Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson

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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 He was superseded in command on 20 August, 1908.[7]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

 

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