Naval Personalities

This page contain RN biographies.

Dawson, Assistant Engineer William, HMS Sybille

William Dawson was born at New Brompton, Kent in January 1876 and was appointed probationary Engineer in the Royal Navy in July 1896. Advanced to Assistant Engineer in July 1897, he served in HMS Sybille from Oct 1900 until she was wrecked in Lambert’s Bay on 16 January 1901, thereby becoming the only Royal Navy ship to be lost during the Boer War. However, unlike four of his fellow officers who were severely reprimanded at the subsequent court martial held onboard HMS Monarch at Simonstown, Dawson was actually commended by his captain for removing and saving the Sybille’s gun-bedplates-he had in fact been asleep when the ship struck the reef, but immediately went below and ordered the watertight doors to be shut in the port and starboard engine rooms. Commendably prompt, as these actions were, he still considered it dangerous for the engine room staff to remain because of the ship’s severe list to starboard and the resultant risk of the engines being lifted off their beds, in addition to which, there was a growing risk of steam escaping from fractured pipes. The subsequent order for the engine room staff to make for the upper deck was most likely, therefore, prompted by his swift and accurate report of such dangers to his senior – and may well have been responsible for avoiding loss of life.  By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was serving in the rank of Engineer Commander as the 1st Assistant to the Chief Engineer at Hong Kong Dockyard, where he had been employed since August 1911. In August 1915, however he returned to sea with an appointment in the cruiser HMS Blonde, in which he was commended for his services when she had to be re-floated in August 1916. Then in January 1918, he removed to the Thunderer, in which battleship he remained employed until July 1919, when he returned to Hong Kong to resume his pre-war duties at 1st Assistant at the Dockyard.  Placed on the retired list in the rank of Engineer Captain at his own request in January 1923, Dawson settled in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, where he died in July 1948.

QSA (0) (Asst. Eng, RN HMS Sybille), 1914-15 Star (Eng Commr, RN), BWM (Eng Commr, RN), Victory Medal (Eng Commr, RN).  DNW Mar 07.

Harris, Rear Admiral Sir Robert KCMG

Born in 1843, he entered the Navy as a Midshipman at age 13 in 1856.  Just prior to the Boer War, he was appointed to command the Cape Station in April 1898.  His responsibilities included making arrangements to support the army when the ware started and the defence of Cape Town.

Jones, Captain Edward P

Entered the Navy in 1863 and served in Egypt (1882) and Suakin (1884) as Lieutenant on HMS Carysfort.  Detached from HMS Forte, he served as gunnery officer and commanded the Naval Brigade in the relief of Ladysmith.

Lambton, Captain Honourable Hedworth, CB

He entered the RN in 1876 and served in the bombardment of Alexandria.  He was present with the Naval Brigade at Tel el Kebir in 1882 and through the war.  HMS Powerful collected half a battalion of the Yorkshire Light Infantry at Mauritius before arriving at Cape Town on 13 October 1899.  Lambton commanded the Naval Brigade of HMS Powerful throughout the siege of Ladysmith.  He later attained the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in March 1915 and was a Member of Parliament.  He was awarded the GCB and KCVO.  He died 20 Sep 29.

Born in 1856, and is son of the 2nd Earl of Durham. He entered the Royal Navy in 1870, and took part in the bombardment of Alexandria and the Egyptian War of 1882, receiving the medal and two clasps. In the early days of Boer War, Captain Lambton (as his rank then was) landed a naval brigade of 280 men from the Powerful at Durban, and proceeded to Iadvsmith, where he arrived on Oct 30, 1899, with two Maxims, four long naval 12-pounders, and two 45-pounders, the popular conviction being that the timely arrival of these guns and the fine marksmanship displayed by his men saved Ladysmith from falling into the hands of the Boer forces. Sir George White referred to Captain Lambton as "the life of the garrison throughout the siege". Admiral Lambton arrived back in England in May, 1900, and since 1901 commanded the King's yacht, until in November, 1904, he was appointed Rear Admiral of the Third Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean in succession to Sir Baldwin Walker. He is the youngest flag officer in the British Navy, and was promoted KCVO in 1906. 

