Charles Leonard Fox

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Lieutenant-Commander Charles Leonard Fox (30 December, 1883 – 17 October, 1917) was an officer in the Royal Navy who would die in action in command of the destroyer Mary Rose.

Life & Career

Fox failed a pilotage examination in April of 1904 but passed on a second effort in June with 810 of 1,000 marks. He would likewise fail his first gunnery exam in October but then obtain a second-class certificate in mid December.[1]

Fox was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 79 on 3 January, 1905.[2]

Fox was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1906.[3][4]

Fox was subject to a Court of Enquiry for poor results in a gunlaying test in Mars in April, 1909 in which it was found that Foster was to blame for not spending enough time on personnel and equipment.[5]

Fox was appointed in command of the destroyer Hardy on 22 February, 1910 and received a "very satisfactory" inspection in September.[6]

In July, 1912, Fox was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 21.[7]

Fox was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1914 and on the 22nd of that month applied for consideration in the Airship Section of the Royal Flying Corps. This was refused owing to his age – thirty years.[8]

Great War

On 29 July, 1914, he was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 3.[9]

It was decided on 11 March, 1916 to relieve Fox in command of Munster for gross carelessness on his part in the loss of private signals from the ship.[10]

Fox was given command of Mary Rose at February, 1917, as he died while commanding her in action against the light cruisers Bremse and Brummer who were threatening a convoy Fox had been charged with escorting.[11] A Court of Enquiry into the loss considered that Fox had erred in deciding to engage the German cruisers rather than simply to signal their presence. The Admiralty agreed, but felt that Fox's assertive action was in keeping with cherished ideals of naval service. He received a special mention in despatches for his efforts, gazetted 7 August, 1918.[12]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William R. Napier
Captain of H.M. T.B. 79
3 Jan, 1905[13][14] – 12 Mar, 1906[15]
Succeeded by
Aylmer N. G. Firebrace
Preceded by
Stuart E. Holder
Captain of H.M.S. Hardy
22 Feb, 1910[16][17] – Aug, 1910[18]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Richard W. U. Bayly
Captain of H.M.S. Hunter
11 Aug, 1910[19][20] – 24 May, 1911[21]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Gordon A. Coles
Captain of H.M.S. Boxer
24 May, 1911[22] – 1 Aug, 1911[23]
Succeeded by
George E. Casley
Preceded by
Henry C. R. Brocklebank
Captain of H.M.S. Kangaroo
9 Aug, 1911[24] – 23 May, 1912[25]
Succeeded by
Montague R. Bernard
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M. T.B. 25
23 May, 1912[26] – 11 Jun, 1912[27]
Succeeded by
Richard F. White
Preceded by
Arthur D. W. Smith
Captain of H.M. T.B. 21
Jul, 1912[28][29] – Feb, 1914[30]
Succeeded by
Colin A. G. Hutchinson
Preceded by
Philip W. S. King
Captain of H.M. T.B. 3
29 Jul, 1914[31][32] – 9 Jan, 1916[33]
Succeeded by
Walter F. Smithwick
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Munster
Jan, 1916[34] – 14 Apr, 1916[35]
Succeeded by
Spencer F. Russell
Preceded by
Reginald Watkins Grubb
Captain of H.M.S. Mary Rose
23 Feb, 1917[36] – 17 Oct, 1917[37][38]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost

Footnotes

  1. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  2. The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 399.
  3. The Navy List. (October, 1913). p. 122.
  4. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  5. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  6. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  7. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 399.
  8. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 400.
  10. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  11. Kindell. Royal Navy Roll of Honour Part 2. p. 411.
  12. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  13. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  14. The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 399.
  15. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  16. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  17. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 324.
  18. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  19. The Monthly Navy List. (March, 1911). p. 328.
  20. Day of month taken from predecessor. Bayly Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 155.
  21. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  22. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  23. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  24. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  25. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  26. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  27. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  28. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  29. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 400.
  30. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  31. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  32. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 400.
  33. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  34. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  35. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  36. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  37. Fox Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/49/98. f. ?.
  38. Kindell. Royal Navy Roll of Honour Part 2. p. 411.

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