Frank Finnis

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Admiral Frank Finnis, C.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (8 November, 1851 – 17 November, 1918) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Walter John Challoner Lake was his son-in-law.

Life & Career

Frank Finnis was born in Dover[1] on 8 November, 1851.[2] He entered the Royal Navy on 25 January, 1865, having ranked twenty-eighth in order of merit of thirty-six candidates accepted as first-class Naval Cadets following the entrance examinations of December, 1864.[3]

On 8 October 1874, he was promoted Lieutenant.[4]

From October 1876 to June 1878, Finnis was at Excellent for various courses. During this time he earned a First Class Certificate in Gunnery from Excellent and an Honorary Certificate from the Royal Naval College.[5]

On 21 April, 1883, he was appointed to the Senior Staff of H.M.S. Cambridge, gunnery ship at Devonport.[6]

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1886.[7]

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1893.[8]

During the summer of 1894, Finnis was given command of second class protected cruiser Sappho for manoeuvres.[9]

He assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Royal Arthur in May 1895.[10] This was his first permanent command, and indicates that the Admiralty--or at least those responsible for command appointments--thought highly of Finnis, since Royal Arthur was flagship of the Pacific Station. This faith was apparently justified, since Rear-Admiral Henry Stephenson's report upon giving up command of the station described Finnis as "[a]n excellent officer, who has maintained his ship in the highest state of discipline." Stephenson also recommended Finnis for advancement.[11]

He was appointed in command of the battleship Illustrious from February 1900,[12][13] although The Times erroneously reported his taking command of second class battleship Collingwood on 27 February, 1900.[14]

Having left Illustrious to return to England on 17 April 1902,[15] Finnis was subsequently appointed to the second class protected cruiser Cambrian as Commodore, Second Class on 20 June, 1902.[16]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King dated 30 August, 1903, vice Poore.[17]

Flag Rank

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 16 February, 1905, vice Grenfell.[18]

Rear-Admiral Finnis married Ann Lake[19] at Kensington Parish Church on 11 July, 1906.[20]

On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet Finnis was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.[21]

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 15 November, 1908.[22] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 9 February, 1909.[23] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 20 March, 1913.[24] In 1914 he was one of the numerous signatories of the British Covenant against Home Rule in Ulster.[25]

On 16 November, 1914, he was granted a temporary Commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve and placed in command of the yacht Mekong on 17 April, 1915. On 24 April, 1915, he was again granted a temporary Commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve.[26] He was found to have committed an error in judgement when he grounded Mekong on 19 January, 1916. He was saved from a shipwreck that occurred on 12 March, possibly with a ship or in a place named Filey. He was demobilised on 10 May 1916, but was drawn back into service and placed in command of Auxiliary Patrol Area XVIII from 4 June 1916 through 18 May 1917.[27]

Finnis continued to serve, commanding the depot for Iolaire at Stornoway in the rank of a Commodore, Second Class from 18 July, 1917. In September 1918 he was granted leave and soon found himself in a nursing home. He would die in a London nursing home on 17 November, 1918.[28]

Bibliography

  • "Fallen Officers" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 20 November, 1918. Issue 41952, col F, p. 8.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command
Rear-Admiral, Nore Division, Home Fleet
Apr 1907 – Jan 1908
Succeeded by
The Hon. Stanley C. J. Colville

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Reynell J. Fortescue
Captain of H.M.S. Swallow
30 Nov, 1889[29]
Succeeded by
Lewis D. Sampson
Preceded by
Henry C. Bigge
Captain of H.M.S. Sappho
18 Jul, 1894[30]
Succeeded by
Vernon A. Tisdall
Preceded by
Robert H. S. Stokes
Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur
30 May, 1895[31] – 25 Sep, 1896[32]
Succeeded by
George F. King-Hall
Preceded by
John R. E. Pattisson
Captain of H.M.S. Amphion
7 Jan, 1897[33] – 13 Feb, 1900[34]
Succeeded by
John Casement
Preceded by
Sir Richard Poore, Bart.
Captain of H.M.S. Illustrious
14 Feb, 1900[35] – 24 Mar, 1902[36]
Succeeded by
Francis J. Foley
Preceded by
Frederick S. Pelham
Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian
20 Jun, 1902[37] – 26 May, 1904[38]
Succeeded by
Edward G. Shortland
Preceded by
Edward G. Shortland
Captain of H.M.S. St. George
26 May, 1904[39] – 7 Dec, 1904[40]
Succeeded by
Arthur Y. Moggridge
Preceded by
Charles H. Adair
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Sheerness-Chatham Reserve Division
3 Jan, 1907[41] – 3 Jan, 1908[42]
Succeeded by
Command Renamed
Preceded by
Herbert Chatterton
Senior Officer in Charge, Auxiliary Patrol Area XVIII
4 Jun, 1916[43] – 18 May, 1917[44]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Herbert Chatterton
Senior Naval Officer, Buncrana
4 Jun, 1916 – 18 May, 1917
Succeeded by
Edward G. Lowther-Crofton

 

Footnotes

  1. Malta Family History: THE ROYAL NAVY 1900 - 1979.
  2. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  3. "Naval And Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Dec 14, 1864; pg. 10; Issue 25055.
  4. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  5. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  6. The Navy List. (December, 1884). p. 254.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 25545. p. 7. 1 January, 1886.
  8. The London Gazette: no. 26359. p. 2. 2 January, 1893.
  9. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  10. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  11. The National Archives. ADM 196/86. f. 118.
  12. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  13. The National Archives. ADM 196/86. f. 118.
  14. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 8 February, 1900. Issue 36060, col F, p. 10.
  15. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 387.
  16. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 2 June, 1902. Issue 36783, col D, p. 9.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 27596. p. 5665. 11 September, 1903.
  18. The London Gazette: no. 27766. p. 1279. 21 February, 1905.
  19. The new Mrs. Finnis's full name is given—in the usual cramped and squalid handwriting reserved for historically important records—in Finnis's service record as something close to Ann Hare Shallinor Lake, née Macrobin.
  20. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 387.
  21. The London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  22. The London Gazette: no. 28201. p. 9182. 1 December, 1908.
  23. The London Gazette: no. 28223. p. 1111. 12 February, 1909.
  24. The London Gazette: no. 28703. p. 2159. 21 March, 1913.
  25. "The British Covenant for Ulster" (News). The Times. Tuesday, 10 March, 1914. Issue 40467, col D, p. 8.
  26. The London Gazette: no. 29145. p. 4061. 27 April, 1915.
  27. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/442. f. 455.
  28. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/442. f. 455.
  29. The Navy List. (March, 1892). p. 256.
  30. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  31. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  32. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  33. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  34. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  35. Field Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 456.
  36. Field Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 456.
  37. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 2 June, 1902. Issue 36783, col D, p. 9.
  38. Field Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 456.
  39. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  40. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 457.
  41. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 8 December, 1906. Issue 38198, col A, p. 8.
  42. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/442. f. 455.
  43. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/442. f. 455.
  44. Finnis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/442. f. 455.