How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

Admiral Sir Leslie Derek Empson, GBE, KCB (29 October 1918 – 20 September 1997) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command from 1974 to 1975.

Naval career

Educated at Eastbourne College,[2] Empson joined the Royal Navy at HMS St Vincent as a pilot 1940.[3] He served in the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War.[3]

Empson was appointed Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in 1957 and then became commanding officer of HMS Eagle in 1963.[3] He went on to be Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers in 1967 and then Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air) in 1968.[3] He was made Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1969, was promoted to vice admiral on 21 April 1970,[4] and became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in 1971.[3] After promotion to full admiral on 1 August 1972,[5] he became Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and Flag Officer Portsmouth Area in 1974.[3] He retired in 1975.[3]

Later life

In retirement, Empson worked as a consultant for EMI.[6] He also held the posts of Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom.[7]

References

  1. ^ Who's who in the World, Issues 1976–1977
  2. ^ Eastbourne College
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Sir Leslie Derek Empson Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  4. ^ "No. 45083". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 April 1970. p. 4465.
  5. ^ "No. 45745". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1972. p. 9433.
  6. ^ Asia / Pacific Conference Report Billboard, 17 March 1979
  7. ^ "No. 50721". The London Gazette. 18 November 1986. p. 14834.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet
1969–1971
Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Sea Lord
1971–1974
Succeeded by
Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
1974–1975
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
1984–1986
Succeeded by
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
1986–1988
Categories
Table of Contents