William Reginald Denys Crowther

Captain (retired) William Reginald Denys Crowther, O.B.E. (9 October, 1883 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of William A. Crowther, surgeon, Crowther gained five months' time on passing out of Britannia.

Crowther was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 December, 1903.

On 9 November 1905, Crowther suffered a compound fracture in his toes when the hatches on a lighter collapsed. He was declared fit on 18 January 1906 and in March awarded a 200 pound gratuity for the injury.

In January, 1911, Crowther was appointed in command of the submarine B 1, but in February was cautioned for grounding the boat.

Crowther was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1911.

Crowther was appointed in command of the third class protected cruiser Pactolus on 24 September, 1912, and placed in command of the Lamlash Submarine Flotilla.

In March, 1914, Crowther was blamed when Pactolus collided with the brig Traveller.

Crowther was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916.

Crowther was in Granton Hospital for four days in April, 1918 for laryngitis.

Post-War

Crowther was awarded an O.B.E. (mil) for his work in submarine establishments and at sea during the war. It was invested on 22 April, 1920 at Buckingham Palace.

Crowther retired at his own request on 6 September, 1920.

Crowther was advanced to the rank of Captain on his forty-fifth birthday on 9 October, 1928.

World War II

In August 1939, Crowther was appointed in command of H.M.S. Mentor, a shore base in Stornoway providing accommodation for the air and ground crew of 700 Naval Air Squadron, and as Naval Officer in Charge, Stornoway.

On 16 April, 1940, Crowther was appointed as Naval Officer in Charge, Faroes, vice Down. A variety of other appointments dotted the war, including liaison work with the Americans in Marseilles. TODO: more in service record

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. B 8 10 May, 1907 – 6 Jan, 1909	Succeeded by George W. E. Naper
Preceded by Reginald B. Darke	Captain of H.M.S. B 1 5 Jan, 1911 – 1 Dec, 1911	Succeeded by Ernald G. H. Master
Preceded by Robert B. Ramsay	Captain of H.M.S. D 1 1 Dec, 1911 – 10 May, 1912	Succeeded by Francis A. N. Cromie
Preceded by Gerald C. A. Marescaux	Captain of H.M.S. Pactolus 24 Sep, 1912 – 4 Aug, 1915	Succeeded by Alexander G. Wright
Preceded by ?	Lieutenant-Commander (S), Ninth Submarine Flotilla 24 Sep, 1912 – 4 Aug, 1915	Succeeded by Henry P. Hughes
Preceded by ?	Senior Naval Officer, Ardrossan 10 Jan, 1915 – 4 Aug, 1915	Succeeded by Alexander G. Wright
Preceded by Vernon H. S. Haggard	Captain of H.M.S. Vulcan 25 Jul, 1915 – 17 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Richard F. White
Preceded by Malcolm K. de M. Burgess	Commander (S), Sixth Submarine Flotilla 17 Sep, 1916 – Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Henry D. Gill as Lieutenant-Commander (S), Sixth Submarine Flotilla
Preceded by Geoffrey Layton	Captain of H.M.S. K 6 Jan, 1918 – 7 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Frederick C. C. Kennedy
Preceded by Ernest W. Leir	Captain of H.M.S. Ithuriel 7 Mar, 1919 – 1 Dec, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Ernest W. Leir	Commander (S), Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla 7 Mar, 1919 – 1 Dec, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Clyfford H. Warren	Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur 13 Jan, 1920 – 1 Jul, 1920	Succeeded by Gilbert H. Kellett