Frederick Burnaby Noble

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Captain (retired) Frederick Burnaby Noble (16 August, 1876 – 8 July, 1946) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in India, the son of a Colonel. Noble gained a commendable six months time on passing out of Britannia in July of 1892. He received his first appointment in the second class battleship Victoria, flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron, in September, 1892. Noble was fortunate to be appointed from her at the end of the year, to Imperieuse of the China Station, thus avoiding involvement in Victoria's loss the following June.[1]

Noble was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1898.[2]

In January, 1903, Noble was lightly chastised for colliding with a pier in Felixstowe with Hardy.

On 26 January, 1904, he was placed in command of the gunboat Moorhen on the China Station. In September, 1904, Noble's service record was inscribed, "Appreciation expressed of able manner in which he performed voyage up West River, China, to Nan King, without any damage to Moorhen & T.L. satisfaction at his useful and informative report." However, this report apparently jinxed him, for the next notation, dated 1905, reads, "Grounding of Moorhen in West River, China. CinC directs him to be more careful in future." On balance, he was performing creditably, as in May 1906, Admiral Moore praised his handling of Moorhen.

Noble returned to England in the P. & O. vessel Macedonia, arriving 23 April, 1910.[3]

Noble was promoted to the rank of Commander on 22 June, 1911.[4]

Noble was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 116 on 9 August, 1911, being also placed in command of the Portsmouth Flotilla. His inspections during this period seemed especially glowing, in August 1913: "V. Satis inspn of TB116. Great credit due for state of flotilla."[5]

Great War

Noble commanded T.B. 116 through the first two years of the war.

On 22 June, 1915, Noble was diagnosed with chronic constipation, but judged fit. on 18 November, 1916 he was superseded in command of T.B. 116 and appointed in command of the destroyer Arun. On 13 April, 1917, he was sick on shore with hemorrhoids and not expected to be fit for one month, which eventually proved to be two months. On 19 June, 1917 he was found fit and recommended by Admiral Colville. He was appointed in command of the Laforey Class destroyer Lark on 25 July, 1917.[6]

Noble had a "soft landing" in the war, being appointed to Dartmouth College on 9 January, 1918 and remaining there until January, 1919.

Post-War

An appointment in command of Amphitrite dated 1 May, 1919 was cancelled. On 15 May, Noble was placed on half pay.

Placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 August, 1919, Noble was permitted to apply for a step in rank upon reaching age 45. This happened accordingly when Noble was promoted to the rank of Captain on 16 August, 1921.[7]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
George G. Codrington
Captain of H.M.S. Hardy
14 Jan, 1903[8]c. 25 Mar, 1903[9]
Succeeded by
William H. D. Boyle
Preceded by
Harry C. J. R. West
Captain of H.M.S. Salmon
25 Mar, 1903[10] – 21 Dec, 1903[11]
Succeeded by
Richard F. White
Preceded by
Godfrey G. Webster
Captain of H.M.S. Moorhen
26 Jan, 1904[12][13] – mid 1906[Inference]
Succeeded by
Robert E. Vaughan
Preceded by
Vernon F. Tuson
Captain of H.M.S. Cygnet
6 Nov, 1906[14][15] – 14 Jan, 1908[16]
Succeeded by
Benjamin W. Barrow
Preceded by
Wyndham L. Bamber
Captain of H.M.S. Britomart
14 Jan, 1908[17] – 11 Mar, 1910[18][19]
Succeeded by
Edward H. Donovan
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Bulldog
6 Jul, 1910[20][21] – 14 Jun, 1911[22]
Succeeded by
Kennedy G. Darracott-Brooke
Preceded by
William L. Elder
Captain of H.M. T.B. 116
9 Aug, 1911[23][24] – 1 Dec, 1913[25]
Succeeded by
Walter B. Compton
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Aphis
9 Nov, 1915[26] – 25 Jul, 1916[27]
Succeeded by
James Bayley
Preceded by
Robert A. Hornell
Captain of H.M. T.B. 14
16 Oct, 1916[28] – 18 Nov, 1916[29]
Succeeded by
Charles E. S. Farrant
Preceded by
Francis E. Wright
Captain of H.M.S. Arun
18 Nov, 1916[30][31] – 25 Jul, 1917[32]
Succeeded by
Charles E. Rathkins
Preceded by
Charles M. Blackman
Captain of H.M.S. Lark
25 Jul, 1917[33][34] – 7 Jan, 1918[35]
Succeeded by
Frank C. Peet

Footnotes

  1. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  2. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  3. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  4. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  5. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  6. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  7. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  8. The Navy List. (May, 1903). p. 301a.
  9. Date he was appointed in command of Salmon.
  10. The Navy List. (May, 1903). p. 301a.
  11. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  12. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  13. The Navy List. (October, 1904). p. 346. 25 January given here.
  14. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  15. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 298.
  16. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  17. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  18. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  19. The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 288 suggests he remained until at least 19 June, 1909.
  20. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  21. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 288.
  22. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  23. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 12 Aug. 1911, p. 11.
  24. The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 401a.
  25. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  26. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  27. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  28. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  29. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  30. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  31. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 392f.
  32. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  33. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.
  34. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 394z.
  35. Noble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/248. f. 282.