Arthur Craig Waller

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Vice-Admiral Arthur Craig Waller, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (18 June, 1872 – 21 February, 1943) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born Arthur William Craig, the son of the Very Rev. Dean Craig of Clonmacnois.

Craig was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 18 June, 1891. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 18 June, 1892.[1]

On 18 October, 1898, he was informed of Their Lordships' displeasure at his having lost a Gunnery Manual.[2]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 31 December, 1902.[3]

In 1905, while appointed to Excellent for experimental work, he was impressing his superior officers with his ideas in night firing and torpedo boat attack. He also invented range transmitters and indicators.[4]

On 30 June, 1908, Craig was promoted to the rank of Captain.[5]

He was appointed in command of the battleship Albemarle on 29 December, 1913.[6]

Great War

He got off to a rocky start with Orion by sinking an admiral's barge and picket boat on 30 November, 1914. He was encouraged to be more careful in future when mooring boats at the boom.[7]

He commanded the super-dreadnought Barham from her commissioning in mid-1915 through to April, 1918. The ship was flagship of the Fifth Battle Squadron at the Battle of Jutland.[8]

On 15 September 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[9]

Post-War

On 4 January 1919, Vice-Admiral Sir H. F. Oliver reported that Craig's "character is the very combination of brilliant mental ability with the soundest commonsense and great tact. Has great self-control, excellent judgment; and is broadminded and well informed - and will fill any high command afloat or important post on shore which he may succeed to in the future, with credit and success. Commands the respect and liking of officers and men, and is a good leader. Renown while under his command was very efficient and well organized, and an excellent feeling existed among all ranks." [10]

On 1 February, 1919, Craig was appointed President of the Ordnance Committee.[11] He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 3 November, 1919, vice Hayes-Sadler.[12]

Craig changed his name by Royal License dated 26 February, 1921, pursuant to a direction in the will dated 11 April, 1917 of Edmond Noble Waller of Allenstown, County Meath.

Craig Waller was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 15 March, 1922,[13] and promoted to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 18 January, 1925.[14] He offered his services in 1939 and reported that he was working with A.R.P.. He was not called upon for naval service.

Personal Life

Craig married Ella Mart in 1910. They had two sons. He was a member of the United Service Club.

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Vice-Admiral A. W. Craig Waller" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 24 February, 1943. Issue 49478, col E, p. 7.
  • Waller, Vice-Admiral A. Craig, C.B. (November, 1935). "The Fifth Battle Squadron at Jutland". The Journal of the Royal United Service Institution Vol. LXXX (520): pp. 791–799.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Frederick C. A. Ogilvy 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 75
21 Jul, 1892[15] – 9 Aug, 1892[16] 		Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
James C. Tancred 		Captain of H.M.S. Pelorus
1 Jan, 1908[17] – 23 Apr, 1909[18] 		Succeeded by
Richard G. A. W. Stapleton-Cotton
Preceded by
Frederick C. T. Tudor 		Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance
22 May, 1909[19] – 22 Nov, 1911[20] 		Succeeded by
James C. Ley
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Orion
9 Sep, 1911[21] – 28 Oct, 1913[22][23] 		Succeeded by
Frederic C. Dreyer
Preceded by
The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell 		Captain of H.M.S. Albemarle
29 Dec, 1913[24] – Jun, 1915[Inference] 		Succeeded by
Raymond A. Nugent
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Barham
24 Jun, 1915[25] – Apr, 1918[26] 		Succeeded by
Henry T. Buller
Preceded by
Michael H. Hodges 		Captain of H.M.S. Renown
17 Apr, 1918[27] – 14 Jan, 1919 		Succeeded by
Ernest A. Taylor
Preceded by
Sir Charles F. Hadden
as President of the Ordnance Board 		President of the Ordnance Committee
1 Feb, 1919[28] – 1 Feb, 1920[29] 		Succeeded by
Edward M. Phillpotts

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26356. p. 7551. 23 December, 1892.
  2. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
  4. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28151. p. 4644. 26 June, 1908.
  6. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 271.
  7. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  8. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
  10. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/89. f. 40.
  11. ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 15 January, 1919. Issue 41998, col D, p. 3.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31632. p. 13545. 7 November, 1919.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32653. p. 2517. 28 March, 1922.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33015. p. 591. 27 January, 1925.
  15. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  16. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  17. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  18. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  19. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  20. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  21. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  22. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1913). p. 351.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396h.
  24. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 391e.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 391p.
  26. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  27. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 891.
  28. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.
  29. ↑ Waller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 207.

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