William Edward Blackwood Magee

Captain William Edward Blackwood Magee, C.B.E., D.S.O. (9 July, 1886 – 3 April, 1981) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Personal

He was born in Simla, India, the son of Colonel Augustus Helier Magee, and his wife, Minna Douglas, and died, aged 94, in Fordingbridge in Hampshire on 3 April 1981.

He was married in St Simon's Church, Southsea, on 14 August, 1913, to Alice Mainwaring Cavanagh-Mainwaring, daughter of Wentworth Cavanagh-Mainwaring.

Pre-War

Magee was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1908. In November, he committed a breach of discipline by not possessing Ball Dress.

Magee was appointed Lieutenant & Commander of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 025 on 5 November, 1909. Later that month, a chain cable parted and he was told to be more careful in future.

Great War

Magee was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 109 on 18 March, 1914.

Magee was appointed captain of the Laforey Class destroyer Leonidas on 8 December, 1915. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1916, on 10 November, 1916 Magee handled Leonidas with great skill and took the mined Legion under tow.

He was mentioned in despatches for his work with the Harwich Force and arduous escort work, gazetted 22 June, 1917.

On 20 November, 1917, Magee was appointed in command of the destroyer Thisbe.

On 16 March, 1918 Magee was gazetted for receiving the Italian Bronze Medal for his work in Thisbe and in submarine hunting with the Harwich Force.

Interbellum

Magee was appointed in command of the destroyer Watchman in April, 1919.

In 1920 he was awarded the D.S.O. for his service in Watchman in the Baltic, gazetted 8 March and invested on 10 November, 1920.

Magee was admitted to Plymouth Naval Hospital on 25 May 1921 with acute dermatitis. He was declared fit in 11 or 15 June and was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1921. At the end of 1921, after completing a Commander's Technical Course, he was granted permission to proceed to France.

Magee was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1929. Shortly after the end of an appointment in command of the light cruiser Carlisle and as Flag Captain in August 1931, Magee was told that he would not be offered further employment and would be retired for non-service in November 1933 unless he were to retire before that date. Magee chose to retire at his own request on 9 July, 1933.

World War II

On 23 April 1941 Magee was appointed to the Liverpool Convoy Pool, to serve in the rank of Commodore, Second Class R.N.R.. On 18 December, 1944 he was sent to provide the same services from Bombay. On 19 May 1945 he was appointed for passage home and for disposal.

Magee was mentioned in despatches for providing distinguished service as Commodore of Convoy, gazetted 27 June, 1944. Furthermore he was commended by Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches in July of 1945 for good service and devotion to duty and awarded a C.B.E. for distinguished service in the War in Europe.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles A. Poignand	Captain of H.M. T.B. 025 5 Nov, 1909 – 19 Mar, 1912	Succeeded by David R. Roberts
Preceded by Philip H. Irwin	Captain of H.M. T.B. 109 18 Mar, 1914 – 28 Jun, 1915	Succeeded by Conyngham C. Dennison
Preceded by Gerald C. Harrison	Captain of H.M.S. Cossack 28 Jun, 1915 – 8 Dec, 1915	Succeeded by Percy J. Helyar
Preceded by Reginald W. Grubb	Captain of H.M.S. Leonidas 8 Dec, 1915 – 7 May, 1917	Succeeded by Humphrey E. Archer
Preceded by Hugh R. Troup	Captain of H.M.S. Tornado 3 Nov, 1917 – 23 Nov, 1919	Succeeded by Ralph M. Mack
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Thisbe 23 Nov, 1917 – 20 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by L. T. Creery Hill
Preceded by Ambrose T. N. Abbay	Captain of H.M.S. Walker 20 Mar, 1919 – Apr, 1919	Succeeded by The Hon. George Fraser
Preceded by John Fawcett	Captain of H.M.S. Watchman Apr, 1919 – 23 Jul, 1921	Succeeded by Kenneth B. Millar
Preceded by Walter F. Smithwick	Captain of H.M.S. Rigorous 1 Feb, 1922 – 20 Dec, 1923	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Reginald V. Holt	Captain of H.M.S. Rowena 1 Feb, 1922	Succeeded by Edward O. Broadley
Preceded by John N. Pelly	Captain of H.M.S. Rosalind 10 Jul, 1924 – 21 Aug, 1924	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Frederic A. H. Russel	Captain of H.M.S. Warwick 1 Sep, 1925 – 20 Oct, 1927	Succeeded by Algernon U. Willis
Preceded by Edye K. Boddam-Whetham	Captain of H.M.S. Witherington 1 Dec, 1927 – 24 Aug, 1928	Succeeded by Geoffrey S. Holden
Preceded by Henry H. Bousfield	Captain of H.M.S. Valentine 24 Aug, 1928 – May, 1929	Succeeded by Francis R. Barry
Preceded by John H. Young	Captain of H.M.S. Carlisle 6 Mar, 1930 – Aug, 1931	Succeeded by Francis R. Barry