Graham Richard Leicester Edwards
Captain Graham Richard Leicester Edwards, C.B.E. (29 June, 1878 – 19 October, 1928) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.
Life & Career
Edwards was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 July, 1899.[1]
Edwards was promoted to Commander on 30 June, 1912.[2]
As a Commander, Edwards was to obtain considerable command experience in destroyers.
On 1 August, 1912, he was appointed in command of the Wolverine of the Third Destroyer Flotilla.[3]
On 23 January 1914, Edwards was appointed in command of the destroyer Laforey, also operating with the Third Destroyer Flotilla out of Chatham.[4]
Great War
Edwards's Laforey collided with her sister Lydiard in November, 1914 and he was faulted for "careless navigation."[5]
Edwards was credited for his contributions in sinking two German torpedo boats in the Battle off Noordhinder Bank on 1 May, 1915. On 19 July, Laforey injured a propeller on a shoal at Plymouth and was told to be more careful.[6]
He was scolded for the "perfunctory manner in which order to land confidential docu[ments] in Medn in Autumn 1915 was carried out".[7]
On 2 August, 1916, Edwards was thanked for his work in devising and fitting out fire control equipment in Laforey. In a very uncharacteristic endorsement, the Admiralty approved that such equipment should be fitted to the other destroyers in the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla.[8]
Edwards was tried by the customary Court Martial upon the loss of Hoste and acquitted.[9]
Edwards was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1917.
Post-War
On 16 December, 1918, he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Birkenhead.
On 19 April 1919, he was made Captain of the light cruiser Canterbury.[10]
Edwards died of intestinal paresis and cerebral hemorrhage on 19 October, 1928 and he was buried on the 23rd. His last name was spelled "Edwardes" in his obituary, and by his widow.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Lionel G. Preston |
Captain of H.M.S. Wolverine 1 Aug, 1912[11] – 20 Nov, 1913[12][13] |
Succeeded by Osmond J. Prentis |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Laforey 23 Jan, 1914[14] – 16 Oct, 1916 |
Succeeded by Robert A. Hornell |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Hoste 16 Oct, 1916[15] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
| Preceded by Walter L. Allen |
Captain of H.M.S. Botha Apr, 1917[16] |
Succeeded by Roger L'E. M. Rede |
| Preceded by Arthur M. Stancomb |
Captain of H.M.S. Birkenhead 16 Dec, 1918[17] |
Succeeded by Henry W. Osburn |
| Preceded by Percy M. R. Royds |
Captain of H.M.S. Canterbury 16 Apr, 1919[18] |
Succeeded by Edward A. Astley-Rushton |
Footnotes
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/417. ff. 419, 229.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 24.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 397a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 336.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/417. ff. 419, 229.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/417. ff. 419, 229.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/417. ff. 419, 229.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/417. ff. 419, 229.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/417. ff. 419, 229.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 740.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 397a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 397a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 399h.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 395i.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395f.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 391w.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 741.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 740.
