Charles William Rawson Royds

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Vice-Admiral SIR Charles William Rawson Royds, K.B.E., C.M.G., Royal Navy, Retired (1 February, 1876 – 5 January, 1931) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

On 16 October, 1897, Royds was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, dated 15 December, 1896.[1]

Commander

Royds was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 30 June, 1909. On 27 July he was reappointed to King Edward VII as Commander (Second-in-Command), remaining in her until 26 January, 1911, when he was appointed to Victory to commission the new battleship Hercules.[2] On commissioning Hercules served as flagship of the Second Division of the Home Fleet, which in 1912 became the Second Battle Squadron, and wore the flags of Vice-Admirals Sir George A. Callaghan and Sir John R. Jellicoe.

On 28 January, 1913, he was appointed Commander of the Neptune, flagship of Sir George Callaghan, now Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleets. He transferred to the new battleship Iron Duke in August in order to commission her as the new fleet flagship.[3]

Great War

Royds remained as Commander of Iron Duke after Callaghan was replaced by Jellicoe immediately prior to the outbreak of war. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1914. On the same day he was appointed to Cyclops for special service at Scapa Flow. On 19 February, 1915, he became Flag Captain to Admiral Sir Stanley C. J. Colville, Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands (A.C.O.S.).[4]

He was appointed in command of the battleship Emperor of India on 30 June, 1915.[5]

Post-War

Royds was superseded in command of Emperor of India on 2 January, 1919. On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) on 3 June.[6]

Royds was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 2 March, 1926, and placed on the Retired List at his own request on 3 March.[7]

Bibliography

  • "Vice-Admiral Royds" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 6 January, 1931. Issue 45713, col D, p. 7.

Papers

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William C. M. Nicholson
Captain of H.M.S. Emperor of India
30 Jun, 1915[8][9] – 2 Jan, 1919[10]
Succeeded by
Joseph C. W. Henley
Preceded by
Francis A. Marten
Captain of Royal Naval College, Osborne
2 Feb, 1921[11] – 3 May, 1921[Inference]
Succeeded by
Charles F. R. Cowan
Preceded by
Edward Reeves
Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport
13 Oct, 1923[12] – 14 Oct, 1925[13]
Succeeded by
Charles W. Round-Turner

 

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 26901. p. 5725. 19 October, 1897.
  2. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  3. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  4. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  5. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  6. The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13459. p. 2063. 5 June, 1919.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.
  8. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 786.
  9. Royds Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  10. Royds Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  11. Royds Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  12. Royds Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 290.
  13. Royds Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 290.