Archibald Bellenden Purvis

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Captain (retired) Archibald Bellenden Purvis, R.N. (19 November, 1865 – 22 December, 1926) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Reverend F. R. Purvis was born at Calstone Rectory, Wellington, Wiltshire.

Purvis was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1888.

In May 1894, an inspection of the screw sloop H.M.S. Acorn, to which he had recently been appointed, noted that the ship "appears to have been 3 months in commission, instead of 8 days."

Purvis was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1901.

Purvis commanded the old armoured frigate Agincourt in 1903, when a boy died under a 30-ft cutter which was being cleaned on her deck or alongside her. When the cutter rolled over, several boys were caught and one died. A petty officer by the name of Porter injured his leg in extricating several boys. A verdict of "accidental death" was reached in light of the lack of "skylarking" and no real cause to the event being determinable.[1]

On 22 September 1906, Purvis requested that he be relieved of command of Clyde, owing to ill health.

Purvis was retired as unfit on 28 November, 1907.

Purvis was promoted to the rank of Captain (retired) on 31 December, 1916.

He reverted to the Retired List on 21 January, 1919.

Purvis died of influenza and pneumonia at Stoke House at St. Mary's Bourne, Whitchurch.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Torquill Macleod
Captain of H.M. T.B. 31
29 Jul, 1886[2] – 27 Aug, 1886
Succeeded by
Edward M. Hewett
Preceded by
James W. Pochin
Captain of H.M.S. Speedwell
9 Jun, 1901 – 5 Jul, 1901[Inference]
Succeeded by
William F. Benwell
Preceded by
John H. Robertson
Captain of H.M.S. Jason
30 Sep, 1905[3] – 17 Nov, 1905
Succeeded by
Edward A. Thomas
Preceded by
Harry H. Smyth
Captain of H.M.S. Dryad
17 Nov, 1905[4] – 17 Jan, 1906
Succeeded by
Henry F. Oliver
Preceded by
Edmund B. Van Koughnet
as Captain of H.M.S. Wild Swan
Captain of H.M.S. Clyde
17 Jan, 1906 – 6 Nov, 1906
Succeeded by
Clement C. Horne

Footnotes

  1. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 22 Aug. 1903, p. 8.
  2. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Friday, Jul 30, 1886; pg. 5; Issue 31825.
  3. The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 334.
  4. The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 304.