Edwin Anderson Homan

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Captain (retired) Edwin Anderson Homan, D.S.O. (11 January, 1883 – 7 December, 1951) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Homan gained three months' time on passing out of Britannia. In mid September, 1898 he received his first appointment, to join the first class protected cruiser Diadem on the China Station.

Homan landed Admiral Seymour's force in China and was wounded. Captain Callaghan offered a special recommendation that he be promoted upon reaching 21 months' seniority.

While serving in Implacable in the Mediterranean, on 15 February, 1904 Homan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and appointed to Bacchante.[1]

In November 1910, Homan grounded Ranger off Seloca Bill and was told to be more careful in future.[2]

Homan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 February, 1912.[3]

Homan was appointed in command of the destroyer Basilisk on 13 June, 1912.[4] In September 1912, a Court of Enquiry probed damage to a 12-pdr gun in Basilisk while coaling. Though he was blamed for this, Homan did contribute to good Battle Practice results for the year.[5]

On 20 November, 1914, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Savage.[6]

Homan commanded the destroyer Mary Rose as she operated with the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland.[7] Homan was recommended for promotion after the battle, in which he had "handled his ship with great skill throughout the action under difficult circumstances." Homan was accordingly promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916.[8]

Homan left Mary Rose on 25 August 1916 and was appointed in command of the new "M" Class destroyer Marvel.

On 18 February, 1918, Homan was appointed in command of newly-completed Simoom.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Waterhen on 14 June, 1918.[9]

On 1 January, 1924, Homan was appointed in command of the fishery protection gunboat H.M.S. Exe (formerly Thomas Jarvis) as Local Fishery Naval Officer, Scotland. He left her when he was appointed in command of the patrol boat P38 (soon to be renamed Spey) on 25 January, 1926.[10]

While in Spey, on 15 August, 1925, H.M.S. Harebell's Captain Evans evaluated Homan as a "really good Commander whose one failing is tactlessness. Good leader, good influence, rather too bitter about not being promoted".[11]

Homan was promoted to the rank of Captain on 11 January, 1929.[12]

World War II

Homan served as Naval Officer in Charge of Newport, commencing in September 1938. In 1939, he became Naval Officer in Charge, Avonmouth. He reverted to the Retired List in August 1942 but was immediately called back to serve as Officer in Charge, Naval Detention Quarters, Canterbury Gaol, temporary, vice Handley during his leave. After one month, he was sent to perform the same work at Preston Prison, vice Roe. Similar detention work would take him through February, 1943. He was retired again, for good, in mid 1943.[13]

Homan died of prostate cancer and ancillary effects on 7 December, 1951.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Lewis G. E. Crabbe
Captain of H.M.S. Ferret
1 Dec, 1908[14] – 5 Feb, 1909[15]
Succeeded by
John C. Hodgson
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M. T.B. 26
5 Feb, 1909[16][17] – 15 Aug, 1910[18]
Succeeded by
Edmund A. T. de P. de la Poer
Preceded by
Edmond A. B. Stanley
Captain of H.M.S. Ranger
15 Aug, 1910[19] – 15 Dec, 1910[20]
Succeeded by
James L. C. Clark
Preceded by
Robert G. Hamond
Captain of H.M.S. Arab
15 Dec, 1910[21][22] – 3 Apr, 1911[23]
Succeeded by
Norman M. C. Thurstan
Preceded by
Oliver M. F.-G. Stokes
Captain of H.M.S. Test
3 Apr, 1911[24] – 12 Jun, 1912[25]
Succeeded by
John P. Landon
Preceded by
Adrian St. V. Keyes
Captain of H.M.S. Basilisk
12 Jun, 1912[26][27] – 20 Nov, 1914[28]
Succeeded by
Henry Haire-Forster
Preceded by
Henry Haire-Forster
Captain of H.M.S. Savage
20 Nov, 1914[29][30] – 3 Jan, 1916[31]
Succeeded by
Ralph Neville
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Mary Rose
3 Jan, 1916[32] – 25 Aug, 1916[33]
Succeeded by
Reginald Watkins Grubb
Preceded by
Reginald W. Grubb
Captain of H.M.S. Marvel
25 Aug, 1916[34][35] – Feb, 1918[36]
Succeeded by
Evelyn H. B. L. Scrivener
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Simoom
18 Feb, 1918[37] – 14 Jun, 1918[38]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey W. Walker-Jones
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Waterhen
14 Jun, 1918[39][40] – 15 Nov, 1920[41]
Succeeded by
Philip G. Wodehouse
Preceded by
Charles H. B. Foxley
as Captain of H.M.S. P38
Captain of H.M.S. Spey
21 Jan, 1925[42] – 7 Jan, 1926[43]
Succeeded by
Edgar W. Buchanan

Footnotes

  1. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  2. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  3. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  4. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 284.
  5. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  6. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 379a.
  7. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 34, 45.
  8. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  9. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 942.
  10. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  11. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  12. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  13. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  14. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  15. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  16. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 401.
  17. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  18. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  19. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  20. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  21. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  22. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 278.
  23. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  24. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  25. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  26. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  27. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 282. 13 June given here.
  28. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  29. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  30. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 397w.
  31. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  32. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  33. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  34. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  35. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395p.
  36. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  37. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  38. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  39. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  40. The Navy List. (November, 1920). p. 898.
  41. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  42. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.
  43. Homan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/185. f. 390.