David Wainwright

Lieutenant-Commander (retired) David Wainwright, A.M. (9 September, 1894 – c. 28 March, 1939) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of G. E. Wainwright, a clerk in the servie of the Local Government Board.

Wainwright served in H.M.S. Colossus from mid-January 1912 to mid-December, 1914.

Though he had requested training in submarines, Wainwright fought in the Battle of Jutland in the "M" Class destroyer H.M.S. Nomad, and was taken prisoner by the Germans following her loss in the action.

Wainwright was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 July, 1916 while interned in Germany.

Following his repatriation after the war, Wainwright was appointed to the minesweeper Penarth on 31 December, 1918. He would be awarded the Albert Medal for his efforts to save life on the occasion of her loss to a mine on 4 February, 1919.

On 12 January, 1920, Wainwright was appointed additional to the first class protected cruiser Gibraltar for command of the trawler Thomas Jarvis, which command he held until May. He was placed on the Retired List with a gratuity on 11 June, 1920 (or 1921?).

Wainwright was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander (retired) on 30 July, 1924.

Wainwright disappeared from a hotel in Portland on 28 March, 1939 after attending a minesweeping course at H.M.S. Hebe. He was discovered, drowned, on a nearby beach on 19 June.

See Also

• Service Records
• R.N. Account of his Albert Medal
• Account of his life at TheAuxiliaries.com

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Ernest M. Fall	Captain of H.M.S. Irvine 1 Jun, 1919 – 24 Sep, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by William Smalley	Captain of H.M.S. Harpenden 20 Oct, 1919 – Dec, 1919	Succeeded by William C. Buttenshaw
Preceded by Gerald Loe	Captain of H.M.S. Holderness 1 Dec, 1919 – 12 Jan, 1920	Succeeded by ?