE, 1946-1948 and HMS EAGLE, 1956-1956 and subsequent career as a 'Whitehall Warrior' and Adm Superintendent, Devonport.
System of arrangement
single volume
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born 1914, son of R Adm Sir Henry William Wildish, educated at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, 1928-1931; entered RN as Cadet, 1932, sea service in HMSS RAMILLIES and REVENGE, 1932; transferred to Engineering Branch, 1933; Mid (E), 1933; RN Engineering College, Keyham, 1933-1936; Sub Lt (E) 1935; appointed to HMS NELSON, 1936-1938; Lt (E) 1937; RN Apprentice Training Establishment, 1938-1939; Damage Control Officer, HMS PRINCE OF WALES, 1940-1941; Staff of Fleet Engineer Officer, Far East Fleet, 1942; Engineer Officer, HMS ISIS, Apr 1942-Feb 1944; RN Engineering College, Devonport, Feb 1944-Sep 1946; Lt Cdr (E) 1945; Senior Engineer, HMS IMPLACBLE, Sep 1946-Aug 1948; Cdr (E) 1948; Planning Staff, Exercise Trident, 1948-1949; Staff of Engineer Officers' Admin Course, 1949-1951; Assistant Naval Attaché, British Embassy, Rome, Italy, 1951-1954; Engineer Officer, HMS EAGLE and Staff EO to Flag Officer Heavy Squadron, 1954-1956; Admiralty, Officer Planning Section, 2nd Sea Lord's Department, 1956-1958; Capt 1957; Admiralty Engineer Overseer, Southern District, 1958-1960; Deputy Director, Fleet Maintenance (Organisation), 1960-1962; Director of Fleet Maintenance, 1962-1964; Senior Officers War Course, 1964; Commodore, Naval Drafting, 1964-1966; R Adm 1966; Adm Superintendent HM Dockyard, Devonport, 1966-1970; CB 1968; V Adm 1970; Director General of Personnel Services and Training (Naval) and Deputy Second Sea Lord 1970-1972.
Repository
Custodial history
Presented to the Centre by the family, June 2000
Conditions governing access
Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.
Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, via the Archives.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Existence and location of copies
Copy also presented to Imperial War Museum, London (GB 0062)
Related materials
Alternative identifier(s)
Place access points
People and Organisations
- HMS Eagle (Subject)
- HMS Hood (Subject)
- HMS Implacable (Subject)
- HMS Isis (Subject)
- HMS Prince of Wales (Subject)
- HMS Repulse (Subject)
- RN, Royal Navy (Subject)
Genre access points
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.
Script(s)
Archivist's note
Sources: Who's Who, Navy Lists. Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM 25 Project.