Thomas Baird

This article is about the Royal Navy officer. For the American professor of mathematics and college principal, see Thomas D. Baird. For the banned dog breeder, see Elizabeth Baird.

Sir Thomas Baird
Born (1924-05-17) 17 May 1924 (age 100)
Canterbury, Kent, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1941–1982
RankVice-Admiral
CommandsHMS Glamorgan
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Henry Eustace Baird KCB DL (born 17 May 1924) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Early life and naval career

Baird was born in Canterbury, Kent on 17 May 1924.[1] He was born into a military family, one of five children, but chose a naval career because he wanted to live " separate life" from that of his family.[2] He enrolled in the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in Devon at the age of 13. In 1941, he joined the Royal Navy.[3]

His first posting was as a midshipman on board HMS Trinidad as part of the Arctic Convoy. On 16 May 1942, the day before Baird's 18th birthday, the ship was attacked by German warplanes after leaving Murmansk, and was subsequently scuttled. Baird was evacutated to Iceland and then returned to Greenock.[2]

He became Captain of the destroyer HMS Glamorgan in 1971.[4] He was appointed Captain of the Fleet in 1973, Chief of Staff, Naval Home Command in 1976 and Director-General of Naval Personnel Services in 1978.[3] He went on to be Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1979 before retiring in 1982.[5]

Baird was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1980 Birthday Honours.[6]

In retirement he was made Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Erskine Hospital in Renfrewshire.[3] He also became Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran.[7]

Personal life

In 1953 he married Angela Florence Ann Paul; they have one son and one daughter.[3] Lady Baird died on 14 May 2009.[8] Baird now lives in Symington, South Ayrshire. As of June 2024, he has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.[9]

References

  1. ^ Baird, Vice-Adm. Sir Thomas (Henry Eustace). Who's Who 2022. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U6209. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ward, Sarah (18 May 2024). "Former Navy chief recalls surviving Nazi raid as he celebrates 100th birthday". The Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Debrett's People of Today 1994
  4. ^ Captains of Royal Navy Warships Archived 14 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Listing compiled by historian Colin Mackie Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1980. p. 2.
  7. ^ HM Deputy Lieutenants in Scotland Hansard, 11 June 1992
  8. ^ "Baird". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Veteran's diary written as teenage seaman recalls life in Arctic Convoys". The Herald. Glasgow. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland
1979–1982 		Succeeded by