Richard Hylton

Known as Dick, he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in August 1945 “for gallantry and devotion to duty in operations which led to the clearance of the Aegean and the relief of Greece”.

He was commanding Motor Launch 1307, part of a special flotilla based in Alexandria, when he received an order to steam to Kalimnos “post haste” and relieve the island, accept the German surrender on behalf of His Majesty and escort the German command back to Alexandria.

This he did and in a letter to him dated August 22, 1945, the writer said: “I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that they have learned with great pleasure that on the advice of the First Lord, the King has been graciously pleased to award you the DSC.”

Richard Hylton, of Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, was born in Ayresome Terrace, Leeds, in 1919, the youngest of six children. His father, a builder and entrepreneur, died when his newly-born son was just a few months old, leaving the family with a small but successful chain of cinemas.

He attended Bridlington’s Boys School, a private school in Bridlington and later joined his brother, Gerry, in his accountancy practice, Armistead and Hylton. He later became an articled clerk to the company in Leeds.

He met his future wife Elaine Ernshaw (Billy) and they married after the war. He subsequently married Esme Beard.

Mr Hylton played for Roundhay RUFC for several seasons but broke his leg playing rugby in March 1939. In the summer of 1940, he joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. He sailed on a US destroyer on Atlantic convoy duties and then, as an Able Seaman, on a mine layer, based in Scotland.

He was then commissioned and volunteered for “special services”. He subsequently served as a Sub Lieutenant on Motor Launch 291 on convoy escort duty in the Channel from the spring of 1942 to the summer of 1943.

He was then despatched to commission Motor Launch 307 which joined a special flotilla based in Alexandria. Their task centred around the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Boat Service. They ferried these men into the occupied Aegean islands at night and later picked them up, having hidden during the day under camouflage netting.

His call to Kalimnos then came. He was later posted to Salonika where he was appointed Resident Naval Officer.

After the war, he returned to Armistead and Hylton where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

He was a first class sailor and returned many times to the Greek Islands, sailing yachts with members of his family.

He was President for many years of Romany, the nomadic cricket team who play all over Yorkshire.

Mr Hylton’s funeral was private.