Reginald Arthur Allenby

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Admiral Reginald Arthur Allenby, D.S.O., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (4 September, 1861 – 18 March, 1936) was an officer of the Royal Navy in the period up to and during the First World War.

Life & Career

Reginald Arthur Allenby was born in Halford, Worcestershire on 4 September, 1861, the eldest son of Major Robert Allenby, landowner and a magistrate in the West Riding of the County of York.

He entered the Royal Navy and was appointed to the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth on 15 January, 1875, having scored 592 marks, placing him 28th out of thirty-two in order of merit on entry. He passed out of Britannia on 21 December, 1876, having gained nine months' out of twelve towards promotion.

From early 1877 to May 1879, he served in Shah and Volage (perhaps taking part in the Battle of Pacocha on 29 May, 1877) before moving to the Newcastle for almost a year, where he was deemed "promising". He next served in Northumberland and Duke of Wellington of the Channel Squadron before going to Excellent for examinations.[1]

Allenby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1884.[2]

After spending a little over three years in command of the composite screw sloop Wanderer, Allenby was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1897.[3]

Captain

On 31 December, 1902, Allenby was promoted to the rank of Captain.[4] He was appointed to President, additional, for service at the Admiralty on 21 May, 1903, and on 16 June was appointed Naval Attaché to Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. On the occasion of the King's visit to Copenhagen he was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 18 April, 1904.[5]

Superseded as Naval Attache on 9 February, 1906, he was appointed in command of the battleship Centurion on 19 February.[6] On 6 March he was lent to the War Course, where he was rated First Class and "Good."[7]

He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Argyll on 12 March, 1907, being superseded in her on 24 March, 1909. He took command of the battleship Formidable on 20 April, and was superseded in command on 4 April, 1911. He was then appointed Captain of the dreadnought battleship Temeraire on 12 August.[8]

Flag Rank

Allenby was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 20 March, 1913, vice Pelham.[9] He was superseded in command of Temeraire on 5 April, and on 18 August was appointed to a Signal Course.[10] He attended the Royal Naval War College at Portsmouth from 8 September to 19 December, and was placed second out of three flag officers in order of merit. The President, Vice-Admiral The Honourable Sir Alexander E. Bethell, commented that "He has done very well."[11] From 2 February to 13 March, 1914, he took Gunnery and Torpedo Courses.[12]

Great War

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, Allenby was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 18 February, 1915.[13] On 11 April he was appointed temporary Lieutenant-Colonel as an Assistant Embarkation Staff Officer.[14]

Allenby was appointed as Principal Naval Transport Officer, Egypt on 2 February, 1916 and assumed his duties on 25 February. On 9 July, he reported that he had had to go to hospital for observation, but he was back on duty on 15 July. He continued to serve as P.N.T.O., Egypt until 22 February, 1917 and was sent home, arriving on 3 March, 1917.[15]

Special service on the books of President occupied him until July, 1917 when he was to hoist his flag in the commissioned escort ship Quernmore, but she was sunk by U 82 northwest of Ireland on 31 July, thankfully with the loss of just one man.[16]

Allenby was appointed to the newly-commissioned escort ship Wyncote from 8 September 1917 until March, 1918.[17]

On 1 January, 1918, he was appointed a companion of the Distinguished Service Order.[18] He was advanced to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 20 January, 1918,[19] and to Admiral on the Retired List on 5 July, 1921.[20]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Allenby" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 20 March, 1936. Issue 47328, col B, p. 16.

Papers

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Frederick W. Loane 		Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer
1 Nov, 1893[21] – 1 Jan, 1897[22] 		Succeeded by
William H. Eyre
Preceded by
? 		Royal Navy Naval Attaché to Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands
16 Jun, 1903[23] – 9 Feb, 1906[24] 		Succeeded by
Philip W. Dumas
Preceded by
Frederick St. G. Rich 		Captain of H.M.S. Centurion
19 Feb, 1906[25] – 12 Mar, 1907[26] 		Succeeded by
Hugh H. D. Tothill
Preceded by
Charles E. Anson 		Captain of H.M.S. Argyll
12 Mar, 1907[27][28] – 24 Mar, 1909[29] 		Succeeded by
Cecil F. Lambert
Preceded by
Herbert Lyon 		Captain of H.M.S. Formidable
20 Apr, 1909[30][31] – 4 Apr, 1911[32] 		Succeeded by
Philip Nelson-Ward
Preceded by
Arthur H. Christian 		Captain of H.M.S. Temeraire
12 Aug, 1911[33][34] – 5 Apr, 1913[35] 		Succeeded by
Cresswell J. Eyres
Preceded by
Henry R. Robinson 		Principal Naval Transport Officer, Egypt
2 Feb, 1916[36] – 22 Feb, 1917[37] 		Succeeded by
Edward Unwin

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25429. p. 27. 2 January, 1885.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26809. p. 4. 1 January, 1897.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 3. 2 January, 1903.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27669. p. 2581. 22 April, 1904.
  6. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  7. ↑ ADM 203/99. f. 9.
  8. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28703. p. 2160. 21 March, 1913.
  10. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  11. ↑ ADM 203/99. f. 55.
  12. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29084. p. 1978. 26 February, 1915.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29124. p. 3554. 10 April, 1915.
  15. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  16. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  17. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30451. p. 86. 1 January, 1918.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30522. p. 1946. 12 February, 1918.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32394. p. 5733. 19 July, 1921.
  21. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  22. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  23. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  24. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  25. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42 f. 47.
  26. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42 f. 47.
  27. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 279.
  28. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  29. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42 f. 47.
  30. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 318.
  31. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  32. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42 f. 47.
  33. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  34. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 383.
  35. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42 f. 47.
  36. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.
  37. ↑ Allenby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 47.

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