Alexander William Chisholm-Batten

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Admiral Alexander William Chisholm-Batten, 1917.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral Alexander William Chisholm Batten, D.S.O., M.V.O., AdC, R.N., Retired (28 September, 1851 – 2 November, 1925) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

His son of the same name also served in the navy.

Life & Early Career

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 April, 1875.[1]

In April 1881 he was thanked for the intelligence he demonstrated in preparing a report on Chilean torpedoes.[2]

In February 1885 he began an extended appointment at H.M.S. Vernon, where Captain Markham privately sent word to the Admiralty that Batten was "one of the finest torpedo officers in the Service, and likely to make a name for himself."[3]

Chisholm-Batten was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1886.[4] He was then appointed to draft a revision of Volume 3 of the Torpedo Manual.[5]

A November 1892 inspection of Linnet by V/A Fremantle revealed that the crew demonstrated a surprising lack of familiarity with the sail and other shipboard gear.[6]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1893.[7]

In August, 1898, Chisholm-Batten was censured by the Commander-in-Chief for grounding Melpomene in Aden Harbour.[8]

He took over command of the battleship Resolution on 24 June, 1901.[9] He paid off the Resolution on 9 October, 1901 and he and his crew turned over to commission the new battleship Formidable on the following day for service in the Mediterranean.[10] He remained in command of Formidable until paying her off on 30 September, 1904.[11]

On the occasion of the King's visit to Malta Chisholm-Batten was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 27 April, 1903.[12]

Flag Rank

Chisholm-Batten was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 24 May, 1905, vice Atkinson-Willes.[13]

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List on 1 May, 1907, at his own request.[14] He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List dated 26 October, 1909,[15] and to Admiral on the Retired List on 15 May, 1913.[16]

Great War

He was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) on 4 June, 1917.[17]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Chisholm-Batten" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 4 November, 1925. Issue 44110, col E, p. 16.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Charles R. Arbuthnot
Captain of H.M.S. Mariner
17 Nov, 1890[18] – Mar, 1892[19]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Henry Hart Dyke
Captain of H.M.S. Andromache
24 Jul, 1895[20] – Aug, 1895[21]
Succeeded by
Archibald J. Pocklington
Preceded by
Henry Leah
Captain of H.M.S. Melpomene
Mar, 1897[22] – Mar, 1899[23]
Succeeded by
John Denison
Preceded by
Randolph F. O. Foote
Captain of H.M.S. Hawke
18 Apr, 1899[24] – Aug, 1899[25]
Succeeded by
Cecil Burney
Preceded by
George Le C. Egerton
Assistant Director of Torpedoes
3 Aug, 1899[26] – 24 Jun, 1901[27]
Succeeded by
George Le C. Egerton
Preceded by
William Wilson
Captain of H.M.S. Resolution
24 Jun, 1901[28] – 9 Oct, 1901[29]
Succeeded by
James E. C. Goodrich
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Formidable
10 Oct, 1901[30][31] – 30 Sep, 1904[32]
Succeeded by
Thomas P. Walker

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 24200. p. 2136. 16 April, 1875.
  2. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  3. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 25545. p. 7. 1 January, 1886.
  5. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  6. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 26422. p. 3980. 14 July, 1893.
  8. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 207.
  9. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 29 May, 1901. Issue 36467, col B, p. 4.
  10. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times. 3 October, 1901. p. 4.
  11. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 207.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 27560. p. 3525. 2 June, 1903.
  13. The London Gazette: no. 27801. p. 4032. 6 June, 1905.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 28018. p. 2992. 3 May, 1907.
  15. The London Gazette: no. 28306. p. 8246. 9 November, 1909.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 28719. p. 3514. 16 May, 1913.
  17. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30111. p. 5462. 4 June, 1917.
  18. The Navy List. (March, 1892). p. 234.
  19. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  20. "The Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), July 19, 1895, Issue 34633, p.14.
  21. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  22. The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 271.
  23. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  24. Foote Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/486.
  25. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86/125. f. 250.
  26. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 207.
  27. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 207.
  28. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 29 May, 1901. Issue 36467, col B, p. 4.
  29. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 254.
  30. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Oct 03, 1901; pg. 4; Issue 36576.
  31. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 254.
  32. Chisholm-Batten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 254.