Charles Albert Fremantle

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.

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

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.

On 29 July, 1912, Fremantle was appointed in command of the destroyer Badger. 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.

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

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.

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

Post-War

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

Fremantle was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Stuart on 1 January, 1921. 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.

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.

See Also

• Service Records
• First D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
• Wikipedia

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