Charles Tibbits

Vice-Admiral (retired) Charles Tibbits, C.B.E., M.V.O., (19 June, 1872 – 13 October, 1947) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Tibbits gained a full 18 months on passing out of Britannia in July, 1887. He was appointed to the Bellerophon on 30 July, 1887 and would stay in her through May, 1890.

Tibbits was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1893.

Lieutenant Tibbits was appointed to command the destroyer Bat on 3 August, 1897, but this was cancelled in favour of the same posting in Shark.

On 31 October, 1899 the Admiralty agreed that damage to the propellor of Swordfish was due to an error on Tibbits's part.

Tibbits was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1905.

The Admiralty expressed severe displeasure at unsatisfactory results in a gunlaying competition, finding that Tibbits had neglected proper training.

As a Commander, Tibbits was appointed in command of the Argonaut, which was to train stokers in Portsmouth, on 1 January 1913.

Tibbits was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1913.

Great War

Days after the outbreak of war, Tibbits was appointed in command of the armed merchant cruiser Mantua. He grounded the armed merchant cruiser Mantua on 26-7 April, 1915 and was asked to exercise greater caution in future.

He was appointed in command of the battleship Albion on 25 October, 1916 and assumed command on 8 November.

Post-War

Tibbits was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 23 May, 1924 and was placed on the Retired List at his own request the next day.

Tibbits was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 24 March, 1929.

See Also

• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Ernest C. T. Troubridge	Captain of H.M.S. Shark 10 Aug, 1897 – 24 Aug, 1897	Succeeded by Godfrey E. Corbett
Preceded by Murray F. Sueter	Captain of H.M.S. Fame 24 Aug, 1897	Succeeded by Roger J. B. Keyes
Preceded by Cecil H. Fox	Captain of H.M.S. Contest 25 Aug, 1899 – 2 Sep, 1899	Succeeded by Reginald A. Norton
Preceded by John Michael de Robeck	Captain of H.M.S. Angler 2 Sep, 1899 – 5 Sep, 1900	Succeeded by Philip J. Stopford
Preceded by Alan C. Bruce	Captain of H.M.S. Swordfish 2 Sep, 1899 – 7 Nov, 1899	Succeeded by John W. E. Townsend
Preceded by The Hon. George A. Hardinge	Captain of H.M.S. Rattler 14 Feb, 1901 – 19 Sep, 1903	Succeeded by Oswald C. M. Barry
Preceded by William Sims	Captain of H.M.S. Leda 12 Jan, 1904 – 18 Jul, 1905	Succeeded by John B. Hancock
Preceded by William Cadman	Captain of H.M.S. Blackwater 23 Jan, 1906 – 1906	Succeeded by John E. Cameron
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Saracen 18 Jun, 1909 – 2 Feb, 1910	Succeeded by James W. G. Innes
Preceded by Fawcet Wray	Captain of H.M.S. Foresight 2 Feb, 1910 – 14 Jun, 1912	Succeeded by Herbert N. Garnett
Preceded by William N. England	Captain of H.M.S. Renown 14 Jun, 1912 – Jan, 1913	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John Nicholas	Captain of H.M.S. Argonaut 1 Jan, 1913 – 30 Jun, 1913	Succeeded by Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville
Preceded by Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville	Captain of H.M.S. Spartiate 30 Jun, 1913 – 1913	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Charles H. Morgan	Captain of H.M.S. Ariadne 1913 – 8 Jan, 1914	Succeeded by Herbert MacI. Edwards
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Mantua 4 Aug, 1914 – 12 Aug, 1916	Succeeded by Guy M. Marston
Preceded by Frederick A. Powlett	Captain of H.M.S. Albion 25 Oct, 1916 – 14 Dec, 1916	Succeeded by The Hon. Stanhope Hawke
Preceded by Alexander Farrington	Captain of H.M.S. Cyclops 14 Dec, 1916 – 7 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by Henry L. Bethune	Captain of H.M.S. Victorious 7 Mar, 1919 – 13 Apr, 1920	Succeeded by ?