Bernard Armitage Warburton Warburton-Lee

Captain Bernard Armitage Warburton Warburton-Lee, V.C. (13 September, 1895 – 10 April, 1940) served in the Royal Navy and possessed such remarkable abilities at tennis and other sports that they are often mentioned in his service records.

He added the hyphen in his name on 25 November, 1919.

Life & Career

Lee's first naval appointment was to Hyacinth as a Midshipman on 15 January, 1913. He was promoted to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 15 January, 1915 and to Sub-Lieutenant on 15 July, on both occasions being re-appointed in Hyacinth. He quit the ship on 31 July, 1915 and took an appointment in the destroyer Cherwell on 15 September.

Lee left Cherwell on 3 January, 1916 and the next day received an appointment in the more modern destroyer Mameluke.

Lee was promoted to the rank of Acting Lieutenant on 15 January, 1917, and to Lieutenant on 15 April.

Lee left Mameluke when he was appointed to the Mischief on 21 April, 1917. He went over to Wrestler on 16 April, 1918. Lee was mentioned in despatches for his services in Grand Fleet destroyers in the first half of 1918. However, in November, 1918, a Court of Enquiry found him at fault in a collision between Conqueror and his command, Wrestler. Lee had not been keeping a good lookout and was cautioned to be more careful in future.

Post-War

Warburton-Lee did not leave Wrestler until 12 April, 1921 and proceeded to take a series of Gunnery courses, intersperse with some unpaid time.

He married on 9 October, 1924 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 January, 1925.

Warburton-Lee was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1936.

World War II

Appointed in command of Hardy on 28 July, 1939 and as Captain (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla.

Warburton-Lee was in her when he was killed in action in the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April, 1940, being awarded the Victoria Cross on 5 June, 1940 for his bold leadership in the battle.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Irvine G. Glennie	Captain of H.M.S. Tuscan 28 Nov, 1924 – 7 Feb, 1925	Succeeded by Reginald B. C. Hutchinson
Preceded by Frederick Medway	Captain of H.M.S. Sterling 7 Feb, 1925 – 30 Mar, 1926	Succeeded by Stephen H. T. Arliss
Preceded by William S. Moor	Captain of H.M.S. Walpole 30 Mar, 1926 – 5 Apr, 1928	Succeeded by Richard F. Jolly
Preceded by Gordon F. Hannay	Captain of H.M.S. Vanessa 9 Apr, 1928 – Jul, 1930	Succeeded by Cyril F. Tower
Preceded by Ivo W. L. Frewen-Laton	Captain of H.M.S. Bryony 7 Apr, 1933 – Jan, 1934	Succeeded by Cecil A. N. Chatwin
Preceded by Ralph Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Decoy 23 Oct, 1934	Succeeded by John M. Howson
Preceded by John M. Howson	Captain of H.M.S. Witch 17 Dec, 1934 – Jan, 1936	Succeeded by John Lee-Barber
Preceded by Wilfrid R. Patterson	Captain of H.M.S. Hawkins 14 Feb, 1938 – 21 Jun, 1938	Succeeded by Thomas I. S. Bell
Preceded by Hugh W. S. Browning	Captain of H.M.S. Effingham 21 Jun, 1938 – 17 Apr, 1939	Succeeded by John M. Howson
Preceded by Ralph Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Hardy 28 Jul, 1939 – 10 Apr, 1940	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Ralph Kerr	Captain (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla 28 Jul, 1939 – 10 Apr, 1940	Succeeded by Arthur N. Rowell as Commander (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla