Philip Nelson-Ward
Admiral Philip Nelson-Ward, C.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (29 June, 1866 – 27 June, 1937) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Philip Nelson-Ward was born on 29 June, 1866, the fourth son of the Reverend Horatio Nelson Nelson-Ward, Rector of Radstock, eldest son of Horatia Nelson and grandson of Lord Nelson. At the examinations for naval cadetships, Ward placed fourth out of thirty-seven successful candidates.[1]
Nelson-Ward was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1889.[2]
Immediately upon arriving at his second appointment, as navigation officer of the Sphinx in September 1889, Nelson-Ward was court-martialled and a charge of contempt to superior officer was proven. He was severely reprimanded, but remained in the ship. In April, 1890, Commander Boldero reported that he was "V.G. V.G. [very good] Officer of the Watch."[3]
He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1900.[4]
For his service in the Ophir Nelson-Ward was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 24 December, 1901.[5]
On 24 June, 1902 Nelson-Ward was deemed medically unfit. He was to be re-surveyed in August, but there is no record if he returned to service before being reported in a hospital in Malta on 6 May, 1903. He was sent to Haslar hospital in Plymouth via S.S. Persia. In December, 1903 he was found fit again. But on 26 August, 1904 he was again found unfit. The end of September found him finally well and this disturbing chronic illness seems to have left him.[6]
Nelson-Ward was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1905.[7]
He was appointed in command of the battlecruiser Indefatigable on 3 October and remained in command until being invalided out in December, 1907.[8]
He was appointed command of the battleship Formidable on 4 April, 1911.[9]
Great War
Nelson-Ward was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 9 June, 1916, and, in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 9 March, 1914, was placed on the Retired List on 10 June.[10]
While reforming an HH convoy on 10 October, 1917, Nelson-Ward's ship, the Bostonian, was struck at 17:22 by two torpedoes fired from within the destroyer screen. The ship sank so quickly by the stern that the foremost Starboard boat, which Nelson-Ward was in, was swamped and when he came to the surface he saw the bows of the ship standing vertically. The Bostonian disappeared at 17:28, six minutes after the first torpedo hit, with one hundred and five saved, and four men from the stokehold lost.[11]
Post-War
On 1 April, 1919, Nelson-Ward was appointed a Gentleman Usher in Ordinary to King George V.[12]
He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July, 1920,[13] and to Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1925.[14]
On 23 June, 1936, he was appointed a Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.).[15]
Bibliography
- "Admiral Nelson-Ward" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 28 June, 1937. Issue 47722, col C, p. 16.
- Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
Papers
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Ernest F. A. Gaunt |
Captain of H.M.S. Indefatigable 3 Oct, 1905[16] – Dec, 1907[17] |
Succeeded by George H. Borrett |
| Preceded by Thomas D. L. Sheppard |
Captain of H.M.S. Enchantress 5 Dec, 1908[18][19] – 4 Apr, 1911[20] |
Succeeded by William G. E. Ruck-Keene |
| Preceded by Reginald A. Allenby |
Captain of H.M.S. Formidable 4 Apr, 1911[21][22] – 11 Dec, 1912[23] |
Succeeded by Drury St. A. Wake |
| Preceded by John F. Parry |
Assistant Hydrographer of the Navy 11 Dec, 1912[24] – 1916[25] |
Succeeded by Ernest C. Hardy |
| Preceded by New Appointment |
Director of Navigation 11 Dec, 1912[26] |
Succeeded by John A. Webster |
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 25 June, 1879. Issue 29603, col E, p. 7.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25917. p. 1865. 2 April, 1889.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27211. p. 4433. 17 July, 1900.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27390. p. 9061. 24 December, 1901.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27750. p. 25. 3 January, 1905.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29629. p. 6066. 20 June, 1916.
- ↑ Newbolt. Naval Operations. V. p. 163.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31271. p. 4412. 4 April, 1919.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32017. p. 8408. 13 August, 1920.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33049. p. 3445. 22 May, 1925.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34296. p. 4001. 23 June, 1936.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 308.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 316.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 190/378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 190/378.
- ↑ Nelson-Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 378.