Lecky, Sub Lieutenant H S, Royal Navy

Halton Stirling Lecky was Sub Lieutenant of Thrush and Widgeon during the Boer War, and served on both vessels on the Delagoa Bay Blockade.  He was awarded the Albert Medal (2nd class) on 28 June 1901; the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society on 15 July 1901; and Lloyds Silver Medal on 10 August 1901, all awarded for his bravery as described in the following extract from The Gazette:  'On August 25th, 1900, HMS Widgeon was anchored in Kosi Bay, fifty miles south of Delagoa Bay, in order to land stores and troops.  The work of disembarkation was carried out by four boats manned by Malays under the superintendence of Sub Lieutenant Lecky, who had been sent onshore for the purpose.  Heavy breakers in lines of three to five, according to the tide rolling in about fifty yards apart, made the work very risky.  One boat loaded with stores and with Second Lieutenant Arnold Gray, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, Trooper Frederick Trethowen, Steinacker's Horse, and Private J H Forbes, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, on board, capsized about three hundred yards from the shore.  The five Malays forming the boat's crew, and Private Forbes by dint of hard swimming, with the assistance of the boat's oars, managed to reach the land after severe buffeting from the heavy seas.  Lieutenant Gray was unable to swim, but with Trooper Trethowen, clung to the boat, which drifted slowly keel upwards in a northerly direction almost parallel with the shore, carried by the set of a strong current.  Huge breakers continually swept over the boat, and the men had great difficulty in retaining their hold.  Sharks were observed near the boat before and after the accident.  The boat was now about one hundred and fifty yards from the shore.  Sub Lieutenant Lecky, seeing the critical position the two men were in, tore off his clothes and, plunging into the surf, endeavoured to swim to their assistance.  He was twice thrown back on the beach by the heavy seas, but afterwards succeeded in bringing first Lieutenant Gray and then the other safe to shore.  The rescued men were quite unconscious, having been nearly thirty minutes in the water.  Sub Lieutenant Lecky and his servant, Private Borting, RMLI then applied the usual methods for restoring animation, and both men eventually recovered consciousness, Lieutenant Gray after a lapse of two and a half hours.'  Lecky was subsequently Sub Lieutenant of Doris (medal and clasp); was in command of torpedo-boat No 29 on the occasion of the burial at sea, by her own request, of Miss Mary Kingsley.  He was responsible for the organisation of the Shetland Islands for war, 1913-14; Minesweeping on the East Coast, 1914.  Lecky created the Auxiliary Patrol Service of 3000 vessels and necessary personnel against enemy submarines, 1914-16 (awarded CB); Naval Assistant to the Fourth Sea Lord, 1915-16; commanded the light cruisers Southampton and Birmingham in the North Sea, 1916-17; Assistant to Naval Secretary to First Lord of the Admiralty, 1917-18; engaged on miscellaneous service in the Aegean blockade of the Dardanelles, occupation of Constantinople etc, 1918; mentioned in despatches and awarded the Order of the Redeemer (Greece) and Legion of Honour (France) for duties in connection with the war operations of these navies in the Aegean.  In 1919 he organised the Mine Clearance Service and received the high appreciation of the Board of Admiralty; Commanded the RN Detention Barracks at Chatham, 1920-24, and was placed on the retired list in 1925.  Lecky was author of the well known work 'The Kings Ships' , 3 volumes 1913 and 1914, the final 3 volumes of which were suspended and never published owing to the outbreak of the War.

CB (c), Albert Medal For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea (2nd class), bronze and enamel, the reverse inscribed (Awarded by His Majesty to Lieutenant Halton Stirling Lecky, RN, in recognition of his gallantry in rescuing two soldiers from drowning at Kosi Bay on the 25th of August 1900), QSA (1) Natal (Sub-Lieut. RN, HMS Doris), 1914-15 Star (Commr, RN), BWM, VM with MID (Capt RN), Greece Order of the Redeemer 5th class breast badge, France Legion d'Honneur 5th class breast badge, Italy, Order of the Crown 4th class breast badge, Messina Earthquake 1908, Royal Humane Society silver medal (successful), (Sub Lieut RN, Aug. 25. 1900), Lloyds Medal for Saving Life at Sea (Lieut, RN. 25th August 1900), Mine Clearance Service badge and silver medal 'For Zeal' named (Comdr, RN, 2 9 16, CE, Granton Naval Base).  DNW Jun 94 £3,800.

Melvill, Commander Francis W, RN

He joined the Navy as a cadet in July, 1880. Whilst a midshipman of the Minotaur he saw service in the Egyptian War of 1882, receiving the Egyptian Medal and Khedive's Bronze Star. As Lieutenant of the Forte he served with the Natal Naval Brigade during the war in South Africa, being in charge of two 12-pounders. He was mentioned in despatches, and in November, 1900, was promoted to the rank of Commander for services during the war.  He lost his life at sea, presumably washed over board, on Oct 2. 1904.

