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. His career as a Lieutenant would feature numerous appointments as gunnery officer.

On 5 January, 1904, he was made appointed to the battleship Hood as Lieutenant (G). In late September, he left her to requalify in gunnery at H.M.S. Excellent. On 29 October, 1904 he was appointed to the armoured cruiser Sutlej as gunnery officer. Edwards was re-appointed in her the following month when she was reassigned to the China Squadron from Home Fleet.

Edwards was promoted to Commander on 30 June, 1912. As a Commander, Edwards would shift gears and receive appointments in command of destroyers..

On 1 August, 1912, he was appointed in command of the Wolverine of the Third Destroyer Flotilla.

On 23 January 1914, Edwards was appointed in command of the destroyer Laforey, also operating with the Third Destroyer Flotilla out of Chatham.

Great War

Edwards's Laforey collided with her sister Lydiard in November, 1914 and he was faulted for "careless navigation."

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.

He was scolded for the "perfunctory manner in which order to land confidential docu[ments] in Medn in Autumn 1915 was carried out".

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.

Edwards was tried by the customary Court Martial upon the loss of Hoste and acquitted.

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.

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

• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Lionel G. Preston	Captain of H.M.S. Wolverine 1 Aug, 1912 – 20 Nov, 1913	Succeeded by Osmond J. Prentis
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Laforey 23 Jan, 1914 – 16 Oct, 1916	Succeeded by Robert A. Hornell
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Hoste 16 Oct, 1916 – 21 Dec, 1916	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Walter L. Allen	Captain of H.M.S. Botha Apr, 1917 – 20 Dec, 1917	Succeeded by Roger L'E. M. Rede
Preceded by Arthur M. Stancomb	Captain of H.M.S. Birkenhead 16 Dec, 1918 – 16 Apr, 1919	Succeeded by Henry W. Osburn
Preceded by Percy M. R. Royds	Captain of H.M.S. Canterbury 16 Apr, 1919 – 31 Mar, 1921	Succeeded by Edward A. Astley-Rushton
Preceded by Osmond J. Prentis	Captain of H.M.S. Garry 1920 – 7 Dec, 1913	Succeeded by William W. Wilson
Preceded by Raymond Fitzmaurice	Captain of H.M.S. Antrim 6 Jan, 1922 – 7 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by Raymond Fitzmaurice