Bentinck John Davies Yelverton

Admiral Bentinck J. D. Yelverton, 1917.
© National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral Bentinck John Davies Yelverton, C.B., R.N., Retired (28 October, 1862 – 7 January, 1959), born Bentinck John Davies, was an officer in the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Bentinck John Davies Yelverton was born Bentinck John Davies at Penzance, Cornwall, on 28 October, 1862, the son of Rowland Augustus Griffith Davies, a solicitor and Justice of the Peace, and Pauline Cecilia Louisa Anna Davies, née Yelverton. His father died on 4 September, 1864, whilst Mayor of Penzance. He entered the Royal Navy and was appointed as a Naval Cadet to the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth on 15 January, 1876. He was placed thirty-eighth in order of merit out of forty-two candidates who passed the examination for naval cadetships. He left Britannia on 20 December, 1877, having gained three months' time for Midshipman for conduct. On 21 December, 1877, he was appointed to the Shannon on the Pacific Station. On 20 September, 1878, he was rated Midshipman, and on 30 October, 1879, was appointed to the Comus on the China Station. He passed his Seamanship examination with a First Class certificate and was promoted to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 20 September, 1882. He returned home in the Rocket, and was appointed to Excellent for examinations for the rank of Lieutenant.

On 12 January he qualified as a Navigator for other than first class ships, and on 15 January was Navigating Officer of Forrester. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1885.

In 1886, Yelverton was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal.

Yelverton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1898.

Captain

On 24 September, 1904, Yelverton was appointed to President for the war course at Greenwich, where he obtained a Third Class pass. Completing this on 20 February, 1905, he was appointed on the same say to Firequeen for the month-long Senior Officers' Signal Course, and thence for a series of Gunnery and Torpedo courses.

He was appointed to Pembroke, additional, for trials of the Jupiter on 17 July, 1905. On 15 August he was appointed to command first class protected cruiser H.M.S. Ariadne, a nucleus crew ship at Portsmouth, which command he held until 6 November, 1906. Rear-Admiral Charles H. Cross, commanding the Portsmouth Reserve Division, wrote that, "Judging from the one cruise he has been with me I consider him trustworthy & with good nerve & judgement."

Yelverton was appointed to command Talbot on 6 November, 1906, where he remained until 6 November, 1908, bar a brief Signal Course at Portsmouth between 21 January and 8 February, 1907. In January, 1907, Rear-Admiral Edward H. Gamble, commanding the Devonport Reserve Division, wrote of him that, "Although only a short time with me in Reserve Squadron, from my former experience of him he is a zealous officer with good judgement." The Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, wrote of him in November, 1908:

Zealous, good judgement, very good physical qualities. A very good officer who keeps his ship in good man of war order. Recommended for advancement.

Yelverton was appointed to President for the war course on 6 November, 1908, but did not complete it. He was appointed in command of the battleship Vengeance in the Home Fleet on 27 November, 1908. On 24 March, 1909, he was appointed in command of battleship Bulwark in the Channel Fleet, which soon after became part of the Home Fleet. He gave up command of Bulwark on 1 March, 1910. The fleet Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir William H. May, noted that:

Captain Yelverton is a very good practical officer [who] handles his ship very well & is a thorough disciplinarian. He gives great promise of making a good Flag officer & I should be pleased to have him in any fleet with me.

On 1 March, 1910, Yelverton was appointed to Fisgard as Inspecting Captain of Mechanical Training Establishments. He was superseded after two years on 1 March, 1912. The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, Admiral Sir Arthur W. Moore, described Yelverton as a "zealous and capable officer," whilst Their Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty expressed their appreciation at the efficiency and good organisation of the mechanical training establishments which they considered due to "zeal & ability with which Captain Yelverton has carried out the duties of Inspecting Captain."

On 4 March, 1912, Yelverton was appointed to President for the war course at Portsmouth. Again, he didn't complete it as on 18 March, 1912, he was appointed in command of H.M.S. Terrible, and a group of ships in reserve of the Fourth Division, Home Fleet. On 1 July he was appointed to H.M.S. Royal Arthur and in command of a group of ships of the Third Fleet, Home Fleets. He transferred to armoured cruiser Aboukir in a similar capacity on 22 October, 1912, and to armoured cruiser Good Hope on 1 February, 1913. He commanded Good Hope during the 1913 manœuvres. In November, 1912, Rear-Admiral Arthur Y. Moggridge wrote of Yelverton that he, "Has shown much zeal, tact, judgement, & firmness as S.O.T.F. at Portsmouth." Rear-Admiral Reginald G. O. Tupper wrote of him a year later, "Has been most zealous & has afforded me great assistance in improving the general readiness for war & cleanliness & efficiency of 3^rd Fleet of Portsmouth Division during my year here."

Great War

Yelverton was appointed in command of the cruiser Suffolk on 19 August, 1914.

On 17 July, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Anstruther, and in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 18 July. In recognition of his services during the war he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 22 June, 1916.

On 18 September, 1916 he was appointed to H.M.S. President to serve as Senior Naval Officer, Folkestone, where he would remain until 21 October, 1919.

Post-War

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 3 November, 1919, and to Admiral on 1 August, 1924. He died at his home at Great Brookham, Surrey, on 7 January, 1959, aged ninety-six.

Bibliography

• "Adml. B. J. D. Yelverton" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 8 January, 1959. Issue 54353, col D, p. 14.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Cecil F. Thursby	Captain of Training Ship H.M.S. St. Vincent 9 Jan, 1902 – 30 Jun, 1904	Succeeded by George C. Cayley
Preceded by James Startin	Captain of H.M.S. Jupiter 17 Jul, 1905 – 15 Aug, 1905	Succeeded by Herbert A. Warren
Preceded by A. Gordon H. W. Moore	Captain of H.M.S. Ariadne 15 Aug, 1905 – 6 Nov, 1906	Succeeded by Edward F. B. Charlton
Preceded by Herbert C. C. Da Costa	Captain of H.M.S. Talbot 6 Nov, 1906 – 6 Nov, 1908	Succeeded by Bertram M. Chambers
Preceded by William E. Goodenough	Captain of H.M.S. Vengeance 27 Nov, 1908 – 24 Mar, 1909	Succeeded by Edward G. W. Davy
Preceded by Robert F. Scott	Captain of H.M.S. Bulwark 24 Mar, 1909 – 1 Mar, 1910	Succeeded by Cunningham R. de C. Foot
Preceded by Edmund H. Smith	Inspecting Captain of Mechanical Training Establishments 1 Mar, 1910 – 1 Mar, 1912	Succeeded by Robert E. R. Benson
Preceded by Joseph R. Bridson	Captain of H.M.S. Terrible 18 Mar, 1912 – 1 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Charles P. Beaty-Pownall
Preceded by George B. W. Young	Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur 1 Jul, 1912 – 22 Oct, 1912	Succeeded by John F. E. Green
Preceded by A. Ernle M. Chatfield	Captain of H.M.S. Aboukir 22 Oct, 1912 – 1 Feb, 1913	Succeeded by Reginald L. Crichton
Preceded by Reginald L. Crichton	Captain of H.M.S. Good Hope 1 Feb, 1913 – 15 Jul, 1913	Succeeded by Vernon H. S. Haggard
Preceded by Philip Francklin	Captain of H.M.S. Suffolk 19 Aug, 1914 – 25 Aug, 1916	Succeeded by Christopher R. Payne
Preceded by Pennant A. I. Lloyd	Senior Naval Officer, Folkestone 18 Sep, 1916 – 21 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?