Miles Brock Birkett

Captain Miles Brock Birkett, D.S.O., Royal Navy (26 June, 1883 – 29 March, 1948) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Broxbourne.

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1905.

Birkett was appointed in command of the destroyer Albatross in January, 1912.

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1913. After being superseded in Zulu in September, 1914, Birkett was appointed to Arethusa to serve as Flag Lieutenant-Commander to Tyrwhitt, and for War Staff duties. He would follow Tyrwhitt through a succession of flagships: Cleopatra in February, 1916, Conquest at the end of March, 1916, and to Carysfort on 1 May.

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916 while remaining at Tyrwhitt's side. They moved to Centaur on 11 September, 1916 and to Concord on 18 February, 1917.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Radiant on 11 September, 1918.

Post-War

In 1921 and 1922, Birkett served as executive officer in Centurion, Iron Duke and then returned to Centurion.

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1923 while working as Naval Adviser to the Conference of Ambassadors.

On 15 November, 1928, he was appointed to the Air Ministry vice Rawlings.

Birkett was reverted to the Retired List in February, 1940.

After a training course in Portsmouth, he was appointed to Tamar III in command and as Captain in Charge, Singapore, vice Thomson. Appointed 2 October, 1931, he assumed duty on 14 November. He was invalided out on 30 September, 1932 and was not deemed fit until 12 December, 1932. He was informed that he would not be further employed and would be retired for non-service in 1935 unless he retired voluntarily before that time. Birkett took that option and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 26 June, 1934.

World War II

Birkett was given command of Queen of Bermuda on 2 September, 1939 and superseded on 6 December to be hospitalised for gastritis. He was cleared for harbour service for six months from December, 1939. He applied for re-employment in 1941 and 1942 but was informed that no vacancies existed. A final offer to serve in 1944 was declined.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Reginald T. Amedroz	Captain of H.M.S. Albatross 13 May, 1912 – Sep, 1913	Succeeded by Hugh T. England
Preceded by Hugh T. England	Captain of H.M.S. Colne Sep, 1913 – 21 Feb, 1914	Succeeded by Charles A. Poignand
Preceded by Hugh B. Mulleneux	Captain of H.M.S. Zulu 29 Jul, 1914 – 2 Sep, 1914	Succeeded by William C. Castle
Preceded by Charles G. C. Sumner	Captain of H.M.S. Opal 18 May, 1917 – 24 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by Charles C. de M. Malan
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Tormentor 24 Jul, 1917 – 11 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Percy J. Helyar
Preceded by Geoffrey S. Fleetwood Nash	Captain of H.M.S. Radiant 11 Sep, 1918 – 21 May, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Francis T. Hare	Captain of H.M.S. Orpheus 21 May, 1919 – 22 Jul, 1919	Succeeded by Guy O. Maund
Preceded by Hugh T. England	Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth 8 Jul, 1924 – 20 Oct, 1924	Succeeded by Bertram H. Ramsay
Preceded by Wilbraham T. R. Ford	Captain of H.M.S. Calliope 25 Nov, 1925 – 9 Apr, 1926	Succeeded by Roy N. Suter
Preceded by Fischer B. Watson	Captain of H.M.S. Caledon 9 Apr, 1926 – 17 Aug, 1926	Succeeded by Claude C. Dobson
Preceded by Arthur Evans	Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian 17 Aug, 1926 – 15 Dec, 1927	Succeeded by Richard H. O. Lane-Poole
Preceded by Evelyn C. O. Thomson	Captain in Charge, Singapore 2 Oct, 1931 – 19 Nov, 1932	Succeeded by Malcolm R. J. Maxwell-Scott