Post War
After the Japanese surrender, Vian returned finally to the UK and became Fifth Sea Lord in charge of naval aviation from 1946 until 1948, when he was promoted to Admiral. His final appointment was Commander in Chief, Home Fleet (in HMS Vanguard) until his retirement in 1952. He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1952 New Year Honours. on 1 June 1952 he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet, an unusual recognition for an officer who had not reached the pinnacle of the Royal Navy.
He was Mentioned in Despatches five times, and received several foreign awards.
In retirement, Vian became a director of the Midland Bank and the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company. He also published his memoirs, Action this day, in 1960.
Philip Vian died on 27 May 1968 at his home at Ashford Hill, Hampshire near Newbury, Berkshire. He was buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, London.
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Famous quotes containing the words post and/or war:
“I can forgive even that wrong of wrongs,
Those undreamt accidents that have made me
Seeing that Fame has perished this long while,
Being but a part of ancient ceremony
Notorious, till all my priceless things
Are but a post the passing dogs defile.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“There is the guilt all soldiers feel for having broken the taboo against killing, a guilt as old as war itself. Add to this the soldier’s sense of shame for having fought in actions that resulted, indirectly or directly, in the deaths of civilians. Then pile on top of that an attitude of social opprobrium, an attitude that made the fighting man feel personally morally responsible for the war, and you get your proverbial walking time bomb.”
—Philip Caputo (b. 1941)