View source for Cosmo Bowyer Hastings

{{CommRN}} '''Cosmo Bowyer Hastings''', O.B.E. (19 April, 1887 &ndash; 14 November, 1955) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
Born in Chigwell the son of W. T. Hastings, Hastings gained three months time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} on 15 January, 1904.  His first appointment in {{UK-Cornwallis}} was just four months long, as he was invalided with Mediterranean Fever.  After three months, he was ready for his next appointment, to {{UK-Swiftsure}} of the Home Fleet.

Hastings was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 April, 1909.  On 1 May 1909 he was appointed to {{UK-Mercury}} for work with submarines.  However, on 21 July he was admitted to Haslar Hospital with gonorrhea.  He was discharged on 30 November at his own request and withdrew from the submarine service.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

Hastings was appointed to {{UK-Fox}}, additional, for command of an armed launch ''Masbona'' (?) on the East Indies station from 26 January, 1910 to April, 1911.  Though his evaluations later in his career would be less dismal, he did not impress ''Fox's'' Captain [[Allen Thomas Hunt]], whose parting evaluation of the Lieutenant was: "Tired."  A Commander Lefroy offered that Hastings was "thoroughly wanting in initiative & resource."  Hastings arrived home in the S.S. ''Malwa'' on 24 February, 1912 and was given seven days extra leave on account of his having been employed in the suppression of arms traffic in the Persian Gulf.  Thereafter, he was in the barracks at Devonport where he remained until late in 1913.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

On 10 December, 1913, Hastings was appointed to the {{UK-Paragon|f=t}}.  He would serve in her until being appointed in command of the {{UK-TB5|f=t}} on 14 November, 1914.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

Hastings was admitted to Haslar on 4 May 1915 with catarrh.  He was fit on 8 May.

Hastings was admitted to Haslar on 4 March 1916 with kidney stones.  He was fit on 11 March.

On 18 June, 1916 Hastings was appointed in command of the {{UK-Poppy|f=t}}.

Hastings was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 April, 1917.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

On 15 September, 1917, Hastings in {{UK-Poppy}} helped salve S.S. ''Idomeneus'', which had been torpedoed by {{DE-U67}} north of Ireland.  This pleased the Admiralty enough to prompt an expression of appreciation.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

On 11 May, 1918 Hastings was appointed in command of the {{UK-Silvio|f=t}}.

Hastings was mentioned in despatches for his work in convoy sloops during 1917.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

==Post-War==
Hastings enjoyed a 10 day command of {{UK-Clio}} before being tasked with taking {{UK-Andromache|f=p}} home to England on 29 August, 1919, completing the journey on 13 September.

On 27 July, 1920, Hastings was appointed in command of the {{UK-Gnat|f=t}}.{{NLJan21|p. 781}}

Hastings was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1921.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

In 1924, Hastings was lent to the Royal Canadian Navy and sent to serve as Supervising Intelligence Officer in Ottawa.  Hastings was working there when he was diagnosed with depression psychosis later in the year.  He was sent back to England early and was placed on the Retired List as medically unfit on 28 September, 1925.<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>

==World War II==
In 1940, Hastings was made Naval Officer in Charge, Poole.

Hastings was awarded an O.B.E. for his work in the planning operations that culminated in the Normandy invasion.

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Cosmo+Bowyer+Hastings Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmo_Bowyer_Hastings}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Owen Christopher Hare|Owen C. Hare]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 5 (1906)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 5]]'''<br>14 Nov, 1914{{NavAppts|17 Nov. 1914, p. 5}}<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>{{NLOct15|p. 400}} &ndash; 18 Jun, 1916<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Charles Newsome MacMillan|James C. N. MacMillan]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Aylmer Digby|Edward A. Digby]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Poppy (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Poppy'']]'''<br>18 Jun, 1916<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>{{NLAug17|p. 396''m''}} &ndash; 11 May, 1918<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Simes Hulme-Goodier|Robert S. Hulme-Goodier]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Silvio (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Silvio'']]'''<br>11 May, 1918<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 19 Aug, 1919<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>{{NLJul19|p. 907}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Augustine Edgell|John A. Edgell]]'''<br><small>as '''Captain of H.M.A.S. ''Moresby'''''</small>}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Vernon Stanhope Rashleigh|Vernon S. Rashleigh]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Clio (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Clio'']]'''<br>19 Aug, 1919<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 29 Aug, 1919<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Harold Jones|Charles H. Jones]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Tuthill Borrett|Charles T. Borrett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Andromache (1890)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Andromache'']]'''<br>29 Aug, 1919<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 13 Sep, 1919<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Francis Arthur Mulock|George F. A. Mulock]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Bee (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Bee'']]'''<br>6 Jan, 1920<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>{{NLJun20|p. 737}} &ndash; 11 May, 1920<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Gerald Lord Hodson|Gerald L. Hodson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Gerald Lord Hodson|Gerald L. Hodson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Gnat (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Gnat'']]'''<br>27 Jul, 1920{{NLJan21|p. 781}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Keith Adam|Charles K. Adam]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Robert Carnegie Cavendish|James R. C. Cavendish]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Gibraltar (1892)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Gibraltar'']]'''<br>7 Apr, 1923<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 23 Apr, 1923<ref>Hastings Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/116.|D7604871}} f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hastings, Cosmo}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1887|1955}}
{{CatComm|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|September, 1902}}
{{CatRN}}