Francis Spurstow Miller
Admiral Francis Spurstow Miller, C.B., R.N., Retired (25 November, 1863 – 6 February, 1954) was a gifted and zealous navigating officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
In September 1882, Sub-Lieutenant Miller had charge of a Gatling gun at Alexandria and Port Said.[1]
Miller's promotion to the rank of Lieutenant was dated 22 May, 1885.[2]
In July 1891, Miller was granted surveying pay for assisting Rambler in a survey of the northern part of Harrah Island. In September 1892, the Admiralty expressed its appreciation for his efforts to catalogue information about Lerwick Harbour in the Shetlands. Miller was awarded the Shadwell Testimonial for 1896 for drawing up a plan of Portrush Harbour.[3][4]
Miller was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1897.[5]
Captain
Miller was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1903.[6]
He was appointed to command Hawke on 9 July.[7]
In 1903, Miller helped prepare a helpful pamphlet on the Mooring Board and the Battenberg Course Indicator. In July 1904 the Admiralty thanked him for preparing a handbook on navigational subjects.[8]
Miller was appointed in command of Sutlej in May 1906.
He was appointed to command the battleship Goliath on 4 December, 1907.[9]
On 8 August, 1909, he was appointed in some capacity to the Hydrographic Department, remaining there until 10 December, 1912.[10]
He was appointed to command the pre-dreadnought Duncan in December 1912.
Miller was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 14 October, 1913.[11]
Great War
On 8 August, 1914, Miller was appointed Rear-Admiral at Scapa Flow.[12]
On 18 May, 1917 Miller was appointed to take charge of the northern division of the naval command in Ireland, taking pressure off the leadership in Queenstown.[13] Miller was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 September, 1918.[14] His title at the close of hostilities was Vice-Admiral, Buncrana, and in charge of the Northern Division of the Irish Command.[15]
Post-War
Miller 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.) on 1 January, 1919.[16]
He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 29 January, 1920.[17] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 June, 1922.[18]
Bibliography
- "Admiral F. S. Miller" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 8 February, 1954. Issue 52850, col E, p. 8.
- Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/20.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Arthur J. Horsley |
Captain of H.M.S. Hawke 9 Jul, 1905[19][20] – 15 May, 1906[21] |
Succeeded by William L. Grant |
| Preceded by William L. Grant |
Captain of H.M.S. Sutlej 15 May, 1906[22] – 19 Sep, 1907[23] |
Succeeded by Evelyn R. Le Marchant |
| Preceded by Robert H. Johnston Stewart |
Captain of H.M.S. Goliath 4 Dec, 1907[24] – 20 Apr, 1909[25] |
Succeeded by Cecil H. France-Hayhurst |
| Preceded by Francis W. Kennedy |
Captain of H.M.S. Duncan 11 Dec, 1912[26] – 7 Nov, 1913[27] |
Succeeded by Frederic A. Whitehead |
| Preceded by New Command |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Scapa 8 Aug, 1914[28] – 7 May, 1916[29] |
Succeeded by Robert J. Prendergast |
Footnotes
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25545. p. 7. 1 January, 1886.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 16.
- ↑ Hampshire Telegraph and Naval Chronicle (Portsmouth, England), 6 Feb 1897, p. 8.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27572. p. 4187. 3 July, 1903.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 28 June, 1905. Issue 37745, col F, p. 12.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 16.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 321.
- ↑ Legibility problems in two service records, e.g., Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 492.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28768. p. 7521. 28 October, 1913.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 4.
- ↑ Newbolt. Naval Operations. V. p. 35.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30887. p. 10549. 6 September, 1918.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 3.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31099. p. 106. 1 January, 1919.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189. 24 February, 1920.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32719. p. 4474. 13 June, 1922.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 324.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 28 June, 1905. Issue 37745, col F, p. 12.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 321.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 305.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 4.
- ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
