Difference between revisions of "Gerard Aylmer Wells"

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Latest revision as of 16:46, 7 April 2022

Vice-Admiral Sir Gerard Wells as a Midshipman in 1896.
Photograph: Navy & Army Illustrated.

Vice-Admiral SIR Gerard Aylmer Wells, K.B.E., R.N. (6 October, 1879 – 2 August, 1943) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Gerard Wells was born in Southsea, the son of Admiral SIR Richard Wells, and entered the Royal Navy on 15 January, 1893.[1]

Wells was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1901.

In July 1907, he passed a preliminary examination in French.

Wells was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913. At the end of July, he was admitted to Haslar Hospital, suffering from hemorrhoids. He was again fit on 11 September.

His service during the war appears to be somewhat of a mystery. From 4 August, 1913 he was placed on the books of President for "special service", and this extended into 1916. After some time at (perhaps) Malta and Portsmouth, he was sent to the battleship Centurion from 17 November 1916 to 16 July, 1918. He finished out the war on a Resource Committee, being promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1918.[2]

He was appointed command of the light cruiser Comus on 15 November, 1918.[3] On 20 March, 1919, he was appointed in command of the Comus's near-sister Cambrian.[4]

Wells was appointed Naval Attaché to the nations of South America[5] on 8 June, 1923, with his headquarters in Beunos Aires.[6]

On return from South America, Wells was appointed in command of the light cruiser Weymouth on 7 April, 1926. Weymouth was flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Rudolf W. Bentinck, the Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet, and Wells served as Bentinck's Flag Captain and Chief of Staff.[7]

He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 11 September, 1930.

He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 16 January, 1935.[8]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John M. Casement
Captain of H.M.S. Comus
15 Nov, 1918[9] – 20 Mar, 1919
Succeeded by
Cathcart R. Wason
Preceded by
Lockhart Leith
Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian
20 Mar, 1919[10] – Feb, 1921
Succeeded by
James D. D. Stewart
Preceded by
Thomas N. James
Captain of H.M.S. Centurion
31 Jul, 1925 – Apr, 1926
Succeeded by
Robert S. MacFarlan
Preceded by
Norman M. C. Thurstan
Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth
Apr, 1926 – 1 Apr, 1927
Succeeded by
Astley D. C. Cooper-Key
Preceded by
Astley D. C. Cooper-Key
Captain of H.M.S. Dartmouth
1 Apr, 1927[11] – 15 Aug, 1927
Succeeded by
Dudley B. N. North
Preceded by
William M. James
Captain of H.M.S. Royal Sovereign
19 Dec, 1927[12] – Aug, 1929
Succeeded by
Basil G. Washington

Footnotes

  1. The Navy & Army Illustrated 1 (5): p. 98.
  2. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 335a.
  3. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 763.
  4. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 739.
  5. Given in the Navy List as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
  6. The Navy List. (December, 1924). p. 421.
  7. The Navy List. (June, 1926). p. 288.
  8. The Navy List. (August, 1939). p. 719.
  9. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 763.
  10. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 739.
  11. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 230.
  12. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 266.