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Captain Hugh Corbett World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Captain Hugh Corbett

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[SIZE=2]From today's Telegraph:[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=2][U][B]Captain Hugh Corbett[/B][/U][/SIZE][/B] [B][SIZE=2][B]Captain Hugh Corbett, who has died aged 95, served in wartime destroyers, winning a DSO and a DSC for his gallantry. [/B][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=2]On the night of November 1 1944, Corbett was in command of the Hunt-class destroyer Wheatland, leading the destroyer Avon Vale northwards through the shipping lanes inshore of the island of Lussino in the northern Adriatic. His mission was to prevent the evacuation of German troops from Dalmatia, and, keeping his ships hidden against the shadow of the land, he was watching carefully over the Quarnerolo Channel when he spotted two German corvettes, UJ-205 and UJ-208. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Increasing to full speed, and lighting the channel with star shell, Corbett opened fire with four-inch guns at 4,000 yards, and in a fierce exchange quickly reduced one corvette to a wreck and blew up the other. Avon Vale had stopped to pick up survivors when a third German ship, the ex-Italian torpedo boat-destroyer TA-20, rounded a headland and opened fire before turning to flee. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Corbett gave chase, and in a running fight sank TA-20. The action was over in half an hour, and 71 German survivors were pulled from the water that night and 20 more the next day. Corbett was awarded a DSO. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Hugh Askew Corbett was born on June 25 1916 in Stepney. His father, the Rev Frederick St John Corbett, vicar of St George-in-the-East, died of Spanish flu in 1919 after ministering to the thousands of sick in crowded East London tenements. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]After education at St Edmunds, Canterbury, Hugh joined the Royal Navy in 1933. His first ship was the battleship Ramillies, but thereafter most of his seagoing career was in destroyers. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]At the outbreak of war Corbett was junior hand in Impulsive, but was soon appointed first lieutenant of Brazen. He was due to leave her to take a course in torpedo and anti-submarine warfare, but insisted on staying at sea. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]On 15 April 1940, while escorting a landing force to Harstad during the Norwegian campaign, Brazen and her fellow destroyer Fearless attacked the German submarine U-49. Five depth charges were dropped and the U-boat burst to the surface . All but one of the 42-man crew were saved, and while engaged in the rescue work Brazen picked up papers which gave the entire U-boat disposition for the German invasion of Norway. Corbett was mentioned in despatches. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]After Brazen was sunk off Dover by German aircraft on July 20 1940, Corbett served briefly as first lieutenant in the Hunt-class Tyndale, and in June 1941 he joined the newly-built Lookout, which took part in Arctic convoys, in Operation Ironclad (the occupation of Madagascar) and Operation Pedestal (to resupply Malta). [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Under a new commanding officer, in May 1943 Corbett took part in Operation Retribution, which prevented the escape by sea of German forces from North Africa to Sicily . Only a few hundred Germans escaped the blockade, and Corbett was awarded a DSC. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]In September 1943 Corbett was given command of Wheatland, and was at the Allied landings at Salerno until deployed to the Adriatic . [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Post-war, between staff appointments, he commanded the destroyers Charity and Cockade (1954-56) and Caesar (1960-62); he was also Captain of the 8th Destroyer Squadron. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]In 1965 Corbett was given the task of bringing the assault ship Fearless into service. The following year Fearless was fully operational, and in October 1967 she enabled Irish Guards ferried in RAF helicopters to mount a surprise raid on rebels in Oman. Corbett’s last appointment was as Head of Naval Manpower Future Policy in 1967. He retired in 1969, a year after being appointed CBE. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Corbett then became Warden of the University Centre, Cambridge, which offers social facilities for graduate and research students. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Hugh Corbett married, in 1945, Patricia Spens, who survives him with their three sons. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Captain Hugh Corbett, born June 25 1916, died April 19 2012 [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]　[/SIZE]

A very interesting Obituary Bill.Hugh Corbett certainly had a good innings at 95 years and his wartime exploits won him much honour.A pukka navy man through and through-always eager to "engage the enemy more closely" jainso31

Morning Bill, thanks for the post. I remember him very well, he was my captain on the Caesar, his favourite saying was "I don't want excuses I want results". Before we sailed for the Far East to take over Captain D8, being a young bunting he sent for me one afternoon whilst alongside in Pompey, was given the task of taking his son around the ship. Derek (Bunts)

I served on HMS Fearless on her first commission as a 'pongo' part of the ABU. It was very interesting to read of Capt Corbett's exploits prior to those days. It was a new concept to have inter service as part of a ship's company Capt Corbett made an excellent job of having us all work as a happy team.

I served under Capt Hugh Corbett,1965-1967,and am very proud of it,i was a royal navy rating,and it was a great experience to be part of Combined Operations.RIP skipper.

The raid on the Omani rebels took place in october 1966,22 members of the Dhofar Liberation front were captured during Operation Fate,carried out by landings from HMS Fearless,on the village+training camp of Hauf,Units comprising Irish Guards,SAS,+other army + Naval units secured the rebels,and copius amounts of arms +explosives were discovered.The rebels were all identified by hooded arab informers from the region,which was carried out in the vehicle deck of Fearless,(A macabre sight as i remember it!No judge or jury!)But that was the way it was back then,and this WAS a top secret operation.As i understand it the rebels were handed over to the Sultan of Oman,and we returned to ADEN,carrying out patrols in Crater,Sheik Othman,+The Radfan Mountains,Ras Al Ara.....etc etc etc.I flew back into Lynham airbase,With a number of my comrades,from Bahrain Airport,in Nov 1967,when we pulled out of Aden.By this time Captain Mark Kerr had taken over from Captain Corbett(Captain Kerr is also Deceased)So i am proud to have served under two great Captains,who were heroes long before they joined HMS FEARLESS....I salute them both.

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