Wion de Malpas Egerton facts for kids

Wion de Malpas Egerton (born April 16, 1879 – died January 1, 1943) was a brave officer in the Royal Navy, which is the United Kingdom's navy. He was part of the important Egerton family. He fought in both World War I and Second World War. Sadly, he died during World War II while leading a group of ships across the Atlantic Ocean. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his courage.

Early Life and Family

Wion de Malpas Egerton was born in a place called the Punjab in 1879. His father, Sir Charles Egerton, was an officer in the British Indian Army. Later, his father became a very high-ranking officer called a Field Marshal. Wion's grandfather, Caledon Egerton, was also a high-ranking military officer. The Egerton family was well-known and had a long history.

Joining the Royal Navy

Wion Egerton joined the Royal Navy in the 1890s. This was the start of his long and important career at sea.

Rising Through the Ranks

He quickly showed his skills and was promoted to a rank called lieutenant on April 15, 1900. He served on many different ships. One of his first big assignments was on HMS Centurion. This ship was the main ship for Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour in a part of the world known as the China Station.

In 1902, he helped with a special event called a fleet review. This was when many navy ships gathered together to be inspected by King Edward VII for his coronation. After this, he went to a special school called HMS Vernon. Here, he trained to become an expert in torpedoes, which are underwater weapons.

Service in World War I

During World War I, Egerton showed great bravery. He was mentioned in official reports for his actions. In 1917, he received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). This award is given for outstanding service in battle. On June 30 of that year, he was promoted to captain.

After the war, from 1921 to 1922, he worked as the Deputy Director of Torpedoes and Mining. This meant he helped manage the navy's torpedo and mining operations.

Later Career and Retirement

In 1928, Egerton became an Aide-de-Camp to King George V. This was a special role where he helped the King. On June 11, 1928, he was promoted to rear-admiral. He retired from active service on January 4, 1933, and was given the rank of vice-admiral on the Retired list.

World War II and Final Sacrifice

Even though he was retired, Wion Egerton returned to duty during Second World War. He became a Commodore of Convoys for the Royal Naval Reserve in May 1942. His job was to lead groups of merchant ships, called convoys, across the dangerous Atlantic Ocean. These convoys carried vital supplies and were often attacked by enemy submarines, known as U-boats.

On January 1, 1943, Vice-Admiral Egerton was leading Convoy ON 154. His ship, the Empire Shackleton, was hit by a torpedo from a U-boat. He was rescued by another ship, HMS Fidelity. However, tragedy struck again when HMS Fidelity was also torpedoed. Vice-Admiral Egerton died at sea that day, giving his life in service to his country.

Family Life

In 1913, Wion Egerton married Anita David. They had three children together:

• Sir David Egerton (1914–2010), who later inherited a special family title.
• Penelope Egerton (1919–2004).
• Alison Egerton (born 1922).

Images for kids

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  Egerton plaques in the south transept of Chester Cathedral: a memorial to family members killed during the war (top) and a memorial to Vice-Admiral Wion de Malpas Egerton (below)