H.M.S. Bonaventure (1892)

H.M.S. Bonaventure (1892)
Pendant Number:	N.41 (1914) N.11 (Jan 1918)
Builder:	Devonport Royal Dockyard
Ordered:	Naval Defence Act of 1889
Launched:	2 Dec, 1892
Commissioned:	5 Jul, 1894
Sold:	12 Apr, 1920
Fate:	Scrapped

H.M.S. Bonaventure was completed in 1894 as one of eight Astræa class cruisers, but served as a submarine depot ship in the Great War.

Service

Bonaventure was refitted as a depôt ship for submarines by April, 1907, commissioning at Haulbowline on the 2nd of the month under the command of Frank Brandt.

Bonaventure was working with the Eighth Submarine Flotilla when she arrived at Portsmouth in July, 1912.

She re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 15 October, 1912.

In mid-1913, she was in Harwich supporting the Sixth Submarine Flotilla and Seventh Submarine Flotilla.

She paid off 17 October, 1919 and was sold on 12 April, 1920, to the Forth Ship Breaking Company, Bo'ness.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Captain George A. Giffard, May, 1892 – before 7 March, 1893
• Captain Frederick S. Inglefield, 2 January, 1896 – 4 May, 1897
• Captain Frank H. Henderson, 5 May, 1897 – 12 August, 1897  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1897)
• Captain Robert A. J. Montgomerie, 3 March, 1898 – 31 May, 1900
• Captain Arthur H. Smith-Dorrien, 18 April, 1900 – 15 July, 1900  (initially as acting Captain)
• Captain Charles J. Graves-Sawle, 1 May, 1900 – 4 March, 1902
• Captain Robert G. Fraser, 3 December, 1903 – 5 November, 1904
• Captain James E. C. Goodrich, 5 November, 1904 – 19 March, 1905
• Captain Henry H. Torlesse, 1 May, 1905 – 7 May, 1906
• Captain Frank Brandt, 2 April, 1907 – 17 November, 1909  (and for duty with S/Ms and in command of Portsmouth Submarine Flotilla)
• Commander Albert P. Addison, 17 November, 1909 – 1910  (and for duty with S/Ms and in command of the Portsmouth Seagoing Flotilla)
• Captain Frank Brandt, 14 November, 1910 – June, 1912  (and for duty with S/Ms and in command of Portsmouth Submarine Flotilla)
• Commander Stanley L. Willis, 15 October, 1912 – 21 October, 1915  (and for Submarines, and command of Fifth Submarine Flotilla and Sixth Submarine Flotilla)
• Captain Leonard A. B. Donaldson, 21 October, 1915 – 20 June, 1916  (and in command of the Sixth Submarine Flotilla)
• Commander Malcolm K. de M. Burgess, 20 June, 1916  (and in command of the Sixth Submarine Flotilla)
• Commander Noel F. Laurence, October, 1918 – March, 1919  (and in command of Submarine flotilla)
• Lieutenant-Commander Charles de Burgh, 5 March, 1919 – 10 August, 1919
• Lieutenant Aubrey C. Bertie, 6 March, 1919 – August, 1919^{[Fact Check]}  (for Submarines and in command of Submarine flotilla)
• Commander Fitzroy H. D. Byron, 10 August, 1919 – 4 October, 1919  (and for duty with submarines)

See Also

• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.