Barry Edward Domvile

Admiral Barry E., Domvile as a Captain, 1918.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR Barry Edward Domvile, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., (5 September, 1878 – 13 August, 1971) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Domvile was born the son of Captain, eventually Admiral Compton Edward Domvile of London. Barry Domvile gained twelve months' time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1894. Prior to taking his examinations, he served in Royal Sovereign, Crescent, Active and Revenge.

Domvile performed exceptionally well in his examinations, earning himself the Beaufort Testimonial, Ryder Memorial Prize and the Goodenough Medal for 1898. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 15 July, 1898.

Domvile passed for gunnery lieutenant in January, 1903 and was appointed to H.M.S. Montagu as gunnery lieutenant on 28 July. He left her when appointed to Leviathan as gunnery officer on 2 May, 1905.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1909.

Domvile was made an Acting Captain on 31 December, 1915.

On 26 April 1916, Domvile was appointed in command of the light cruiser Carysfort.

Domvile was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1916.

On 20 July, 1916 he was appointed to light cruiser Centaur, to take command upon her commissioning.

Domvile was appointed in command of the light cruiser Curacoa on 9 January, 1918.

Post-War

On 3 May 1922, Domvile was appointed to Iron Duke, additional, as Chief of Staff to V/A Osmond de B. Brock, holding the rank of Commodore, Second Class. He followed de B. Broke to Queen Elizabeth after the flag transferred in October, 1924. He was superseded in June of 1925 and was appointed in command of the battleship Royal Sovereign in mid-September 1925.

Domvile was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 July, 1927.

Domvile was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 June, 1931.

Domvile was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 January, 1936 and was placed on the Retired List the following day.

Extremist Views

By the 1930s, Domvile had adopted a pro-Nazi and anti-semitic mindset which he refused to hide. In 1937 he established "The Link," an association "for promoting better knowledge and understanding between the British and German peoples." In July, 1940 he was detained under Defence Regulation 18B, and held in Brixton prison, for being "concerned in acts prejudicial to public safety or the Defence of the Realm." He was released in July, 1943. Lady Domvile (née von der Heydt), and their son, Compton Domvile, were similarly detained, although Lady Domvile was released in December, 1941. Domvile's elder son, Lieutenant Barry Domvile, Royal Artillery, however, was reported missing, believed killed, in Crete in June 1941.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• "Adm Sir B. Domvile" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 16 August, 1971. Issue 58251, col E, p. 12.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum. For a detailed list see Domvile Papers at the National Maritime Museum.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/142.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/125.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/90.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/44.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Mark E. F. Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Cheerful 16 Jul, 1901 – late 1901	Succeeded by Frederic W. Dean
Preceded by Hugh J. Tweedie	Captain of H.M.S. Bonetta 15 Aug, 1910	Succeeded by Richard W. U. Bayly
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Miranda 10 Aug, 1914 – 3 May, 1915	Succeeded by Hugh B. Mulleneux
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Tipperary 3 May, 1915 – 5 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by George P. England
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Lightfoot 5 Sep, 1915 – 23 Nov, 1915	Succeeded by Colin K. MacLean
Preceded by Bertram S. Thesiger	Captain of H.M.S. Arethusa 23 Nov, 1915 – 11 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Charles J. Wintour	Captain of H.M.S. Carysfort 26 Apr, 1916	Succeeded by Henry G. E. Lane
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Centaur 20 Jul, 1916 – 1 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Wion de M. Egerton
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Curacoa 9 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Vernon S. Rashleigh
Preceded by Cyril T. M. Fuller	Director of Plans 1 May, 1920 – 3 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by A. Dudley P. R. Pound
Preceded by Rudolf M. Burmester	Chief of Staff, Mediterranean Station 3 May, 1922	Succeeded by Alfred D. P. R. Pound
Preceded by Bernard St. G. Collard	Captain of H.M.S. Royal Sovereign 14 Sep, 1925 – 1 Nov, 1926	Succeeded by William M. James
Preceded by William W. Fisher	Director of Naval Intelligence 15 Aug, 1927 – 15 Aug, 1930	Succeeded by Cecil V. Usborne
Preceded by Arthur J. Davies	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron 27 Dec, 1930 – 2 Feb, 1932	Succeeded by Francis W. L. Tottenham
Preceded by William H. D. Boyle	President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich 1 Aug, 1932	Succeeded by Ragnar M. Colvin