Ernest Walter Kirkby

Commander Ernest Walter Kirkby, D.S.O. (5 July, 1885 –27 December, 1960) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Ware, Hertford as the son of a reverend, Kirky gained two and a half months on passing out of Britannia on 15 January, 1902 when he was appointed to the battleship Jupiter. He served there until being appointed to Ocean on the China Station in mid-June, 1903.

Kirkby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1907 while serving in the Britannia. He continued to serve in the ship in lieu of a sub-Lieutenant until 29 April, 1908.

Kirkby was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 041 on December, 1909.

In 1910, Kirby grounded T.B. 041 and was cautioned to be more careful in future.

In 1911, Kirkby lost a copy of "Instructions for Mine Sweeping by Torpedo Boats" and was again admonished to be more careful in future.

In February, 1912, Kirkby was given an Italian medal and a diploma for having rendered services at the Messina Earthquake in December, 1908. On 6 May, he was examined for an injury to his right thigh sustained while coaling Leviathan. A month later he was fit.

Kirkby was appointed in command of the destroyer Zephyr on 21 January, 1914.

Great War

In January, Zephyr struck Felixstowe Rock and Kirkby was told by the Commander-in-Chief that he had committed an error in judgment and he was cautioned to be more careful in future.

Kirkby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1915.

A collision between Manly and Matchless on 26 July, 1916 resulted in Kirkby being cautioned to be more careful in future.

In April, 1917, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Torrid.

Kirkby's work commanding Torrid in the Harwich Force in the period between 1 July and 11 November 1917 earned him a D.S.O.. This was gazetted 20 February, 1919 and invested by the King at Buckingham Palace on 26 July, 1919. He had placed Torrid into reserve at Devonport in February, 1919 and left the ship on 1 October, 1919 when he was superseded.

Rear-Admiral Reynolds recorded that Kirby was "the best station-keeper in the Flotilla" in February, 1919.

Interbellum

Kirkby was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1919.

Kirkby was appointed in command of the destroyer Seraph in August, 1920. This last appointment would end in ignominy when Kirkby was severely reprimanded and dismissed the ship on 29 July, 1922, "not to be re-employed" when a Court Martial proved a charge of neglect of duty against him. The sentence was approved by the Second Sea Lord. Kirkby was placed on the books of Egmont in Malta, temporary, the next day.

World War II

In September 1937, Kirkby was appointed to Fortitude, additional, for command of the yacht Glen Strathallan upon her commissioning, but reverted to the Retired List at his own request on 1 August, 1940. In January, 1941 he commenced duty outside the Admiralty "with M.N.B.D.O.".

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles C. de M. Malan	Captain of H.M. T.B. 105 28 Feb, 1909 – 14 May, 1909	Succeeded by Archibald R. J. Southby
Preceded by Charles E. H. White	Captain of H.M. T.B. 041 Dec, 1909 – 16 May, 1911	Succeeded by Edward P. U. Broad
Preceded by Arthur G. Onslow	Captain of H.M. T.B. 18 14 Aug, 1913 – Feb, 1914	Succeeded by Arthur E. H. Wright
Preceded by Charles L. M. M. Crichton	Captain of H.M.S. Zephyr 21 Jan, 1914 – 12 Nov, 1915	Succeeded by Arthur H. Notley
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Ossory Nov, 1915 – c. late Nov, 1915	Succeeded by Harold V. Dundas
Preceded by Harold V. Dundas	Captain of H.M.S. Cameleon c. late Nov, 1915 – 27 Jan, 1916	Succeeded by Reginald St. P. Parry
Preceded by Charles G. Ramsey	Captain of H.M.S. Manly 3 Feb, 1916 – Apr, 1917	Succeeded by Robert H. B. Hammond-Chambers
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Torrid Apr, 1917 – 1 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by Frederick W. F. Fegen
Preceded by John P. Landon	Captain of H.M.S. Seraph Aug, 1920 – 29 Jul, 1922	Succeeded by Frederic C. Bradley