Difference between revisions of "Walter Stuart Smithies"

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==World War II==
 
==World War II==
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Smithies was appointed to ''Pembroke'' for command of the guard vessel H.M.S. ''Lormont'' (formerly M.V. ''Woodcock'') from 6 September, 1939 to 29 August, 1940.  She would be lost in a collision on 7 December, 1940.<ref>Smithies Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/154/275.|}} f. 275.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 19:35, 15 January 2022

Lieutenant-Commander (retired) Walter Stuart Smithies, (16 January, 1889 – ) served in the Royal Navy.

As with many men born c. 1899 or later, his Service Records at The National Archives do not reflect activity between 1931 and 1939 or so.

Life & Career

Smithies was confirmed in the rank of Mate on 28 June, 1917.[1]

While a Yeoman of Signals, Smithies was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal for saving life from drowning in 1917. He served in Landrail from 16 February, 1918 and then in Dartmouth from 6 December, 1918 as the Great War was winding down.[2]

On 15 April, 1919, he volunteered for minesweeping service in North Russia, but was instead sent to join the battleship Superb in June. In December 1919, Captain Radcliffe of H.M.S. Superb evaluated as having "inferior ability". Others would echo this appraisal in varied forms, though Captain Briggs of Resolution eventually saw enough improvement to recommend his promotion.[3]

Smithies was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 3 January, 1921. He retired on 5 December, 1922.[4]

Smithies was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 3 January, 1929.[5]

World War II

Smithies was appointed to Pembroke for command of the guard vessel H.M.S. Lormont (formerly M.V. Woodcock) from 6 September, 1939 to 29 August, 1940. She would be lost in a collision on 7 December, 1940.[6]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Claude L. Bate
Captain of H.M.S. Sussex
early 1941 – 7 Jul, 1942
Succeeded by
William Y. La R. Beverley

Footnotes

  1. Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
  2. Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
  3. Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
  4. Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
  5. Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
  6. Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.