George Eric Maxia O'Donnell
Captain George Eric Maxia O'Donnell, D.S.O., Royal Navy (31 August, 1893 – 18 January, 1953) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
O'Donnell was born in 1893, the son of a Colonel in the Indian Army.[1]
O'Donnell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 July, 1915.[2]
He was appointed to Southampton as Lieutenant (G) on 21 October, 1918. He left Southampton for some time in Excellent and to teach gunnery at Pembroke and was then appointed to Chatham as gunnery officer on 1 September, 1920.[3]
O'Donnell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July, 1923.[4]
On 1 January, 1926, he was appointed as Lieutenant-Commander (G) in Iron Duke. On 5 January, 1927, he transferred to Royal Oak as gunnery officer He left her in June, 1929.[5]
O'Donnell was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1929.[6]
O'Donnell was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 December, 1936.[7]
He was appointed in command of the gunboat Bee and as Flag Captain and Chief Stafff Officer to Rear-Admiral and S.N.O., Yangtze on 30 July, 1937. On 13 April, 1938, he was appointed to the Stafff of the Commander-in-Chief, China as a Naval Liaison Officer to the British Embassy.[8]
On 25 June, 1939 he was appointed Naval Attache to Athens.[9]
World War II
Despite having been appointed less than a week before to a Damage Control School, O'Donnell was appointed in command of the battleship Malaya on 22 July, 1943.
He was appointed in command of the battleship Valiant in October, 1943.
O'Donnell was mentioned in despatches for his leadership and skill in damage control on 30 January, 1945. On 30 April, 1945, he was appointed in command of the Damage Control School.[10]
He was placed on the retired list on 2 January, 1946, and, for some reason, reverted there on 18 April, 1946. He was granted permission to settle in Kenya in 1947.[11]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by John W. A. Waller |
Captain of H.M.S. Malaya Jul, 1943[12] |
Succeeded by Leslie H. Ashmore |
| Preceded by Leslie H. Ashmore |
Captain of H.M.S. Valiant Oct, 1943[13] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
