Osmond James Prentis

Commander Osmond James Prentis (17 July, 1874 – 28 April, 1915) was an officer in the Royal Navy who commanded twenty different ships. He died in command of Wolverine at the Dardanelles, aged forty.

Life & Career

Prentis gained five months time on passing out of Britannia. He spoke some French and earned consistently positive evaluations throughout his naval career.

Prentis was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1897.

Prentis was appointed in command of either Welland or Mallard on 31 July, 1904 – the ship's name is not clear in his service record.

Prentis was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1908.

Prentis was appointed in command of the destroyer Mallard on 20 February, 1913.

On 1 April, 1913, Prentis was appointed in command of the destroyer Garry.

On 20 November, 1913, he was appointed in command of the Beagle Class destroyer Wolverine.

In April 1914, Admiral Milne noted the "able manner in which this offr. carried out duties of Senr. offr. of Mediterranean Destroyer Flotilla from April 1913."

Great War

Prentis remained in Wolverine in the Mediterranean. On 9 March, 1915 Prentis lent whalers to help bring men off the shore after landing operations.

While Wolverine was working as a high speed minesweeper in the Dardanelles area on 28 April, 1915, Commander Prentis was killed by a shell which struck her bridge.

He was gazetted on 16 August, 1915 for his work in support of landings on 25/6 April in which he "[c]arried out minesweeping operations inside Dardanelles in most satis manner, frequently under heavy fire."

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Wyndham L. Bamber	Captain of H.M.S. Zebra 19 Jun, 1903 – 2 Nov, 1903	Succeeded by Osmond J. Prentis
Preceded by Archibald C. Goolden	Captain of H.M.S. Dove 3 Nov, 1903 – 26 Nov, 1903	Succeeded by Anselan J. B. Stirling
Preceded by Osmond J. Prentis	Captain of H.M.S. Zebra 27 Nov, 1903 – 13 Feb, 1904	Succeeded by Walter G. Jones
Preceded by Roger J. B. Keyes	Captain of H.M.S. Peterel 13 Feb, 1904 – 19 Apr, 1904	Succeeded by The Hon. Arthur Stopford
Preceded by Evan C. Bunbury	Captain of H.M.S. Rocket 19 Apr, 1904 – 20 May, 1904	Succeeded by Michael Barne
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Welland 31 Jul, 1904 – 13 Sep, 1904	Succeeded by Wilmot S. Nicholson
Preceded by Vernon F. Tuson	Captain of H.M.S. Mallard 31 Jul, 1904 – 13 Sep, 1904	Succeeded by Ernest L. C. Muntz
Preceded by The Hon. Arthur Stopford	Captain of H.M.S. Peterel 13 Sep, 1904 – 1 Nov, 1904	Succeeded by Arthur Bromley
Preceded by William W. Wilson	Captain of H.M.S. Derwent 17 Jan, 1905 – 5 Jan, 1906	Succeeded by George P. England
Preceded by George P. England	Captain of H.M.S. Vixen 5 Jan, 1906 – 23 Jan, 1906	Succeeded by William Cadman
Preceded by Robert C. Hocking	Captain of H.M.S. Ness 27 Mar, 1906 – 1 Apr, 1906	Succeeded by George P. Leith
Preceded by John Reep	Captain of H.M.S. Spitfire 1 Apr, 1906 – 28 May, 1906	Succeeded by William F. Benwell
Preceded by Walter L. Allen	Captain of H.M.S. Leopard 28 May, 1906 – 30 Jul, 1906	Succeeded by Francis A. W. Buller
Preceded by Basil G. Washington	Captain of H.M.S. Seal 30 Jul, 1906 – 7 Oct, 1907	Succeeded by Harold V. Dundas
Preceded by Harold V. Dundas	Captain of H.M.S. Locust 7 Oct, 1907 – 12 Mar, 1908	Succeeded by Berwick Curtis
Preceded by James R. P. Hawksley	Captain of H.M.S. Ure 12 Mar, 1908 – 25 Jan, 1909	Succeeded by Lionel J. G. Anderson
Preceded by Gerald C. Dickens	Captain of H.M.S. Foam Nov, 1911	Succeeded by Seymour F. Rowe
Preceded by Henry W. Osburn	Captain of H.M.S. Mallard 20 Feb, 1913 – 1 Apr, 1913	Succeeded by George F. A. Mulock
Preceded by Henry W. Osburn	Captain of H.M.S. Garry 1 Apr, 1913 – Nov, 1913	Succeeded by Graham R. L. Edwards
Preceded by Graham R. L. Edwards	Captain of H.M.S. Wolverine 20 Nov, 1913 – 28 Apr, 1915	Succeeded by Adrian St. V. Keyes