Vyell Vyvyan

Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur Vyell Vyvyan, KCB, DSO (12 March 1875 – 30 September 1935) was an officer in the Royal Navy in the early 20th century, and later a senior officer in the newly created Royal Air Force.

Sir Arthur Vyell Vyvyan
Born(1875-03-12)12 March 1875
Multan, Punjab, British India
Died30 September 1935(1935-09-30) (aged 60)
Marylebone, London, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy (1891–1918)
Royal Air Force (1918–1925)
Years of service1891–1925
RankAir Vice Marshal
Commands heldRAF Coastal Area (1919–24)
RAF Northern Area (1919)
HMS Endymion
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Order of Saint Anna (Russia)
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class (Japan)
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)[1]
Grand Commander of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece)

Military career

Vyvyan joined the Royal Navy in 1891, where he was promoted to lieutenant on 14 January 1896. In 1902 he was posted to the Sheerness Gunnery School senior staff, at HMS Wildfire.[2]

In 1916, while holding the rank of captain, Vyvyan became involved in naval aviation, serving as the Assistant to the Superintendent of Aircraft Construction before being appointed the Assistant to the Director of the Air Service.

With the impending establishment of the Royal Air Force (RAF), Vyvyan was employed at the Air Ministry and was promoted to brigadier general in the RAF. Departing London just after the 1 April 1918 when the RAF was formally created, Vyvyan briefly returned to operational service as the senior RAF officer in the Mediterranean. In late April he was recalled to Great Britain and appointed the General Officer Commanding the RAF's Northern Area. The following year he became Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area, receiving a promotion to air vice marshal shortly after taking up post. He retired from the RAF in 1925.

A memorial to him lies within St James's Church, Piccadilly.

A memorial to Vyell Vyvyan in St James's Church, Piccadilly.

Honours and awards

References
  1. "No. 31691". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 December 1919. p. 15614.
  2. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36875. London. 17 September 1902. p. 5.
  3. National Archives ADM 196/89/161


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