Background
Hart was born 24 June 1913 in Southampton.
director merchant navy officer
Hart was born 24 June 1913 in Southampton.
He was educated at Oakmount Preparatory School, and later King Edward VI School, Southampton. In February 1941 he was recommended for bravery during loss of HMS Dainty. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this in December 1941.
In 1929, aged 16, he joined the Merchant Navy and in 1937 the Royal Navy. At the outbreak of the Second World War Hart was a Lieutenant on the destroyer HMS Hasty. In December 1942 Hart was appointed commander of destroyer HMS Vidette, assigned to B-7 Escort Group under command of Lieutenant Cdr.
PW Gretton.
In May 1943 during the defence of convoy ONS 5 Vidette destroyed two U-boats. Hart was later awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross. In June he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. in October while working as a support group B-7 assisted in the defence of convoys Ontario 206, Ontario 207 and Ontario 208. Nine U-boats were destroyed in total during these actions.
Vidette was credited with two, and Hart was Mentioned in Despatches.
In March 1944 he was given command of the destroyer HMS Havelock. In June they destroyed U-767 in the Channel.
In September 1944 Hart took command of frigate HMS Conn and 21 Escort Group. Conn was credited with two U-boats destroyed in March 1945, and Hart was later awarded the Defence Science Organisation.
After the end of hostilities Hart served in a number of sea-going and shore posts, culminating in the command of HMS Undine and of 6th Frigate Squadron in 1957.
He was promoted to Captain in 1953 and Commodore in 1960, before retiring in 1963.
Hart was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1963. After retirement from the Royal Navy Hart held several positions in the Merchant Navy, being advisor to B&C until 1972, then fleet manager of Cayzer Irvine "til 1976, during which time he was director of both companies. In 1974 Hart appeared in the documentary series The World at War, in the episode covering the Battle of the Atlantic.
Hart was credited with the destruction of seven U-boats in his war-time service.