Hugh Bourchier Wrey

Commander Hugh Bourchier Wrey, R.N., Retired (19 July, 1888 – 13 January, 1940) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Wrey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1911.

On 23 August, 1914, Wrey was sent to the hospital from an appointment in Viking with an injury to his left knee, emerging fit on 17 October. Wrey was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 24 on 22 October, 1914.

On 6 November 1917, Wrey was appointed in command of the "M" Class destroyer Murray. On 14 January, 1918, Murray collided with Vehement and Wrey was found to have committed an error in judgement. On the 29th, he was superseded in command, presently to be placed on the staff of the Senior Naval Officer, Clyde. After one month, he was moved to provide special service to the Trade Division.

Post-War

Wrey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 April, 1919. His service during the 1920s was to resemble that of so many other young officers from the Great War... a series of appointments in command of destroyers, including groups of them in reserve.

On 5 October, 1920, Wrey was appointed in command of the destroyer Tuscan, but this was cancelled in favour of command of a group of T.B.Ds. in reserve, being himself borne on the books of Dido. It was in this appointment that, on 24 February, 1921, he was evaluated by Captain Richard G. A. W. Stapleton-Cotton as "not a reliable destroyer officer – should be sent to a big ship."

Wrey was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 15 May, 1929.

World War II

Wrey was to have been mobilised, but in 1939 two weeks delay were asked for, so that his health might be gauged. Things were not good, apparently, as he was twice deemed medically unfit for naval service and died in early 1940.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by James C. F. Lewis	Captain of H.M. T.B. 24 22 Oct, 1914 – 24 Nov, 1916	Succeeded by Colin McL. Campbell
Preceded by George H. Knowles	Captain of H.M.S. Goshawk 1 Dec, 1916 – 28 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Arthur M. C. Stileman
Preceded by Hubert S. Braddyll	Captain of H.M.S. Mohawk 31 Jan, 1917 – 6 Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Montague R. Bernard
Preceded by Montague R. Bernard	Captain of H.M.S. Murray 6 Nov, 1917 – 29 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Evelyn H. B. L. Scrivener
Preceded by Richard M. Welby	Captain of H.M.S. Rifleman 6 May, 1919 – 17 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Edward S. Graham	Captain of H.M.S. Stronghold 21 Jun, 1920 – 28 Sep, 1920	Succeeded by Cuthbert P. Blake
Preceded by Charles L. Evan-Thomas	Captain of H.M.S. Tuscan 5 Oct, 1920	Succeeded by John B. Spurgin
Preceded by Charles G. Naylor	Captain of H.M.S. Walpole 15 Apr, 1921 – 23 Jun, 1922	Succeeded by James C. Colvill
Preceded by Kenneth L. Campbell	Captain of H.M.S. Vega 31 Aug, 1923 – 24 Nov, 1923	Succeeded by Edward N. Mortimer
Preceded by Edward N. Mortimer	Captain of H.M.S. Wolfhound 24 Nov, 1923 – 4 May, 1925	Succeeded by Percival C. W. Manwaring