Arthur Ward Torlesse
Captain Arthur Ward Torlesse, R.N., Retired (25 March, 1857 – 31 March, 1939) was the first officer in the Royal Navy to command a destroyer.
Life & Career
Torlesse was born in Rangiora, New Zealand on 25 March, 1857. He entered the Britannia as a Navigating Cadet on 15 July, 1870.[1]
Torlesse was promoted to the rank of Navigating Sub-Lieutenant on 18 July, 1876.[2]
Torlesse was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 28 December, 1877.[3]
Torlesse was transferred to the Executive List on 21 January, 1878.[4]
On 2 September, 1892, Torlesse was tried by Court Martial for hazarding Naiad. He was acquitted, and the S.N.O., Hong Kong noted that Torlesse was considered "a most careful and capable [?] officer."[5]
Torlesse was appointed to command the first destroyer completed for the Royal Navy, the Havock, on 29 December, 1893. Torlesse was promoted to the rank of Commander two days later on 31 December, 1893 and reappointed to the Havock.[6][7]
Torlesse was appointed to command of the Havock's sister ship Hornet on 26 June, 1894.[8]
On 14 November, 1899 Torlesse paid off the corvette Royalist after receiving a satisfactory inspection by Captain Langley. On 6 January, 1899 he was appointed to Indus, additional, as Assistant to the Captain and to carry out the duties of Staff Captain and Queen's Harbour Master of the Harbour of the Hamoaze. In October he was appointed to Collingwood, additional, for the Queenstown Division of the Coast Guard, but in December this was altered to the Bognor Division.[9]
Torlesse was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 26 September, 1903. He was called back when the Great War broke out, being appointed Naval Assistant to the Hydrographer on 24 February, 1917. On 24 April, 1919, he was ordered to revert to the Retired List, postdated 1 May, 1919.[10]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Thomas F. W. Ingram |
Captain of H.M.S. Rattlesnake 14 May, 1890[11][12] – 1 Dec, 1890[13] |
Succeeded by Henry D. Barry |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Seagull 1 Dec, 1890[14][15] |
Succeeded by Arthur W. Torlesse |
| Preceded by Arthur W. Torlesse |
Captain of H.M.S. Seagull 11 Jul, 1893[16] – 26 Aug, 1893[17][18] |
Succeeded by Arthur Barry |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Havock 30 Dec, 1893[19][20] – 25 Jun, 1894[21] |
Succeeded by Richard B. Farquhar |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Hornet 26 Jun, 1894[22] – 30 Sep, 1894[23] |
Succeeded by Mervyn H. Cobbe |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Daring 1 Oct, 1894[24] – 21 Jan, 1895[25] |
Succeeded by Reginald G. O. Tupper |
| Preceded by Ernest G. Rason |
Captain of H.M.S. Royalist 14 Jan, 1898[26][27] – 14 Nov, 1899[28] |
Succeeded by Robert W. Myburgh as Captain of H.M.S. Colleen |
Footnotes
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/22 f. 405.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/22 f. 405.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/22 f. 405.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39 f. 547.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 23 December, 1893. Issue 34142, col A, p. 7.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39 f. 547.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1890). p. 244.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1892). p. 252.
- ↑ "The Naval Manœuvres". The Times. Monday, 10 July, 1893. Issue 33999, col D, p. 10.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1894). p. 254.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1894). p. 223.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 23 December, 1893. Issue 34142, col A, p. 7.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 293.
- ↑ Torlesse Service Record. The National Archives. D7579004 ADM 196/39/547. f. 1312.
