William Eric Campbell Tait

Admiral (retired) SIR William Eric Campbell Tait, K.C.B., M.V.O., R.N. (12 August, 1886 – 17 July, 1946) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of surgeon W. Tait, R.N. of the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar.

Tait was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1909.

Tait was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1917.

Tait was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 August, 1921.

Tait was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1926.

Tait was appointed in command of the light cruiser Capetown in July, 1929.

He fell ill on 1 June 1935 while in command of the heavy cruiser Shropshire, obliging him to cede command to his executive officer, Cdr. Michael Maynard Denny for a period. He was admitted to Haslar Hospital with colitis and found fit on 3 July 1935.

Tait was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 10 August, 1938.

World War II

Tait was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 October, 1941.

Tait was placed on the Retired List on 12 December, 1944 and promoted to the rank of Admiral (retired) on 8 May, 1945.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• Papers in the Possession of the National Maritime Museum (Catalogue Reference "TAI")

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Percy R. Stevens	Captain of H.M.S. Dragon 9 Feb, 1928 – 7 Jan, 1929	Succeeded by Louis H. B. Bevan
Preceded by The Hon. E. Rupert Drummond	Captain of H.M.S. Capetown 5 Jul, 1929 – Dec, 1929	Succeeded by John B. Hughes
Preceded by Charles H. Knox-Little	Captain of H.M.S. Delhi Dec, 1929 – 15 May, 1931	Succeeded by Frederic N. Attwood
Preceded by Frederic N. Attwood	Captain of H.M.S. Despatch 15 May, 1931 – 12 Jun, 1931	Succeeded by Cecil R. E. W. Perryman
Preceded by Gerald C. Harrison	Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence 29 Apr, 1932 – 24 Nov, 1933	Succeeded by George A. Scott
Preceded by Reginald V. Holt	Captain of H.M.S. Shropshire 29 Nov, 1934 – 16 Oct, 1937	Succeeded by Michael M. Denny
Preceded by Lancelot E. Holland	Captain of H.M.S. Victory 11 Aug, 1937 – 26 Sep, 1939	Succeeded by Harold T. C. Walker
Preceded by Lancelot E. Holland	Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth 11 Aug, 1937 – 26 Sep, 1939	Succeeded by Harold T. C. Walker
Preceded by Henry K. Kitson as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron 5 Jan, 1942 – 17 Aug, 1942	Succeeded by Harold T. C. Walker
Preceded by Algernon U. Willis	Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic 17 Feb, 1942 – 27 Aug, 1944	Succeeded by Robert L. Burnett