Scope and Contents
Annotated typescript covering Power's career, particularly on his work with Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Admiral Sir John Cunningham [Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, from 1943] on the invasion of Sicily and Italy, his work with Admiral Sir Philip Vian and with Admiral 1st Lord Mountbatten. Includes further notes on Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham.
Dates
- Creation: 1960-08 - 1980-08
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holders and should seek advice from the Archives Centre staff.
Biographical / Historical
Manley Power was born 10 January 1904, the son of Admiral Sir Laurence E. Power, KCB, CVO. He was educated at the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne [Isle of Wight] and Dartmouth [Devon], and in 1930 married Barbara Alice Mary Topham; they had one daughter (and one son deceased).
Power joined the Navy as a Cadet in 1917, and in the early part of his career, served mainly in submarines, as: Midshipman (1921); Sub-Lieutenant (1924); Lieutenant (1926); Lieutenant-Commander (1934). In 1939 he was promoted to Commander and appointed as Staff Officer (Operations) to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham. In 1942 he was given command of HMS Opportune, escorting Russian convoys, before returning as Staff Officer (Operations) in the Mediterranean in September 1942, for the invasion of North Africa. Following the invasion, Power rejoined the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, as Staff Officer (Plans), helping to plan the invasion of Sicily. He was promoted to Captain in 1943, and Deputy Chief of Staff (Plans), and stayed in the Mediterranean until March 1944, planning the invasion of Italy and the Anzio landings. Power then became captain of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla, taking part in the Normandy landings [France], and as captain of the destroyer HMS Myngs took part in an action to destroy an enemy convoy off the Norwegian coast in November 1944. He was then appointed to command HMS Saumarez in the Eastern Fleet, and his flotilla destroyed the Japanese cruiser Haguro in May 1945. Following the war, Power served as Deputy Director of Plans in the Admiralty between January and July 1946, then as Senior Naval Member of the Directing Staff at the Joint Services Staff College, later becoming commander of the Portland [Dorset] naval base. Following this he served as Flag Captain to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [Admiral Sir Philip Vian], then in May 1952 as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean [Admiral 1st Lord Mountbatten]. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1953, and in the following year was appointed Senior Naval Member of the Directing Staff of the Imperial Defence College. Power was then Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers between 1956 and 1957 (becoming a Vice-Admiral in 1956), and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, and Fifth Sea Lord, from 1957 to 1959. He was made an Admiral in 1960, and Power's final appointments were as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth [Hampshire] and Allied Commander-in-Chief, Channel (1959-61), until his retirement in 1961.
Power's honours and awards include: KCB 1958 (CB 1955); CBE 1943 (OBE 1940); DSO 1944, Bar 1945; DL. He died in May 1981.
Extent
1 volume(s)
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
A copy of this finding aid is available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge and the National Register of Archives, London.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The memoirs were given to Churchill Archives Centre by Admiral Power in 1978.
General
This collection (fonds) level description was prepared by Katharine Thomson at Churchill Archives Centre in June 2003. Information was obtained from the memoirs, and from "Who's Who" (A & C Black) and Admiral Power's obituary.
Date information
DateText: Undated.
Originator(s)
Power, Sir Manley Laurence
Subject
- Royal Navy (Organization)
- Date
- 2003-06-24 09:57:08+00:00
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Churchill Archives Centre Repository
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0DS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 336087
archives@chu.cam.ac.uk