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, gaining one months' seniority in so doing. He was immediately appointed to the battleship Russell in the Atlantic. In April 1909 he was sent to Dover Fever Hospital, suffering from scarlet fever. 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 the second class protected cruiser Minerva, and then, in August, to the pre-dreadnought 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, obtaining his certificate on 11 August. 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. On 16 September he was appointed in command of Foxhound, in which he was credited with sinking a submarine (perhaps U 87 on Christmas Day, although H.M.S. Buttercup was certainly involved in that sinking. The Admiralty wrote that McGrath was to be congratulated for his initiative he displayed in making his attack.

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."

On 2 September 1918, McGrath was scolded for sending a letter with an improper tone to the Chief Constable, Greenock regarding a matter of a box of tobacco.

Post-War

On 9 July 1919, Rosalind damaged the Number 75 light vessel and McGrath was cautioned to be more careful in future.

In November, 1919, McGrath was appointed in command of the destroyer Tourmaline. In 1920, McGrath was informed that errors in the accounts of his ship would have been detected and corrected earlier if he had been providing proper supervision.

McGrath was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1921. He fractured his collar-bone soon thereafter, being admitted to Haslar Hospital for one month from 20 January, 1922.

Upon being relieved in command of Venomous in December, 1924, McGrath commenced about a month's leave in Malta. He erred in February in breaching a customs regulation.

In 1927, McGrath was thanked for his zeal and ingenuity in fashioning a field mounting for a 2-pdr pom-pom gun. He was recommended for special promotion by Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla and Commander-in-Chief, China in May, 1927 and received his promotion to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1927.

In August, 1929, McGrath lost and damaged paravanes from H.M.S. Vanquisher by conducting high-speed sweeps in waters thought too shallow for the practice. In mid 1930, he was sick on shore. Eventually he was sent to Haslar with condition that eventually manifested itself with an abscess of his jaw. He was discharged as fit on 25 September, but not before his condition grew so bad that the word "necrosis" was used. This necrosis proved chronic, and McGrath was obliged to leave Hastings at Karachi on 27 April, 1931 to seek further medical treatment. He was able to return to command of the ship on 9 June.

In February 1932, Captain and Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf Crabbe relieved McGrath of command of the sloop Bideford, 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. McGrath appealed to the Admiralty to complain about the adverse report and was told that they agreed that his temperament was not well-suited to work in the Persian Gulf where condition were described as "exacting". McGrath was however reminded that the Admiralty would consider his entire service when deciding about his future in the service, and that his service was generally regarded as satisfactory.

On 8 April, 1935, McGrath was to undergo an Decontamination Course at Titmor.

On 22 November 1937, McGrath was admitted to Sister Agnes Nursing Home and a form M156 was sent for signature. Whatever that meant, on 13 December, the Admiralty Medical Department was treating him for an injured finger.

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.

In early 1942, he incurred Their Lordships' severe displeasure by grounding vessels in Liverpool as part of convoy operations.

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 Charles E. Hamond	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 Lawrence F. N. Ommanney
Preceded by Ivan B. Colvin	Captain of H.M.S. Whirlwind 5 May, 1925 – 1 Feb, 1926	Succeeded by Gerald M. McKenna
Preceded by Austen G. Lilley	Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer 1 Feb, 1926 – 5 Aug, 1926	Succeeded by Robert A. Cassidi
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 Charles G. Stuart
Preceded by Louis H. K. Hamilton	Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer Mar, 1927 – Dec, 1927	Succeeded by Reginald M. J. Hutton
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 John M. Mansfield
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Hastings 17 Oct, 1930 – 17 Jan, 1932	Succeeded by Percy F. P. Wood
Preceded by Percy F. P. Wood	Captain of H.M.S. Bideford 17 Jan, 1932 – 9 Apr, 1932	Succeeded by Edward C. Denison
Preceded by Harold T. C. Walker	Captain of H.M.S. Canterbury 14 Nov, 1932 – 29 Dec, 1932	Succeeded by Harrington Robley
Preceded by ?	Assistant Naval Attaché to Rio de Janeiro 23 Aug, 1939 – 7 May, 1940	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Naval Attaché to Rio de Janeiro 7 May, 1940 – 5 May, 1941	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Alan H. Davies	Captain of H.M.S. Adventure 27 Apr, 1945 – mid 1945	Succeeded by ?