Quick Facts
Biography
Vice-Admiral James William Rivett-Carnac CB CBE DSC DL (12 February 1891 – 9 October 1970) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Division.
Naval career
Born the younger son of Rev. Sir Clennel George Rivett-Carnac, 6th Baronet, Rivett-Carnac joined the Royal Navy in 1910 and served in World War I and was mentioned in despatches. He became Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Division in December 1938. He also served in World War II as Director of Training and Staff Duties at the Admiralty from April 1940 and as Commanding Officer of the battleship HMS Rodney from 1941 before becoming rear-admiral in charge of the Normandy beaches during the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. He was mentioned in despatches twice during World War II. He retired in 1947.
In retirement he lived in Bury St Edmunds and became Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk.
Family
He married Isla Nesta Blackwood.