Michael Henley Wilding
Captain Michael Henley Wilding, C.B.E., Royal Navy (20 November, 1875 – 10 June, 1933) served in the Royal Navy from 1890 to 1922.
Life & Career
Michael Henley Wilding was born on 20 November, 1875, the son of Mr. C. F. Wilding, of St. Mary's Lodge, Kidlington, Oxford. He entered the training ship Britannia in 1890, and was promoted Lieutenant in September, 1898. He served under Captain Berkeley Milne in the battleship Jupiter. In 1903 he was given his first command, the destroyer Charger. He served as Executive Officer of the gunboat Sphinx in the East Indies, before being given command of the Hebe in 1907.
In 1909 he took command of the river gunboat Woodcock on the China Station. In the Coronation Honours of 1911 he was promoted to the rank of Commander. He served in the cruisers Terrible and Aboukir in reserve, and in March, 1914 joined Lancaster in the Fourth Cruiser Squadron.
For a period of the First World War he remained with the Lancaster on service in the Atlantic. In 1916 he was on administrative duties with the Royal Naval Air Service before being appointed in June to command the armed merchant cruiser Virginian in the Tenth Cruiser Squadron. He was appointed to command the first class protected cruiser Europa in March, 1919. In July, 1919 he was appointed as Captain of the base of the Aegean Squadron at Mudros.
In recognition of his services in command of Virginian, Wilding was appointed C.B.E. on 12 July, 1919. He was placed on the Retired List in 1922.
Bibliography
- "Captain Wilding, R.N." (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 14 June, 1933. Issue 46470, col D, pg 16.
Service Record
- The National Archives. ADM 196/44.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Robert W. F. Travers |
Captain of H.M.S. Charger 1903[1] |
Succeeded by Reginald G. Coplestone |
| Preceded by John M. D. E. Warren |
Captain of H.M.S. Hebe 1907[2] |
Succeeded by Evelyn L. B. Boothby |
| Preceded by Herbert N. Garnett |
Captain of H.M.S. Virginian 16 Jun, 1916[3] – after Jan, 1919[4] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Claude A. Rombulow-Pearse |
Captain of H.M.S. Europa 1 Mar, 1919[5] – 27 Mar, 1919[6] |
Succeeded by Vessel Paid Off for Sale |
Footnotes
- ↑ "Captain Wilding, R.N." (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 14 June, 1933. Issue 46470, col D, pg 16.
- ↑ "Captain Wilding, R.N." (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 14 June, 1933. Issue 46470, col D, pg 16.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 1009.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 1009.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1920). p. 771.
- ↑ Inferred that he was still in command when she paid off on this date.
