Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet

Admiral Sir Walter H. Cowan, Bart., 1919.
© National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet, K.C.B., D.S.O.*, M.V.O., R.N. (11 June, 1871 – 14 February, 1956), also known as "Tich" Cowan, was an officer of the Royal Navy in the First World War.

Early Life & Career

On 28 January, 1892, Cowan was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, dated 14 July, 1890.

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 13 November, 1893.

Cowan was appointed in command of the destroyer Boxer on 20 January, 1898.

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1901, for services in South Africa.

On the occasion of the King's visit to Ireland he was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 5 May, 1904.

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1906.

He was appointed to command the armoured cruiser Cressy in August, 1909.

In July, 1910, he assumed command of the light cruiser Gloucester.

On 1 May, 1912, he was appointed Assistant to the Admiral of Patrols.

He was appointed to command the battleship Zealandia on 7 February, 1914.

Great War

On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.

On 7 July, 1917, he was appointed Commodore, First Class Commanding the First Light Cruiser Squadron, from the bridge of H.M.S. Caledon.

On 2 September, 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral.

Post-war Activity

He was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1919.

In June, 1919, he would transfer his flag to Delhi as 1 L.C.S. was rejuvenated and became part of the new Atlantic Fleet. He would serve in that capacity until striking his flag on 5 July, 1920.

On 2 November, 1923 he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral.

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 August, 1927, vice Clinton-Baker.

He was placed on the Retired List on 6 October, 1931.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir W. Cowan" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 15 February, 1956. Issue 53455, col A, pg. 11.
• "Adml. Sir Walter Cowan" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 5 March, 1956. Issue 53471, col C, p. 13.
• Dawson, Lionel George (1949). Sound of the Guns: Being an Account of the Wars and Service of Admiral Sir Walter Cowan. Oxford: Pen-in-Hand.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum. For a detailed list see Cowan Papers at the National Maritime Museum.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/43.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William S. Lambert	Captain of H.M.S. Boxer 20 Jan, 1898 – 27 Jun, 1898	Succeeded by Randal M. Lambert
Preceded by William G. E. Ruck-Keene	Captain of H.M.S. Falcon 5 Mar, 1903	Succeeded by Hubert S. Cardale
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Itchen 2 Feb, 1904 – 13 Apr, 1904	Succeeded by Wilfred Henderson
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Foyle 13 Apr, 1904 – 9 Jun, 1904	Succeeded by Joseph A. Shuter
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Blackwater 9 Jun, 1904 – 17 Sep, 1904	Succeeded by Harry L. Boyle
Preceded by John G. Armstrong	Captain of H.M.S. Lively 1904 – 2 Feb, 1904	Succeeded by Claude A. Rombulow-Pearse
Preceded by William C. Castle	Captain of H.M.S. Sylvia 17 Sep, 1904 – 6 Jan, 1905	Succeeded by Philip H. Waterer
Preceded by John May	Captain of H.M.S. Ostrich 6 Jan, 1905 – 17 Feb, 1905	Succeeded by William H. H. S. Thomson
Preceded by William H. H. S. Thomson	Captain of H.M.S. Kennet 17 Feb, 1905 – 14 Mar, 1905	Succeeded by Philip H. Waterer
Preceded by John May	Captain of H.M.S. Sylvia 14 Mar, 1905 – 24 Jul, 1905	Succeeded by Vaughan A. E. Hanning-Lee
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Skirmisher 24 Jul, 1905 – 1 Jan, 1907	Succeeded by Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt
Preceded by Cecil F. Lambert	Captain of H.M.S. Sapphire 1 Jan, 1907 – 5 Jan, 1909	Succeeded by Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
Preceded by Thomas Jackson	Captain of H.M.S. Cressy 6 Aug, 1909 – 9 May, 1910	Succeeded by Hugh P. E. T. Williams
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Gloucester 9 Jul, 1910 – 1 May, 1912	Succeeded by Eustace La T. Leatham
Preceded by ?	Assistant to the Admiral of Patrols 1 May, 1912 – 7 Feb, 1914	Succeeded by Edward G. Lowther-Crofton
Preceded by Thomas D. L. Sheppard	Captain of H.M.S. Zealandia 7 Feb, 1914 – 17 Feb, 1915	Succeeded by Richard M. Harbord
Preceded by Osmond de B. Brock	Captain of H.M.S. Princess Royal 17 Feb, 1915	Succeeded by John D. Kelly
Preceded by Claud H. Sinclair	Captain of H.M.S. Caledon 7 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by Henry S. M. Harrison-Wallace
Preceded by Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair	Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Light Cruiser Squadron ? – 5 Jul, 1920	Succeeded by James A. Fergusson
Preceded by Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, Bart.	Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron 31 Mar, 1921 – 15 May, 1923	Succeeded by Sir Frederick L. Field as Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart.	Admiral Superintendent of Rosyth Dockyard 30 Jun, 1925 – 2 Jun, 1926	Succeeded by Colin Cantlie
Preceded by Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart.	Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland 30 Jun, 1925 – 2 Jun, 1926	Succeeded by Humphrey W. Bowring
Preceded by James A. Fergusson as Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station	Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station 2 Jun, 1926 – 22 Jul, 1928	Succeeded by Cyril T. M. Fuller
Court Appointments
Preceded by Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair	First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp 12 Dec, 1930	Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand