Edwin Veale Underhill

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Admiral Edwin Veale Underhill, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (27 March, 1868 – 23 July, 1928) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Underhill was born in Queenstown.

In 1883, Underhill went to sea for the first time as a cadet and then Midshipman, spending three years in the corvette Sapphire on the China Station.[1] He then served in the central battery ironclad Sultan in the Channel Squadron until being sent to the Royal Naval College on 31 May 1887.[2]

Underhill was appointed to T.B. 67 for the Annual Manoeuvres of 1888 and, later in the year, to the elderly gunvessel Avon for navigating duties. In December 1889, he was sent to Grappler for the same work, this time for six months.[3]

Underhill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant dated 1 October, 1890.[4] He remained in the torpedo gunboat H.M.S. Sandfly afterward, as navigator.

He was acting as the navigator of the third class protected cruiser Philomel when the Sultan of Zanzibar's palace was bombarded on 27 August, 1896.[1]

Underhill was promoted to the rank of Commander on 26 June, 1902.[5]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1907.[6]

He was appointed in command of the Royal Arthur on 6 January, 1909 for trooping duties. On 23 July, he was tasked with assisting the Captain of Portsmouth Royal Dockyard, remaining in that role only until 12 August. He was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Andromeda on 26 January, 1910, once more for trooping.[7]

On 15 August, 1911, Underhill was appointed in command of the light cruiser Weymouth.[8]

Underhill was appointed captain of Majestic on 14 August, 1913.[9]

Great War

He was appointed command of the battleship Temeraire on 3 March, 1916.[10] He commanded her at the Battle of Jutland, and issued a report that she fired fifty-four 12-in and forty 4-in shells and suffered no damage.

Underhill was faulted in August 1916 for damage sustained by the topmast of the store carrier Upnor as she came alongside, asd Temeraire had one of her midship 12-in turrets trained outboard at the time

On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June, 1918.[11]

Underhill was to remain in command of Temeraire through the end of the war, leaving her in February, 1919.[12] .

A telegram had been received on New Year's Day, 1919, that Underhill had been removed to a Hospital Ship due to pneumonia, "Condition Serious", but he improved after a few days in rough shape.[13] An interesting insight into his character is contained in manuscript letter by one of his officers, identified only as "Hal" (possibly her Navigating Commander, Harry Cecil Brand Pipon): "He is going on well, but will probably take some time to get quite well. In the meantime Brookfield has put on a fourth stripe & is thoroughly enjoying himself as acting captain. He is very unfussy and quite undisturbed at any close work on the bridge which is very pleasant. Old Underhill used to get very nervous & consequently troublesome."[14]

On 3 February, Underhill was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral.[15]

In May 1919 Underhill was cited as "one of the grandest gentlemen who ever commanded a ship." [16]

He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 1 September, 1924.[17] and was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 5 April, 1928.[18]

He died "suddenly" at Southsea on Sunday, 23 July, 1928 (not the 22nd, his widow Cecelia Mary wrote to clarify), leaving Cecelia Mary and three sons.[1]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral E. V. Underhill" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 24 July, 1928. Issue 44953, col D, pg. 18.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Robert E. R. Benson 		Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur
6 Jan, 1909[19][20] – 23 Jul, 1909[21] 		Succeeded by
Herbert W. James
Preceded by
Crawford Maclachlan 		Captain of H.M.S. Andromeda
26 Jan, 1910[22] – Apr, 1910[23] 		Succeeded by
Herbert J. Savill
Preceded by
Herbert J. O. Millar 		Captain of H.M.S. Juno
11 Oct, 1910[24][25] – 15 Aug, 1911[26] 		Succeeded by
Francis W. Caulfeild
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth
15 Aug, 1911[27] – 14 Aug, 1913[28] 		Succeeded by
William D. Church
Preceded by
Guy R. A. Gaunt 		Captain of H.M.S. Majestic
14 Aug, 1913[29] – 9 Jun, 1914[30] 		Succeeded by
Henry F. G. Talbot
Preceded by
William J. S. Alderson 		Captain of H.M.S. Devonshire
9 Jun, 1914[31] – 3 Mar, 1916[32] 		Succeeded by
John D. Kelly
Preceded by
Allen T. Hunt 		Captain of H.M.S. Temeraire
3 Mar, 1916[33] – 13 Feb, 1919[34] 		Succeeded by
Edward W. H. Brookfield
Preceded by
Sir Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan, Bart. 		Admiral Superintendent, Devonport Dockyard
1 Sep, 1919[35] 		Succeeded by
Hugh L. P. Heard

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Admiral E. V. Underhill" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 24 July, 1928. Issue 44953, col D, pg. 18.
  2. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  3. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26093. p. 5268. 3 October, 1890.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27448. p. 4198. 26 June, 1902.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28096. p. 34. 3 January, 1908.
  7. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  8. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 397.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 343.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398o.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30723. p. 6527. 3 June, 1918.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 915.
  13. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  14. ↑ HAL ?, ROYAL NAVY - 1919 Original Archive of Seven Manuscript Letters Handwritten by a Royal Navy Officer of the HMS Temeraire Detailing the Ship's Role in Settling the Post World War Eastern Mediterranean.
  15. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 194.
  16. ↑ Quoted in Western Morning News (Friday, 23 May 1919), p. 8.
  17. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33376. p. 2741. 17 April, 1928.
  19. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  20. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 369.
  21. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  22. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  23. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  24. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 334.
  26. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  27. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 397.
  28. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  29. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 343.
  30. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  31. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393j.
  32. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  33. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 915.
  34. ↑ Underhill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 480.
  35. ↑ "Flag Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. 1 September, 1919. Issue 42193, col F, p. 16.

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