Donal Scott McGrath

Captain Donal Scott McGrath, R.N., Retired (27 August, 1891 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

McGrath was the son of a "gentleman" and passed out of the Training Establishment on 15 September, 1908. He was immediately appointed to the battleship Russell in the Atlantic. In July 1909, Captain Ricardo wrote that McGrath was "inclined to be lazy." In mid-January 1910 McGrath was moved to the Mediterranean, first in Minerva, and then, in August, to the destroyer Exmouth for a single month. In mid September 1910, he was transferred to King Edward VII in the Home Fleet, following Captain Everett to the Hercules in August. In 1911, Everett would describe McGrath as lacking energy and smartness but being a good boat handler.

On 5 February 1913, McGrath was sent to the light cruiser Weymouth for seven months of Engine Room training. On 16 September, he was appointed to Lancaster of the Fourth Cruiser Squadron.

McGrath was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 December, 1913.

On 29 July, 1915, Lancaster was reduced and McGrath was appointed to Dido to join the destroyer Mastiff on 4 August, 1915.

On 29 January, 1917, McGrath was appointed to command T.B. 4.

McGrath was appointed in command of the destroyer Rosalind on 22 March, 1918.

On 22 April, 1918 Captain (D) Second Destroyer Flotilla Sparks wrote that he believed McGrath to be "Very capable. Keen. Believed sank enemy submarine."

Post-War

In November, 1919, McGrath was appointed in command of the destroyer Tourmaline.

McGrath was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1921.

McGrath was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1927.

In February 1932, Captain and Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf Crabbe relieved McGrath of command of the sloop Hastings, writing that he "[s]hows complete incapacity to estimate qualities required of a Commander in a Persian Gulf Sloop." Three months later, he amplified this by saying McGrath was "lacking in loyalty." The intensity of these sentiments are not echoed by any other evaluations in McGrath's Service Record.

World War II

McGrath was appointed Assistant Naval Attaché, Rio de Janeiro appointed 25 August, 1939 and then Naval Attaché from 7 May, 1940, holding the rank of Captain.

On 5 May, 1941 he was appointed to work with the Naval Intelligence Division, holding the rank of Commander. On 24 June, 1941 he was appointed in command of the anti-aircraft ship H.M.S. Ulster Queen as acting Captain. On 27 August he was reverted to the Retired List on account of age with the rank of Captain.

However, on 7 July 1942 he was appointed in command of the infantry landing ship H.M.S. Glengyle, serving in the rank of Captain (retired). On 26 February, 1943 he was appointed to work with C.C.O. outside C.O.H.Q., additional.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Frederick R. M. Johnson	Captain of H.M. T.B. 4 29 Jan, 1917 – 25 Jun, 1917	Succeeded by Cyril J. H. Hill
Preceded by Edward P. U. Pender	Captain of H.M.S. Mosquito 9 Aug, 1917 – 6 Sep, 1917	Succeeded by Thomas B. Fellowes
Preceded by William G. A. Shuttleworth	Captain of H.M.S. Foxhound 16 Sep, 1917 – 22 Mar, 1918	Succeeded by William S. Nelson
Preceded by George H. Knowles	Captain of H.M.S. Rosalind 22 Mar, 1918 – Aug, 1919	Succeeded by Edward P. U. Pender
Preceded by Herbert C. Found	Captain of H.M.S. Trusty 15 Aug, 1919 – Dec, 1919	Succeeded by Austen G. Lilley
Preceded by John I. Hallett	Captain of H.M.S. Tourmaline c. Dec, 1919 – Aug, 1921	Succeeded by Patrick Butter
Preceded by Ralph Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Sable 20 Jan, 1922 – 2 Nov, 1922	Succeeded by William A. Willock
Preceded by Patrick Butter	Captain of H.M.S. Tourmaline 21 Nov, 1922 – c. 13 Dec, 1922	Succeeded by Ralph W. Wilkinson
Preceded by Richard L. Hamer	Captain of H.M.S. Tuscan c. 13 Dec, 1922 – Mar, 1923	Succeeded by Philip J. Mack
Preceded by Henry A. Binmore	Captain of H.M.S. Sportive Mar, 1923 – Oct, 1923	Succeeded by Lewes G. Gardner
Preceded by Lewes G. Gardner	Captain of H.M.S. Venomous Oct, 1923 – Dec, 1924	Succeeded by Cecil A. N. Chatwin
Preceded by Ivan B. Colvin	Captain of H.M.S. Whirlwind 5 May, 1925 – 1 Feb, 1926	Succeeded by John D. Harvey
Preceded by Austen G. Lilley	Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer 1 Feb, 1926 – 5 Aug, 1926	Succeeded by Donal S. McGrath
Preceded by Charles G. Stuart	Captain of H.M.S. Wild Swan 5 Aug, 1926 – 10 Sep, 1926	Succeeded by Charles G. Stuart
Preceded by Charles G. Stuart	Captain of H.M.S. Woolston 10 Sep, 1926 – 1927	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Donal S. McGrath	Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer 1927 – Dec, 1927	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Ralph Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Seawolf 11 Dec, 1928 – 4 Jun, 1929	Succeeded by Herbert M. Hughes
Preceded by Austen G. Lilley	Captain of H.M.S. Vanquisher Jun, 1929 – 31 Oct, 1929	Succeeded by George H. Creswell
Preceded by Alastair G. Davidson	Captain of H.M.S. Viceroy 1 Nov, 1929 – Nov, 1929	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Hastings 17 Oct, 1930 – 17 Jan, 1932	Succeeded by John F. H. Sawyer

Footnotes

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