Charles Albert Fremantle

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Captain Charles Albert Fremantle (15 March, 1878 – 19 June, 1952) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Fremantle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1900.[1]

Fremantle was appointed in command of the destroyer Ferret in October, 1906.[2]

He grounded the destroyer Whiting on two occasions in 1909 or thereabouts.

He drew considerable attention in command of Grasshopper when he damaged a propellor while leaving Felixstowe Dock and lost five shackles of cable while towing Afridi. Though the destroyer performed beautifully in gunlayers' tests, she received a less than satisfactory inspection and on another occasion, Fremantle was criticised for losing two torpedoes and failing to display a suitable degree of energy in recovering them.[3]

On 29 July, 1912, Fremantle was appointed in command of the destroyer Badger.[4] He would receive recognition for his "zeal & ingenuity" in designing a mechanical means of controlling her searchlights, a version of this system would be fitted to other destroyers in the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla.[5]

Fremantle was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1913.[6]

On 28 October, 1914 he would report ramming a U-boat. He would be criticised for sending a radio signal for claiming he had sunk the submarine when no good evidence supported the claim. Moreover, he was thought to have displayed a "want of [consideration?] or possibilities of situation in not going full speed ahead so as to force the S/M under water.[7]

At the Battle of Jutland, he commanded Badger her as part of the First Destroyer Flotilla.[8]

Post-War

Fremantle was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1918.[9]

Fremantle was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Stuart on 1 January, 1921.[10] In May, he received a favourable inspection report soon after taking command of the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla. In August, 1922, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request.[11]

He served in World War II, being called up in 1939. In July, 1940 he was appointed as Flag Officer in Charge, Belfast, with a rank of Commodore. In 1943, he was appointed to Eaglet to work with the Liverpool Convoy Pool, with a rank of Commodore, Second Class, R.N.R.. He reverted to the Retired List on 2 September, 1945.[12]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Percy Pitts
Captain of H.M.S. Leven
12 May, 1905[13] – Oct, 1906[14]
Succeeded by
Henry C. D. Field
Preceded by
Arthur L. Popham
Captain of H.M.S. Ferret
Oct, 1906[15] – 2 Apr, 1907[16]
Succeeded by
Frederick E. K. Strong
Preceded by
William H. Darwall
Captain of H.M.S. Janus
23 Mar, 1907[17] – 26 Feb, 1909
Succeeded by
John Kiddle
Preceded by
Henry B. Cox
Captain of H.M.S. Whiting
2 Apr, 1907[18] – 21 Apr, 1907[19]
Succeeded by
John Kiddle
Preceded by
John Kiddle
Captain of H.M.S. Whiting
26 Feb, 1909[20] – 2 Jul, 1910[21]
Succeeded by
George B. Hartford
Preceded by
Ernest Stevenson
Captain of H.M.S. Virago
24 Jan, 1910[22] – 2 Jul, 1910[23]
Succeeded by
Charles E. Lloyd Thomas
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Grasshopper
2 Jul, 1910[24][25] – 29 Jul, 1912[26]
Succeeded by
Reginald T. Amedroz
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Badger
29 Jul, 1912[27][28] – after 1 Jun, 1916[29]
Succeeded by
Theodore E. J. Bigg
Preceded by
Theodore E. J. Bigg
Captain of H.M.S. Nereus
Apr, 1916[30] – 28 May, 1917[31]
Succeeded by
Henry E. Horan
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Valentine
28 May, 1917[32][33] – 20 Mar, 1919[34]
Succeeded by
Aubrey T. Tillard
Preceded by
The Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower
Captain of H.M.S. Stuart
1 Jan, 1921[35][36]
Succeeded by
Humphrey T. Walwyn
Preceded by
The Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower
Captain (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla
1 Jan, 1921[37]
Succeeded by
Sidney J. Meyrick

Footnotes

  1. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  2. The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 313-15.
  3. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  4. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 280.
  5. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  6. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  7. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  8. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  9. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  10. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 868.
  11. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  12. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 220.
  13. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  14. Month inferred from his next appointment. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  15. The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 313-15.
  16. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  17. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 334.
  18. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  19. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  20. The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 397.
  21. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  22. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  23. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  24. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  25. The Navy List. (April, 1911). pp. 321, 322.
  26. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  27. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 280.
  28. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  29. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  30. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396e.
  31. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  32. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398p.
  33. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  34. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  35. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 868.
  36. Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 441.
  37. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 868.