Moore, Rear Admiral Arthur William

Arthur Moore	As Midshipman	As Lieutenant	As Captain
Frittenden	At Frittenden	At Portsmouth	At Simon's Bay
On Britannia	Britannia's cabin	HMS Bacchante at Aden	At Admiralty House
HMS Caesar	Admiral's barge	Viceroy of Nanking	C in C of the Naval review
Bath robes	As Admiral	HMS Victory flying Moore's flag	At Admiralty House
With his great nephews

Arthur William Moore was born 20 Jul 1847.  He joined the Royal Navy in 1860.  He was Commander of HMS Orion during the Egyptian War of 1882 and was present at the occupation of Ismailia.  After this he was placed in command of the naval flotilla on the Sweet Water Canal.  Present at the battle of Tel el Kebir and promoted for these services.  One of the representatives of England at the Anti-Slavery Congress assembled at Brussels, November 1889.  CMG for services rendered in connection with the defence of Australasia January 1892.  He become Captain in 1884 and Rear Admiral in 1899 and Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station 1901-4.  KCB 1902. He was an ADC to Queen Victoria from 1895-9 and Commander-in-Chief China Station 1906-8, and Commander-in-Chief Portsmouth 1911-12 for the Coronation Review.  He retired in 1912 and died on the 3 April 1934.

Arthur William Moore was one of the large number of ‘rectory admirals’, his father being the Rev. Edward Moore, honorary canon of Canterbury, and Rector of Frightened, Kent, while his great-grandfather was John Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1783-1805. The Admiral’s mother was a daughter of the fourth Duke of Buccleuch. Born on 30 July 1847 Sir Arthur entered the Navy as a Cadet in December 1860, became a Lieutenant in May 1870 and a year later was appointed to the frigate Glasgow, Flagship of the Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies. While in her he was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society for gallantry in rescuing an Ordinary Seaman of the ship who fell overboard. In February 1877 he became First Lieutenant of the corvette Charybdis in China. Having ben transferred in January 1881 to the battleship Invincible, in the Mediterranean, he was promoted Commander out of her in December of the same year. Six months later he joined the ORION, armour plated corvette, of which he was Commander during the Egyptian war. He was present at the occupation of Ismailia, and was afterwards in Command of the Naval Flotilla on the Sweet Water Canal, which was organised for the transport of stores to the front and for the conveyance of sick and wounded to the base. He was also present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir. His Egyptian services, in addition to the medal and clasp for Tel-el-Kebir, the Khedive's bronze star, and the third Class of the Medjidie, brought him early promotion to Captain on 27 June 1884. His first service after promotion was as Flag Captain in the BACCHANTE (the ship in which King George and his brother sailed round the world as Cadets) to Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Richards, Commander in Chief in the East Indies where he was for three years from April 1885. After Commanding the small cruiser Medea in the Naval manoeuvres of 1889 he was sent as one of the British representatives to the Anti-Slavery Congress which met in November of that year at Brussels. For this duty he was qualified by his experience of the slave traffic on the east coast of Africa. In 1890-91 he served as a member of the Australian Defence Commission, and on the completion of this duty was made a CMG. The rest of his Captain’s time was occupied by sea service in Command of the Dreadnought in the Mediterranean, and by the Command of the Cadet’s training ship Britannia at Dartmouth. His term in the latter was marked by some drastic reforms, chiefly disciplinary, and he inaugurated the system whereby each Lieutenant of the ship had special charge of a team of Cadets from the entry until they passed out, acting as their instructor, monitor, and ‘sea daddy’ during the whole period of their time on board. The plan worked so well that it was remarkable it was never thought of before.  After leaving the Britannia Captain Moore went to the Admiralty as Fourth Sea Lord where he served from 1898 to 1901, being promoted meanwhile to Rear Admiral on 13 January 1899. He was afterwards selected to succeed Sir Robert Harris as Commander-in-Chief at the Cape, his appointment being dated 11 February 1901. He took out from England the cruiser Gibraltar as his flagship, and was actively concerned in the concluding phases of the South Africa War. Lord Kitchener wrote in his despatches: ‘I am greatly indebted to Admiral Moore for the kind manner in which he has always endeavoured to meet the requirements of the Army in the field’. At the Diamond Jubilee of 1897 he was made CB; he was promoted to KCB, with effect from 26 June 1902. Having become a Vice Admiral, he was appointed in May 1905, as Second in Command to Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson in the Channel Fleet, with his Flag in the battleship Caesar, and on the occasion of the visit to Portsmouth of the French squadron in August 1905 he was created a KCVO, by King Edward VII. In March 1906 he became Commander-in-Chief in China, but after his promotion to Admiral on 10 October 1907, he was relieved. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, from March 1911 to July 1912, when he was retired for age. His period coincided with the Coronation festivities, and he hoisted his Flag in the battleship Lord Nelson as Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet assembled for review by King George V when there were 165 war vessels at Spithead, in addition to 18 foreign warships. In the Coronation Honours List Sir Arthur was promoted to GCB, and after the Review of the Fleet on 24 June 1911 King George V promoted him to GCVO. Sir Arthur Moore was a fine seaman, whole-hearted in his profession, and although he did not specialise in any particular branch, he was a gifted leader and a capable administrator. Had circumstances been other than they were he would have made a very good First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, for which office he was at one time mentioned as a likely successor to Lord Fisher. As it was he held some of the highest posts in the Navy, and of his four Commands as a Flag Officer, three were as Commander-in-Chief. He died on 3 April 1934, aged 85 years, and by his own wish the news of his death was not published until after the funeral. Admiral Moore was awarded the following foreign Orders on the occasion of the Channel Fleet’s visit to the respective countries during 1905: Knight Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of St Olaf, Knight Grand Cross of the Dutch Order of Orange of Nassau, and Knight Grand Cross of the Danish Order of Dannebrog. On the occasion of the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead in 1911 he was conferred by the President of Chile with the Medal ‘Al Merito’.

