Archibald Gilbert
Commander (retired) Archibald Gilbert, O.B.E. (5 June, 1880 – ) was an inventive gunnery officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Warwick the son of a gentleman, Gilbert was admitted to Britannia in January, 1894 as forty-sixth of fifty-eight candidates in order of merit after competitive examinations.[1]
Gilbert was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1901.[2]
In 1907 he was thanked for inventing a "ramming indicator" for use in Loading Teachers, as well as a slide rule to be used when firing.
Having recently invented a "Time of Firing Recorder", Gilbert was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1909. In 1910, he would prepare a pamphlet describing a method of comparing the accuracy of guns. These accomplishments would result in his being selected to assist Vice-Admiral Sir Percy Scott in fitting director firing gear to the dreadnought H.M.S. Thunderer in 1912.[3]
In July 1915, Gilbert was granted the acting rank of Cdr. for a "secret mission" to Argentina. Thereafter, he came to specialise in wireless signalling, retaining his acting rank while serving on the staff of V/A Scott.[4]
In 1920, he received a patent and a letter thanking him for his role on a committee of enquiry on "The Origin & Development of the [illeg] System of S/M Detection." In 1922 he would be awarded £1,000 for his his service rendered in connection with ballistics.[5]
Gilbert was placed on the Retired List at his own request at the rank of Commander on 1 July, 1922.[6]
World War II
Mobilised in 1938, Gilbert would be admitted to hospital in Chatham in 1942 with a "paranoid personality." In 1944, he suffered from bronchitis. He reverted to the Retired List as medically unfit on 2 February, 1945.[7]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by John F. H. Cole |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 58 10 Jul, 1900[8] |
Succeeded by Robert J. Buchanan |
Footnotes
- ↑ "Cadetships In The Royal Navy." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Dec 30, 1893; pg. 8; Issue 34148.
- ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/130. f. 134.
- ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/130. f. 134.
- ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/130. f. 134.
- ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/130. f. 134.
- ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/130. f. 134.
- ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/130. f. 134.
- ↑ "The Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), Thursday, July 5, 1900, Issue 36186, p.10.
