Robert Peel Dennistoun Webster

Captain (retired) Robert Peel Dennistoun Webster, D.S.C., R.N. (29 November, 1887 – ) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Reverend J. M. Webster of Dumbartonshire.

In 1908 while serving in the second class protected cruiser Fox with the Home Fleet, he gained a second class certificate in Gunnery with 832/1000 marks and a third class in Torpedoes with 137/200 marks.

On 16 January, 1910, Webster successfully landed a party in the Persian Gulf to capture arms and ammunition and he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1910. After Fox paid off on 13 July, 1910, he served in the Devonshire, from 6 October 1910 until being appointed to Leviathan of Fourth Cruiser Squadron on 16 May 1911.

A stint as Flag Lieutenant in Cormorant to Rear Admiral Brock which began on 20 September, 1912 took Webster well into the war. In November, 1915 he received an appointment to command the gunboat Sawfly, but this was cancelled late in the year and he was sent to command Waterfly instead, which was destined to operate on the Tigris.

Webster was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1918, and was appointed to join the light cruiser Champion the next day as first officer. This lasted until April or November of 1919, at which time he went on half pay.

Webster was placed on the Retired List with gratuity on 19 April, 1921 and was promoted to the rank of Commander (retired) on 29 November, 1927.

Webster went bankrupt in 1929.

World War II

Webster provided some service which is hard to read due to folding of his service record, and wound up as an Acting Captain. He reverted to the Retired List with the rank of Commander, but was granted a war Service Rank of Captain.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sawfly 14 Nov, 1915 – 27 Dec, 1915	Succeeded by Christopher J. F. Eddis
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Waterfly 27 Dec, 1915 – 28 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by William V. H. Harris
Preceded by Arthur M. Y. Dane	Captain of H.M.S. Snakefly 28 Feb, 1916 – 28 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by ?