Henry Dawson Crawford Stanistreet

Commander Henry Dawson Crawford Stanistreet, D.S.O., R.N., Retired (24 March, 1888 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Southsea, Stanistreet gained four months' time on passing out of Britannia. In mid-September 1904 he was appointed to join the pre-dreadnought Exmouth in the Home Fleet.

Stanistreet was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 November, 1909.

At the end of 1912, after a series of appointments in destroyers, Stanistreet was involved in legal proceedings regarding outstanding debt.

Stanistreet was appointed in command of the destroyer Foyle on 21 April, 1914.

He commanded the destroyer Laurel, one of six Harwich Force destroyers to fight at the Battle of Jutland.

Stanistreet was appointed in command of the destroyer Tirade on 16 June, 1917. His command would take him to the end of the war, but John Fawcett was given temporary command at the end of 1917.

On 29 September 1917, Stanistreet assisted in the destruction of UC 55 by gunfire, his Tirade being the first ship to score a hit on the submarine. Stanistreet was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 November, 1917 and mentioned in despatches two days later, presumably for his action against UC 55.

Stanistreet was awarded a bounty of 145 pounds in February, 1920.

Stanistreet was commended for "very seamanlike handling of Tirade when in collision with Marmion" on 21 October, 1917 when he was able to save 22 officers and men under difficult conditions. He was awarded a D.S.O. for his services in destroyers in the period ending on 31 December, 1917.

Post-War

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Splendid on 9 January, 1919.

On 8 December, 1919, Stanistreet was appointed in command of the destroyer Vivacious.

There was little doubt that the war was over when an April, 1920 inspection of Vivacious noted that the ship seemed satisfactory, but "many of crew require haircutting." On 4 March 1921, Stanistreet was admitted to Haulbowline Hospital to be treated for catarrh. He'd lose a torpedo in 1921 and be reminded that he had to recover floating torpedoes as soon as possible to prevent such costly losses.

Appointed in command of the gunboat Mantis in January, of 1925. In May 1927, the Admiralty expressed its appreciation for his services in evacuating British subjects from Chungking. On 14 July he was put in command of Emergency Destroyers, being on the books of Columbine.

Stanistreet was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 5 September, 1929.

World War II

On 4 September 1939, appointed Sea Transport Officer (Grade I), Swansea. On 10 November 1941, he was moved to Glasgow to serve in the same capacity. Later in the war, he would provide similar services for Tilbury and South Wales. Stanistreet reverted to Retired List on 5 December, 1945.

See Also

• Service Records
• Harwich Force at the Battle of Jutland
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Roger V. Alison	Captain of H.M.S. Foyle 21 Apr, 1914 – 3 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by David B. Nicol
Preceded by Berwick Curtis	Captain of H.M.S. Laurel 3 Feb, 1916 – 16 Jun, 1917	Succeeded by Arthur Evans
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Tirade 16 Jun, 1917 – 9 Jan, 1919	Succeeded by John Fawcett
Preceded by Arthur M. Lecky	Captain of H.M.S. Splendid 9 Jan, 1919 – 8 Dec, 1919	Succeeded by Mark Singleton
Preceded by Claude L. Bate	Captain of H.M.S. Vivacious 8 Dec, 1919 – May, 1921	Succeeded by Edward C. Thornton
Preceded by Edward C. Thornton	Captain of H.M.S. Vancouver c. May, 1921 – 15 Jan, 1922	Succeeded by Hubert S. Braddyll
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Thracian 15 Feb, 1922 – 19 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by John M. Porter
Preceded by George C. H. Lawson	Captain of H.M.S. Mantis 17 Jan, 1925 – Feb, 1927	Succeeded by James A. Douglas-Hamilton