Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)

Tom Spencer Vaughan Phillips
Tom Spencer Vaughan Phillips
	Vice Admiral Tom Phillips in March 1940
Birth name	Tom Spencer Vaughan Phillips
Nickname(s)	Tom Thumb
Born	19 February 1888; Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, Cornwall
Died	10 December 1941 (aged 53); South China Sea, off Kuantan, Malaya
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1903–1941
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Force Z (1941); Eastern Fleet (1941); China Station (1941); Home Fleet Destroyer Flotillas (1938–39); HMS Hawkins (1932–35); 6th Destroyer Flotilla (1928–29); HMS Campbell (1928–29); HMS Verbena (1924–25)
Battles / wars	First World War; Second World War Pacific War Malayan campaign Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse †; ; ; ;
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Tom Spencer Vaughan Phillips, KCB (19 February 1888 – 10 December 1941) was a Royal Navy officer who served during the First and Second World Wars. He was nicknamed "Tom Thumb", due to his short stature. He is best known for his command of Force Z during the Japanese invasion of Malaya, where he went down with his flagship, the battleship HMS Prince of Wales. Phillips was one of the highest ranking Allied officers killed in battle during the Second World War.^[A]

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