Arthur Francis Pridham

Vice-Admiral SIR Arthur Francis Pridham, K.B.E., C.B. (3 June, 1886 – 27 January, 1975) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Pridham was born in Teignmouth and gained perhaps three and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia. He was appointed to Jupiter in the Channel in mid January, 1903. He remained in her until she paid off on 31 January, 1905. Pridham was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1908.

Pridham was appointed to Excellent to qualify in gunnery on 6 August, 1910. In mid-June 1911 he joined Racehorse for the annual manoeuvres, and on 13 September received his Lieutenant (G) certificate with 1,706 marks. He was immediately appointed to Excellent for one year of gunnery duties.

On 14 August 1912, Pridham was appointed to Formidable, as gunnery officer and work on the staff of the Inspector of Target Practice.

On 15 June 1916, appointed gunnery officer in Shannon, in which he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1916. Pridham left Shannon when he was appointed gunnery officer in Marlborough on 20 July, 1917.

Post-War

Pridham ceased being gunnery officer in Marlborough on 30 December, 1919 and was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1919.

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1926.

In 1928, Pridham was made Captain of light cruiser Concord.

In September 1928, Pridham was appointed in command of the light cruiser Calliope.

In 1929, he was placed in command of light cruiser Curlew.

Pridham was appointed in command of the battlecruiser Hood on 1 February, 1936. On 30 June, 1937, Hood straddled H.M.S. Protector during full calibre firing practice. A Court of Inquiry faulted Pridham for the mishap.

Pridham was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 10 August, 1938.

World War II

Pridham served as Vice-President of the Ordnance Board from 1940.

He was admitted to Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham for neuritis in his left arm.

He was placed on the Retired List and promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 October, 1941.

In 1942 he was appointed President of the Ordnance Board, serving as such until 1945.

See Also

• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Bernard Acworth	Captain of H.M.S. Concord 14 Feb, 1928 – 26 Sep, 1928	Succeeded by Albert J. Robertson
Preceded by Leonard S. Holbrook	Captain of H.M.S. Calliope 26 Sep, 1928 – Sep, 1929	Succeeded by John G. Bower
Preceded by John G. Bower	Captain of H.M.S. Curlew Nov, 1929 – 1 Sep, 1930	Succeeded by Charles G. Stuart
Preceded by Frederick A. Buckley	Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance 13 Oct, 1930 – 28 Mar, 1932	Succeeded by Eric R. Bent
Preceded by Frank Elliott	Deputy Director of Naval Ordnance 28 Mar, 1932 – 3 Apr, 1933	Succeeded by Eric R. Bent
Preceded by Edward O. B. S. Osborne	Captain of H.M.S. Excellent 18 Jul, 1933 – 3 Oct, 1935	Succeeded by Arthur J. Power
Preceded by F. Thomas B. Tower	Captain of H.M.S. Hood 1 Feb, 1936 – 26 Apr, 1938	Succeeded by Harold T. C. Walker
Preceded by Charles M. Forbes	Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station 30 Nov, 1936 – 1938	Succeeded by Charles E. Kennedy-Purvis
Preceded by Cuthbert W. Swithinbank	Naval Member of the Ordnance Committee 1 Nov, 1940 – 2 Jan, 1942	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Bernard W. F. Fairbairn	President of the Ordnance Committee 2 Jan, 1942 – 26 Aug, 1945	Succeeded by ?