William Fortescue Sells
Vice-Admiral William Fortescue Sells, C.M.G., F.R.G.S., Royal Navy, Retired (19 January, 1881 – 31 March, 1966) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
The son of a Reverend W. Sells, William Sells was born in 1881 in Wokingham.[1]
Sells was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 19 January, 1901.[2]
He married Mrs. Alice Augusta Bayley (whose maiden name was Cornish) on 29 June, 1908.[3]
Sells was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913.[4]
On 27 March, 1917 Sells was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George "in recognition of his services during the war as Naval Attaché to His Majesty's Legation at Athens".[5]
Sells was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1918.[6]
Sells was appointed in command of the depot ship Sandhurst on 15 March, 1919.[7]
He was appointed in command of Emperor of India on 2 January, 1928 and served in her until being superseded on 7 May, 1929.[8]
Sells was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 April, 1930, vice Grace, and was placed on the Retired List on 2 April.[9] He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 19 July, 1935.[10]
His wife, Alice Augusta, died "suddenly" on 6 December, 1943.[11]
Sells, latterly of Alverston Cottage, Penzance, died on 31 March, 1966 aged eighty-five.
Bibliography
- "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Friday, 1 April, 1966. Issue 56595, col A, p. 1.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/142.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/125.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/91.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/45.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Posting |
Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Athens 26 Jun, 1915[12] |
Succeeded by Gerald Talbot |
| Preceded by Oswald McD. English |
Captain of H.M.S. Sandhurst 15 Mar, 1919[13] |
Succeeded by Wilbraham T. R. Ford |
| Preceded by Ralph Eliot |
Captain of H.M.S. Cleopatra Nov, 1925[14] |
Succeeded by Frank G. Bramble |
| Preceded by Cecil H. Pilcher |
Captain of H.M.S. Emperor of India 1928[15] |
Succeeded by Frederick A. Sommerville |
Footnotes
- ↑ Sells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 196.
- ↑ Sells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 196.
- ↑ Sells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 196.
- ↑ Sells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 196.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30002. p. 2995. 27 March, 1917.
- ↑ Sells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 196.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 860.
- ↑ Sells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 196.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33596. p. 2327. 11 April, 1930.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34184. p. 4843. 26 July, 1935.
- ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Wednesday, 8 December, 1943. Issue 49723, col B, p. 1.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 534.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 860.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
