James Wilfred Jefford | |
|---|---|
 Cdr J W Jefford, RIN, with his Navigating Officer Lt CdrMahindroo on aboard HMIS Godavari | |
| Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Navy | |
| Preceded by | Office Established |
| Succeeded by | VAdmHMS Choudri |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1901 |
| Died | 1980 (aged 78–79) |
| Citizenship |  British India Pakistan |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1922-1953 |
| Rank |   Vice-Admiral |
| Battles/wars | World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 |
Vice-AdmiralJames Wilfred JeffordCBCBE (22 March 1901 – 1 January 1980) was the firstCommander-in-Chief of theRoyal Pakistan Navy, serving from its inception in 1947 until 1953. Most of his early career was in theRoyal Indian Navy.
Jefford served in theRoyal Navy as amidshipman during theFirst World War and was commissioned into theRoyal Indian Marine as a sub-lieutenant on 23 March 1922.[1] He was successively promoted to lieutenant, RIM (23 March 1925)[2] to lieutenant-commander, RIN, to acting commander, RIN, in 1940 and to substantive commander, RIN (10 January 1941).,[3] On 10 September 1946, Jefford was promoted to captain, RIN, and to commodore, RIN the following year.[4]
On the inception of theDominion of Pakistan in 1947, Commodore Jefford transferred to the special list of theRoyal Navy and was appointedFlag Officer commanding the new Royal Pakistan Navy with the acting rank of rear-admiral (15 August 1947).[5] He retired from the Royal Indian Navy on 1 September 1948 with the rank of captain, but retained his acting rank of rear-admiral and his place on the special list of the Royal Navy while commanding the Royal Pakistan Navy.[6] His title was upgraded to Commander-in-Chief in 1950, and he was promoted to substantive rear-admiral that year. He was promoted to a CBE in the 1951 New Year Honours list (from an OBE conferred in 1947).[7] Vice-Admiral in the Royal Pakistan Navy, in 1953, the same year that his command was terminated.[8]
He was Chairman of the Penang Harbour Board from 1955 to 1957 and also of thePenang Port Commission from 1956 to 1957, when he retired.[8]
During theSecond World War he commandedHMIS Indus andHMIS Godavari.[8]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title Pakistan Navy established | Commander-in-Chief, Royal Pakistan Navy 1947 – 1953 | Succeeded by |
Chiefs of Naval Staff of thePakistan Navy | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commander-in-Chief (Two-to-three-star admirals) |  | |
| Chiefs of Naval Staff (Four-star admiral) | ||
| Vice Chiefs of Naval Staff | ||