Harold Auten

Acting Captain R.N.R. (retired) Harold Auten, V.C., D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R. (22 August, 1891 – 3 October, 1964) served in the Royal Naval Reserve.

Life & Career

Auten was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant R.N.R. on 2 August, 1917.

Auten was appointed to the special service vessel Zylpha from 28 September 1915 through 10 April, 1917.

He was captain of the special service vessel Heather, which was also called Q.16, from 22 April, 1917 to 12 December, 1917. Afterward, he was appointed to Stock Force from 12 December 1917 until she sank under tow on 30 July 1918. He was next appointed to command the collier Suffolk Coast, a ship he'd personally overseen altered over the course of nine weeks into her wartime configuration as a "Q" ship, from 10 October 1918. However, the ship achieved a ready status only one day before the war ended. Auten was tasked with taking his new ship on a series of port visits where public tours showed the public how "Q" boats worked. A shilling was required for a tour.

Auten ended his command stint in Suffolk Coast on 11 February, 1919 and began lecturing on behalf of the Publicity Section from 29 March, 1919.

Auten was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. on 2 August, 1925.

World War II

Auten was promoted to the rank of Commander R.N.R. on 28 August, 1939. He served in Philadelphia as a Consular Shipping Advisor and at New York, vice Chapman.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• Auten, Harold. "Q" Boat Adventures, Herbert Jenkins, Ltd., London. 1919.

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William W. Hallwright	Captain of H.M.S. Q.16 22 Apr, 1917 – 12 Dec, 1917	Succeeded by Stephen H. Smiles as Captain of H.M.S. Heather