Denis Burke Crampton
Vice-Admiral Denis Burke Crampton, M.V.O., D.S.O., R.N. (14 June, 1873 – December, 1936) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Stratford-on-Avon, Crampton gained ten months' time on passing out of Britannia. He first served in Monarch of the Channel Squadron, appointed 16 October 1888. On 4 December, he went to Champion in the Pacific. He remained in Champion until she paid off on 4 December 1894 and his evaluators comment on his skills at chart drawing.[1]
Crampton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December 1894.[2]
On 1 July 1898, Crampton was chastised for failing to obtain leave from his commanding officer before leaving Chatham to take up his appointment as navigator in Thames. He served in Thames until 7 September, when he was appointed navigating officer in Proserpine. Crampton was awarded the Shadwell Testimonial in 1899 for a plan of La Guaira Harbour. He left Proserpine when she paid off on 28 November, 1901. On 11 January, he was appointed navigating officer in Sutlej and served in her until she paid off on 22 December, 1903.[3]
Crampton was appointed to Hannibal in the Channel on leaving Sutlej, and was promoted to the rank of Commander in her on December, 1904. He continued to serve as her navigator until being appointed to the battleship Victorious on 27 February 1905.[4]
On 1 January, 1907, Crampton was appointed to the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert as navigator. While still in Victoria and Albert, Crampton was admitted to Haslar on 15 May 1911 with a liver disease. While still unfit, he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 22 June, 1911 and superseded in the Royal yacht on 14 July. On 31 July, he was found fit. On 19 August, he was appointed in command of the depot ship Alexandra.[5]
He was fifth of fourteen captains in order of merit in a Royal Navy War College class focusing on Signal and War Course of 2 March – 19 June, 1914.
In April 1915, he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Weymouth. From 6 to 11 July, he directed her in operations against the German light cruiser Königsberg in the Rufiji Delta. Crampton later served as S.N.O, Brindisi during the [illeg] of the Serbian Army from Durazzo between December 1915 and February 1916 and directed cruisers in covering operations, for which he was awarded a D.S.O..[6]
Crampton was appointed in command of the battleship Hindustan on 19 June, 1916.[7]
On 13 August, 1917, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar. He served in this capacity through the end of the war.
Post-War
Crampton was ordered home from Gibraltar on 1 February 1919 when his services were no longer required. He took up as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard in the Irish Sea Area at the beginning of 1920. In mid-October, he was granted 28 days leave if the industrial unrest then brewing did not prevent such, but on the 26th it was declared that things were too unsettled for his leave. It would have to wait. Crampton was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 4 April, 1922 and placed on the Retired List at his own request the following day. On 4 January 1927 he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral, retired.[8]
Crampton died at Cherangani, Kenya Colony.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by George R. Mansell |
Captain of H.M.Y. Alexandra 19 Aug, 1911[9][10] – 19 Jun, 1914[11] |
Succeeded by Thomas Killick |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Kinfauns Castle 4 Aug, 1914[12][13] – 6 Apr, 1915[14] |
Succeeded by Tristan Dannreuther |
| Preceded by William D. Church |
Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth 6 Apr, 1915[15][16] – 19 Jun, 1916[17] |
Succeeded by John D. Kelly |
| Preceded by John Nicholas |
Captain of H.M.S. Hindustan 19 Jun, 1916[18][19] – 13 Aug, 1917[20] |
Succeeded by Charles W. Keighly-Peach |
| Preceded by ? |
In Command of the Coastguard, Irish Sea Area 1 Jan, 1920[21] – 15 Jan, 1922[22] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395e.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 276.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 401m.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 399i.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395e.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
- ↑ Crampton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 350.
