Sir Irvine Glennie was born 22 July 1892 in Scotland. He entered the Navy in 1905. Between 1910 and 1914, he served in home waters as well as in the China Station. During the First World War, he served aboard destroyers in the Grand Fleet.
Between 1922 and 1924 he attended RN College Dartmouth. The following year he received his first command (destoyer). In 1928, he was promoted to Commander. He subsequently attended Staff College the following year.
Glennie served at the Admiralty between 1930 and 1932. The next two years saw him return to command of destroyers. He was promoted to Captain in December 1933. He attended the Imperial Defence College in 1935.
In 1936, he took command of the cruiser H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles, New Zealand Squadron. He held this postion until May 1939, when he was reassigned to the battle cruiser H.M.S. Hood. He served in Hood as Flag Captain and Chief Staff Officer Battle Cruiser Squadron under admirals Sir William Whitworth and Sir James Somerville. Under his tenure, Hood saw the bulk of her wartime service, to include the action at Mers el-Kebir (as part of Force H). He was reputed to be strict but extremely well respected by his crew. He was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1941 and left Hood later that month upon promotion to Rear-Admiral.
From May 1941 to August 1942, Glennie served in H.M.S. Woolwich as the Rear-Admiral Destroyers, Mediterranean. In January 1941, Glennie took command of Home Fleet Destroyers from H.M.S. Tyne. He held this post until June 1944. He received the C.B. was promoted to Vice-Admiral during this assignment.
Glennie's next assignment was as Senior British Naval Officer, Western Atlantic (H.M.S. Malabar, Bermuda). He served in this capacity from October 1944 to July 1945. He received the K.C.B. during the course of this assignment (January 1945). He was elevated to Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station (again at Malabar) and held this position until April 1946.
Glennie was placed on the Retired List as an Admiral in May 1947. He spent his retirement in Lymington, Hants, where he died on 08 September 1980.
Sources and References
Navy Lists (courtesy of J.N. Houterman)