Admiral Sir William Edward Parry, (8 April 1893 – 21 August 1972) was an officer of the Royal Navy. Naval career Parry joined the Royal Navy 1905 and served in the First World War. He was appointed Officer in charge of the Anti-Submarine Establishment at Portland in 1936. In 1938 he attended the Imperial Defence College. During the Second World War, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Division commanding at the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939. In this battle he was wounded in the legs when shrapnel hit the bridge. He assumed command of in 1943. He took part in the Normandy landings and served on the staff of Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force in 1944. After the war he became Deputy Head of the Naval Division at the Allied Control Commission in Germany. Parry became Director of Naval Intelligence in July 1946 and Chief of Naval Staff (Commander-in-Chief) of the Royal Indian Navy in August 1948. He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1950 New Year Honours before retiring in 1951. In the 1956 film The Battle of the River Plate, Parry was played by Jack Gwillim. References External links Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 |- |- 1893 births 1972 deaths Military personnel from London Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Chiefs of the Naval Staff (India) Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath People educated at Summer Fields School People from Marylebone Commanders of the Legion of Merit Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Royal Navy admirals Royal Indian Navy admirals Royal New Zealand Navy admirals New Zealand military personnel of World War II Royal Navy officers of World War II Royal Navy officers of World War I Directors of Naval Intelligence