GCB, GCVO, CMG, 1897 Jubilee, 1911 Coronation, Egypt (1) Tel-El-Kebir (Comdr. A W Moore, RN, HMS Orion), QSA (0) (Rear Adml A W Moore, CB, CMG, RN HMS Gibraltar), Khedive’s Star 1882, Order of the Medjidie, 3rd class neck badge, Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (Successful) (Lieut. A. W. Moore RN HMS “Glasgow” 7 Oct. 1874).  DNW Feb 97 £3,100.

Myburgh, Robert Wilberforce, RN

Born at Queen’s Gate Gardens, South Kensington, London on 23 July 1873. He joined the Training Ship Britannia as a Naval Cadet on 15 January 1887 aged 13. On passing out of Britannia he gained six months seniority and was promoted to Midshipman on 15 July 1889. He was appointed to the 3rd Class Battleship Agincourt, Flag-ship of the Channel Squadron, Rear Admiral d’Arcy Irvine CB, in December 1888. He transferred to the 1st Class Battleship Anson also serving with the Channel Squadron in May 1889. He was next appointed in December 1889 to the 1st class Cruiser Imperieuse, China Station. After serving only four months in this ship he was transferred in June 1891 to the 1st Class Cruiser Aurora, Channel Squadron. Following two years aboard this ship he joined in July 1902 the Narsissus 1st Class Cruiser in the same Squadron. Later in the same month he joined Active, 2nd Class Cruiser in the Training Squadron. On promotion to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 15 July 1893 he attended the Royal Naval College at Excellent for a Course of Study. On passing out he obtained 2nd Class Certificates in Torpedo, Gunnery and Pilotage and 3rd Class Certificates in Seamanship and College, and was confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant.  In August 1894 he joined the 1st Class Cruiser Blenheim, Channel Squadron and on leaving this ship in April 1895 he was appointed to the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Ardent, Mediterranean Station. Whilst in this ship he was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 October 1895 and then transferred to the Special Torpedo Vessel Polyphemos serving on the same station. In May 1897 he joined Excellent for a short Gunnery Course and on passing out he obtained a 1st Class Certificate. Next appointed in November 1897 to Doris, 2nd Class Cruiser and Flag Ship Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station, Vice Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, KCB. In 1900 he was lent to Tartar, service on shore whilst attached to this ship earned him entitlement to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasp ‘Cape Colony’. Aboard Tartar 4 officers and 39 other ranks received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the Cape Colony clasp. In January 1902 he was appointed to Excellent for a Torpedo Course and obtained a 1st Class Certificate. Shortly after joining Conflict in January 1902 the ship was in collision with Starfish on 3 February 1902, the Court of Enquiry found that he displayed want of judgement and in particular was lacking in nerve and decision and ruled that he be superseded. He next spent short periods aboard the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Fawn April 1902, the 1st Class Battleship Benbow April 1903, and the 1st Class Battleship Russel, Home Fleet April 1904. He was appointed in June 1904 as 1st Lieutenant of the 2nd Class Cruiser Dido, Home Fleet. In 1905 he was awarded a Testimonial on vellum from the Royal Humane Society for saving a seaman from drowning at Lamlash on 23 September 1904. In April 1905 he joined Goliath on the China Station as 1st Lieutenant. After 2 years in this ship he was appointed in January 1908 to the Command of the 1st Class Torpedo Gun Boat Speedy and continued to serve in this ship until promoted to Commander on 31 December 1908. During 1909 he underwent a Signal Course at Portsmouth and the War Course at Greenwich where he obtained a 2nd Class Certificate. He was then given the Command of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Star, Home Fleet in February 1910, followed in August 1910 by the Command of Albacore.  In the collision between Albacore and Spiteful in Portsmouth Harbour in May 1911 the Court of Enquiry found that sole blame was attached to him for not asking for assistance when the steam steering gear failed when approaching a difficult berth in strong winds and a flood tide and that he be strongly reprimanded. In July 1911 he took Command of the Battleship Hood, Flag-ship of Rear Admiral Sir Charles Coke, KCVO, Deputy to the Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves. His next appointment in January 1913 was to the 1st class Cruiser Endymion Gunnery Training Ship Sheerness and for Special Service in Command of Torpedo Boat Flotilla. In December 1913 he was posted to the Command of the Light Cruiser Colleen and for Special Duties in Command of the Torpedo Boat Flotilla based at Queenstown. He remained in this posting until July 1915 when he was superseded on appointment to Tamar for Duties in Hong Kong Dockyard. He returned to England in April 1919 and joined Vivid early in 1920. In February 1921 he attended the Intelligence Course at Greenwich and at his own request was placed on the Retired List with the rank of Captain on 5 June 1921. Captain Myburgh died on 8 February 1963 at the age of 89.

