Donald Carey Brock

Commander Donald Carey Brock, C.B.E., R.N., Retired (5 July, 1891 – 29 July, 1970) was an officer in the Royal Navy in both World Wars.

This article contains much information provided to me by his daughter Elizabeth. Her effort extended to a very complete reading of his Service Record. Her work is quoted in some detail below.

Life & Career

Brock was born in Otterbourne, Hampshire, England on 5 July 1891, the sixth child of Henry Walter (who was a Clerk in Holy Orders) and Amy Gabrielle Brock. He moved to Guernsey, Channel Islands as a baby when his father became Rector of the church of St. Pierre du Bois in 1892.

Brock joined the at age twelve.

On 15 May, 1912, Brock was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant.

Brock was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 May, 1914. At the outbreak of war, he was serving in H.M.S. Triumph on the staff of Commodore, Hong Kong. He was intermittently loaned to Virago, but was back in Triumph when she was sunk on 25 May, 1915. He then went to sea in the newly completed destroyer Melpomene.

In August 1918, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Teviot.

Post-War

Brock was appointed in command of the destroyer Midge on 15 November, 1918.

On 8 July 1919 he was awarded the O.B.E. for valuable services as Flag Lieutenant to Vice Admiral Stuart Nicholson, C.B., M.V.O., Commander East Coast of England Station.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Umpire on 23 October, 1919.

Brock was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 May, 1922.

Brock was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 23 November, 1931.

World War II

On 10 October 1939 he was appointed to work as D.S.T.O. of a French ports with the tempoarry rank of Captain, vice Bolster.

On 4 October 1940 he was Mentioned in Despatches for "good services in directing Sea Transport" as a result of the evacuations from St. Nazaire, France. Commodore Second Class Donald Carey Brock is recorded in the London Gazette of 17 December 1943 as being awarded the CBE on 21 December "for distinguished service in the planning and execution of operations which led to the capture of Sicily by Allied Forces."

Brock died at age 79 in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

See Also

• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John E. Phayre	Captain of H.M.S. Teviot 10 Aug, 1918 – 19 Aug, 1918	Succeeded by Patrick E. Fell
Preceded by David L. Cowan	Captain of H.M.S. Midge 15 Nov, 1918 – 11 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Edward S. F. Fegen
Preceded by Ivo W. L. Frewen-Laton	Captain of H.M.S. Menace 11 Feb, 1919 – 26 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Harold O. Joyce
Preceded by Gerald N. Jones	Captain of H.M. T.B. 21 26 Mar, 1919 – 23 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Kenneth F. Sworder	Captain of H.M.S. Umpire 23 Oct, 1919 – 13 Jan, 1921	Succeeded by Thomas A. Jolliffe
Preceded by Philip J. Mack	Captain of H.M.S. Tuscan 4 Dec, 1923 – 19 Aug, 1924	Succeeded by Irvine G. Glennie
Preceded by Peter McClelland	Captain of H.M.S. Wrestler 19 Aug, 1924 – 4 Mar, 1925	Succeeded by Reginald W. Lawrence
Preceded by Colin S. Thomson	Captain of H.M.S. Winchelsea 2 Mar, 1925 – Aug, 1927	Succeeded by Gerald R. Cousins
Preceded by Frank Elliott	Captain of H.M.S. Mackay 20 Feb, 1928 – 21 Jan, 1929	Succeeded by John H. K. Clegg