Leslie Bennington

Captain Leslie William Abel Bennington DSO & Bar, DSC & Two Bars (20 February 1912 – 24 June 1981) was a British Royal Navy officer, who was highly decorated for his actions as a submarine commander during the Second World War.

Leslie Bennington
Born(1912-02-20)20 February 1912
Dorset, England
Died24 June 1981(1981-06-24) (aged 69)
East Sussex, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1933-1960
RankCaptain
Commands held
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDSO & Bar
DSC & Two Bars

Early life

Bennington was born in the Weymouth district of Dorset, England on 20 February 1912 the son of William Griffin Bennington and his wife Alice Maud.

Military career

Bennington received his commission into the Royal Navy on 1 September 1933.[1] He undertook a promotion course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and became a submariner. Between 1935 and October 1938 he served on various submarines in the Home Fleet and Mediterranean Sea, before becoming first lieutenant on HMS Swordfish. He then transferred to HMS Tigris, and on 13 November 1940 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his actions during an engagement involving the submarine.[2] He received his first command in January 1941, becoming commanding officer of HMS H28.[3]

On 11 May 1942 he took command of HMS Porpoise. He was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order on 20 December 1942 for his successful patrols in the Mediterranean as commander of Porpoise, during which seven enemy ships were sunk.[4] On 25 January 1943 he became commanding officer of HMS Tally-Ho, operating in the Far East. On 11 April 1944 Bennington was awarded a Bar to his DSO for the successful attack on the Japanese cruiser Kuma during the action of 11 January 1944.[5] He also commanded Tally-Ho during the action of 14 February 1944, for which he was awarded a Bar to his DSC on 6 June 1944.[6] On 20 February 1945 he was awarded a second Bar to his DSC for "outstanding courage, skill and undaunted devotion to duty" while in command of HMS Tally-Ho.[7]

Between April 1945 and April 1946 Bennington served with Naval Equipment Department at the Admiralty, before taking command of the cruiser HMS Aurora prior to her sale to the Chinese in May 1948. He then served with various vessels as executive officer, before taking command of the airbase HMS Gamecock from 1953 to 1955. Between December 1955 and January 1957 Bennington served as Captain of Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and Queen's Harbour Master at the Malta Dockyard. He retired on 7 July 1960 with the rank of Captain.[8]

Bennington died on 24 June 1981 at Rye, Sussex aged 69.

References
  1. 'Bennington, Leslie William Abel' in Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, retrieved 21 January 2016
  2. "No. 34991". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 November 1940. p. 6549.
  3. 'Bennington, Leslie William Abel' in Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, retrieved 21 January 2016
  4. "No. 35838". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1942. p. 5645.
  5. "No. 36464". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 April 1944. p. 1677.
  6. "No. 36551". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1944. p. 2704.
  7. "No. 36947". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1945. p. 995.
  8. 'Bennington, Leslie William Abel' in Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, retrieved 21 January 2016

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