QSA (1) CC (Lt HMS Doris), 14-15 Star (Commr RN), BWM, VM (Commr RN).  DNW Jun 00 £260.  DNW Jun 05 £480.

Prothero, Captain R C

Entering the service in 1862, Prothero was promoted to Commander in 1889 and Captain on 1895.  He commanded the Naval Brigade of around 400 men of HMS Doris and HMS Monarch that was assigned to Lieutenant General Lord Methuen in the relief of Kimberley.  He fought at Belmont and was very involved in the battle of Graspan two days later.  At Graspan, the Brigade took considerable casualties including Prothero, who was seriously wounded.  Conan Doyle said 'Captain Prothero of the 'Doris' dropped while still yelling to his seamen to 'take that kopje and be hanged to it!'  He was a large and imposing man with a long beard who was known as 'Prothero the Bad'.

Scott, Captain Sir Percy M

Born in England in 1853, he joined the Royal Navy in 1866, and saw active service in the Ashanti War of 1873, the Congo and in Egypt.  He qualified on the Long Gunnery Course on HMS Excellent (the Gunnery School at Whale Island, Portsmouth) and was appointed captain there in April 1904.  As the so called 'father of modern gunnery', he introduced a faster loading technique and more accurate sighting which improved gunnery across the Navy.  His first command was HMS Scylla in 1898 and he used his gunnery expertise to make HMS Scylla the most efficient gunnery vessel in the fleet.  During the Boer War, as captain of HMS Terrible, he came to prominence by bringing Naval guns from Durban for the defence of Ladysmith.  He devised the wheels for 1 x 6" and 8 x 4.7" guns,  a platform for 5 x 4.7" guns, 1 x 4.7" and 2 searchlights on railway stock and 26 x 12 pounders on field mountings.  He used the searchlights to communicate with Ladysmith.  He was appointed military commandant of Durban to organise its defences when it was under threat and held this position until March 1900.  He sailed on 27 March 1900 for service in the Boxer Rebellion in China.  He attended the National Convention in South Africa by which time he had been promoted to Admiral and commanded a cruiser squadron.  During the Great War, he was in charge of the London air defences.  He received the KCB and KCVO.  He died in 1924.

Percy Scott and staff. The man of many parts, resourceful, inventive, and practical, Captain Percy Scott, of the "Terrible," lately commandant at Durban, is seated in the centre of this picture with his staff.  On his right is Major Bousfield, and on his left Mr Cullinan, RN, while standing behind, and taking them from left to right, are Mr Laycock, RN, Mr Brooke, of the Natal Police, Mr Alexander, Chief of Police at Durban, Captain Fraser, and Mr Blanchflower, RN.