Michael Torrens-Spence | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | "Tiffy" |
| Born | (1914-03-10)10 March 1914 Whiteabbey,County Antrim, Ireland |
| Died | 12 December 2001(2001-12-12) (aged 87) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service years | 1927–1972 |
| Rank | Captain (RN) Lieutenant Colonel (Army) |
| Commands | |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Service Cross Air Force Cross |
| Other work | Ulster Special Constabulary Ulster Defence Regiment |
CaptainFrederick Michael Alexander Torrens-Spence,DSO, DSC, AFC (10 March 1914 – 12 December 2001) was aRoyal NavyFleet Air Arm pilot in theSecond World War. Torrens-Spence earned the distinction of holding commissions in the Royal Navy, theRoyal Air Force, theBritish Army and theRoyal Ulster Constabulary.
Known as "Tiffy", Torrens-Spence was born inWhiteabbey,County Antrim,Ireland the son of a professional soldier. Educated at Mourne Grange Public School,Kilkeel, at the age of 13 he attendedDartmouth Royal Naval College.[1]
After initial service in the fleet Torrens-Spence volunteered for flying duties with theFleet Air Arm, which at that time was under the command of the Royal Air Force. After flying training, he was commissioned as a pilot in both the RAF and the Navy. His first postings were on the carriersHMS Furious and, in 1937,Glorious.[1]
When war broke out, Torrens-Spence was serving onGlorious which was sent through theSuez Canal to hunt German surface raiders. He was then sent home fromAden to join the new carrierHMS Illustrious. Whilst serving onIllustrious, which had been dispatched to the Mediterranean in September 1940, he took part in the attack on Italianbattleships in theBattle of Taranto as aSwordfishtorpedo bomber pilot. During the Swordfish attack inTaranto harbour, he torpedoed one of Italy's newest and largest battleships, theLittorio, sinking her in shallow water. He was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross for this action.[1][2][3]
He was also involved whenIllustrious was badly damaged;Illustrious was escorting a convoy toMalta when she was attacked by three squadrons of GermanStukadive bombers. Suffering multiple bomb hits (including to Torrens-Spence's wardroom) and more than 200 casualties,Illustrious limped to Malta and eventually to America for repairs. Her aircraft were disembarked in Malta, and Torrens-Spence flew toEleusis, nearAthens,Greece, with elements of815 and819 Squadrons for an active anti-shipping campaign which later earned him theDistinguished Service Order.[2]
At theBattle of Cape Matapan, Torrens-Spence was ordered to find and attack a large Italian naval force. After observing an attack by aircraft from the carrierHMS Formidable achieve no result, he found a hole in the enemy smokescreen and was confronted with thePola, which he torpedoed from close range. The cruiser immediately slowed to six knots and the Italian admiral decided to divide his force, leaving a large detachment to escortPola and sail for home. That night, the Royal Navy engaged with the Italian force off Cape Matapan, and with the aid of radar sank the major part of them.Pola's captain was rescued by the destroyerHMS Jervis and was heard to remark, "Either that pilot was mad or he is the bravest man in the world".Admiral Andrew Cunningham wrote in his dispatch after the battle: "An example of the spirit of these young officers is the case of Lieutenant F.M.A. Torrens-Spence who rather than be left out, flew with the only available aircraft from Eleusis to Maleme ... arranged his own reconnaissance and finally took off with a second aircraft in company and took part in the dawn attack."[1][2]
From March to October 1941, Torrens-Spence commanded 815 Squadron inAlbania, where he added to his tally. Unfortunately, this included a hospital ship which the Italians had failed to mark and illuminate. No blame was ever attached to Torrens-Spence, but he was forever saddened by the incident.[1]
From 1942, Torrens-Spence was posted to the UK to become a leading Admiraltytest pilot at RAFBoscombe Down where he remained for the next three years, and worked closely with fellow former HMS Glorious and 819 Naval Air Squadron pilot LieutenantRoy Sydney Baker-Falkner in developing and test flying theFairey Barracuda aircraft prior to its operational service in the Fleet Air Arm. He was posted back toIllustrious for the closing stages of the war.[1][4]
He remained in the Navy after the war, becoming chief inspector of theEmpire Test Pilots' School. He then served in the carrierHMS Theseus, and as commanding officer ofRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet) inNorthern Ireland.[1][5]
In 1952, he was promoted captain and sent to the Admiralty to look after future aircraft requirements as deputy director of the Air Warfare Division, naval staff. He wrote the staff requirement for theBuccaneer strike aircraft and steered it through theAdmiralty Board.[1]
In 1955, he took command ofHMS Delight, aDaring class destroyer deploying in British andMediterranean waters. Afterwards he commanded a training establishment,RNAS Lossiemouth (HMSFulmar), before taking command of theaircraft carrierHMS Albion in 1959 where he spent the next two years, most of it in the Far East.[1][6]
After leaving the Royal Navy Torrens-Spence was appointed as the Commandant of theUlster Special Constabulary (the "B" Specials) inCounty Armagh.[1]
When the Specials were disbanded in 1970 and replaced by theUlster Defence Regiment, Torrens-Spence took control of theCounty Armagh Battalion (2 UDR), as alieutenant colonel, to get it up and running. He retired in 1972.[1]
In 1981, he becameLord Lieutenant of Armagh, afterNorman Stronge was killed by theProvisional Irish Republican Army in an armed assault on his home,Tynan Abbey. During this time, he resided at Laurelvale House,Laurelvale – originally the home of industrialistThomas Sinton. He was also ajustice of the peace, served asHigh Sheriff of Armagh in 1979[7] and was aide-de-camp to the Queen. He was never overtly involved in politics, but remained throughout his life a committedUnionist, holding senior office in the County Armagh Unionist Association, yet saddened by what he saw as the government's appeasing of terrorism.[1][5]
He married Rachel Torrens-Spence, with whom he had four children.[1] One of his sons, Brigadier Edward John (Johnny) Torrens-Spence CBE, was British Embassy military attaché to the United States.[8]
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ronald McIlroy Wilson | High Sheriff of Armagh 1979 | Succeeded by John Reginald Miller |
| Preceded by | Lord Lieutenant of Armagh 1981–1989 | Succeeded by |