Difference between revisions of "Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson"

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Revision as of 20:04, 23 August 2012

Admiral SIR Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (4 March, 1867 – 8 February, 1946) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1889.[1]

Nicholson was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Frederick W. Richards, Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, on 29 November, 1890.[2]

On 16 September, 1892, Nicholson was appointed to the Anson as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Edward H. Seymour,[3] the new Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron.

He was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Compton E. Domvile on 8 June, 1897.[4]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 19 August, 1899.[5]

Captain

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1904.[6] He was reappointed as Superintendent of Signal Schools on the same date. On 20 August, 1905, he was appointed to the second-class protected cruiser Hyacinth, as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral Edmund S. Poë, the new Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station. At some point Poë's flag was transferred to Hyacinth's sister ship, Hermes. He was superseded in command on 20 August, 1908.[7]

Back in Britain, he was appointed to H.M.S. President to take the War Course at the Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth.[8] He was placed first in order of merit out of six captains with a First Class pass on the course, which ran from 9 February to 28 May, 1909.[9] From 1 September to 19 October he served in the battle cruiser Inflexible as Flag Captain to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward H. Seymour on a voyage to New York City for the Hudson-Fulton celebrations.[10]

On 17 January, 1910, he was appointed to Victory for command of the new battleship St. Vincent, building at Portsmouth dockyard. However, on 31 January he was appointed in command of the battleship Lord Nelson,[11] after her captain, Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, was summarily relieved of command. He was reappointed to St. Vincent on 31 March, and remained in command until 5 January, 1912. He was appointed to Vivid on 15 May for command of the battleship Conqueror, building at Beardmore's, Parkhead.[12]

On 16 December, 1913, Nicholson was appointed to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert as Commodore, Second Class in command of H.M. Yachts.[13]

Great War

On 8 August, 1914, Nicholson was appointed in command of the battleship Agincourt.[14] Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 10 January, 1916, vice Dundas of Dundas.[15]

When Roger Keyes was appointed from Rear-Admiral in the Fourth Battle Squadron to the new position of Director of Plans at the Admiralty, Sturdee requested "White Nick" to succeed Keyes.[16] Nicholson hoisted his flag on 22 September in Colossus.

Post-War

Nicholson was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) on 24 March, 1919.[17] After the dispersal of the Grand Fleet on 8 April, he was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron in the Home Fleet.[18] In recognition of his services during the war, on the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) dated 24 April.[19]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 29 January, 1920, vice Miller.[20]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 10 March, 1925, vice Gaunt.[21]

He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 March, 1926.[22]

Footnotes

  1. London Gazette: no. 25917. p. 1865. 2 April, 1889.
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 8 November, 1890. Issue 33164, col C, pg. 8.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 10 September, 1892. Issue 33740, col D, pg. 6.
  4. "The Naval Review at Spithead" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 9 June, 1897. Issue 35225, col D, pg. 10.
  5. London Gazette: no. 27110. p. 5250. 22 August, 1899.
  6. London Gazette: no. 27691. p. 4182. 1 July, 1904.
  7. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  8. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  9. ADM 203/99. f. 35.
  10. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  11. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  12. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  13. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  14. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  15. London Gazette: no. 29439. p. 626. 14 January, 1916.
  16. Keyes Papers. I. p. 408.
  17. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31248. p. 3859. 24 March, 1919.
  18. "End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 3 April, 1919. Issue 42065, col D, pg. 13.
  19. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31379. p. 7050. 3 June, 1919.
  20. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189. 24 February, 1920.
  21. London Gazette: no. 33031. p. 1954. 20 March, 1925.
  22. London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.

Bibliography

Service Records


Naval Appointments