Born the son of
Frank Douglas-Pennant, 5th Baron Penrhyn, Cyril Douglas-Pennant joined the
Royal Navy in 1907. He served in
World War I. He went on to command the assault forces from which landed on
Gold Beach during the
Normandy landings in 1944. After the War he became Commandant of the
Joint Services Staff College and then Flag Officer (Air) and Second in Command of the
Mediterranean Fleet in 1948. He was appointed Senior Naval Representative for the British Joint Services Mission to
Washington, D.C., in 1950 and
Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, in 1952. He retired in 1953. ==References==