Francis Alexander Waddilove Buller

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Rear-Admiral (retired) Francis Alexander Waddilove Buller, D.S.O., (14 May, 1879 – 14 July, 1943) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Wartington, Buller was the son of Admiral Alexander Buller, C.B..[1] His older brother, Henry Tritton Buller, was also destined to become a prominent Royal Navy officer.

Buller was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1900.[2]

In 1911, an inspection of Mohawk concluded that excessive amounts of liquor were being consumed.[3]

As a Lieutenant, Buller was appointed in command of the new destroyer Phoenix on 11 May, 1912, joining the First Destroyer Flotilla.[4]

Buller was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913. In late 1913, he suffered a concussion, but he was fit by 25 November.[5]

Great War

In 1916, Buller was blamed for not showing navigation lights in a collision between Matchless and Template:UK-TB. Buller was awarded a D.S.O. for his distinguished service with the Harwich Force in 1917. On 18 May, 1917 he attacked a submarine. On 31 December of that year, Buller was promoted to the rank of Captain.[6]

He was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Blanche in April, 1918.

Post-War

On 8 January, 1919, Buller was appointed in command of the light cruiser Caroline, though he would be replaced in just a month's time.[7]

On 15 November, 1919, a Court Martial proved a charge against him that he negligently caused Campbell to be stranded.

Buller was placed on the retired list on 14 July, 1922 and advanced to Rear-Admiral while retired on 29 May, 1929. Buller succumbed to cancer on 14 July, 1943.[8]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Osmond J. Prentis
Captain of H.M.S. Leopard
30 Jul, 1906[9][10] – 10 Jul, 1907[11]
Succeeded by
Robert J. Buchanan
Preceded by
Lionel G. Preston
Captain of H.M.S. Bruizer
10 Jul, 1907[12][13] – 23 Sep, 1909[14]
Succeeded by
Kennedy G. Brooke
Preceded by
Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville
Captain of H.M.S. Mohawk
15 Dec, 1910[15][16] – 1 Feb, 1912[17]
Succeeded by
Bruce Lloyd-Owen
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Phoenix
11 May, 1912[18] – 14 Aug, 1913[19]
Succeeded by
Michael K. H. Kennedy
Preceded by
Arthur B. S. Dutton
Captain of H.M.S. Meteor
3 Mar, 1915[20][21] – 13 Jan, 1917[22]
Succeeded by
Robert A. Hornell
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Stork
13 Jan, 1917[23] – 8 Jul, 1917[24]
Succeeded by
Alan F. W. Howard
Preceded by
Wion de M. Egerton
Captain of H.M.S. Lightfoot
8 Jul, 1917[25] – 26 Sep, 1917[26]
Succeeded by
Frederick E. K. Strong
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Shakespeare
26 Sep, 1917[27][28] – 5 Apr, 1918[29]
Succeeded by
Malcolm L. Goldsmith
Preceded by
Reginald A. R. Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax
Captain of H.M.S. Blanche
5 Apr, 1918[30][31] – 8 Jan, 1919[32]
Succeeded by
Charles A. W. Wrightson
Preceded by
Oliver E. Leggett
Captain of H.M.S. Caroline
8 Jan, 1919[33][34] – 6 Feb, 1919[35]
Succeeded by
William J. B. Law
Preceded by
Rafe G. Rowley-Conwy
Captain of H.M.S. Campbell
7 Jul, 1919[36][37] – 7 Jul, 1921[38]
Succeeded by
Roderick B. T. Miles
Preceded by
Rafe G. Rowley-Conwy
Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla
7 Jul, 1919[39][40] – 7 Jul, 1921[41]
Succeeded by
Frank F. Rose

Footnotes

  1. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  2. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  3. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  4. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 356.
  5. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  6. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  7. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 753.
  8. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  9. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  10. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 340.
  11. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  12. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  13. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 288.
  14. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  15. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  16. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 288.
  17. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  18. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 356.
  19. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  20. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  21. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396bb.
  22. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  23. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  24. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  25. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  26. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  27. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  28. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 397x.
  29. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  30. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  31. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 742.
  32. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  33. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  34. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 753.
  35. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  36. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  37. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 740.
  38. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  39. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.
  40. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 740.
  41. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/465. f. 538.