Hugh Dudley Richards Watson

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Admiral Hugh D. R. Watson as a Vice-Admiral, 1928.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR Hugh Dudley Richards Watson, K.C.B., C.V.O., C.B.E., Royal Navy (20 April, 1872 – 22 May, 1954) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

On 1 January, 1903 he was promoted to the rank of Commander.[1]

Watson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1908.[2]

Watson was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 1 January, 1914,[3] and was made captain of the armoured cruiser Essex on that same day.[4]

Leaving Essex in May, 1916, Watson was appointed in command of the battleship Bellerophon on 31 August, 1916.[5]

He commanded Canada from 13 February 1918 until 28 February, 1919.[6]

Flag Rank

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 29 January, 1920, vice Nicholson.[7]

On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed a Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 June, 1922.[8]

On 8 May, 1925, he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, vice Goodenough.[9]

Watson was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 9 October, 1929, vice Bentinck, placed on the Retired List.[10] He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 April, 1930.[11]

Bibliography

  • "Adml. Sir Hugh Watson" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 24 May, 1954. Issue 52939, col A, pg. 9.

Service Record

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Herbert L. Heath
Royal Navy Naval Attaché to Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands
9 Aug, 1910[12] – 11 Nov, 1913[13]
Succeeded by
Wilfred Henderson
Preceded by
Hugh J. Tweedie
Captain of H.M.S. Essex
1 Jan, 1914[14] – 21 May, 1916[15]
Succeeded by
Richard Hyde
Preceded by
Edward F. Bruen
Captain of H.M.S. Bellerophon
31 Aug, 1916[16] – 13 Feb, 1918[17]
Succeeded by
Vincent B. Molteno
Preceded by
Adolphus H. Williamson
Captain of H.M.S. Canada
13 Feb, 1918[18] – 28 Feb, 1919[19]
Succeeded by
George N. Tomlin
Preceded by
Sir Rudolf W. Bentinck
Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
3 May, 1921[20][21] – 26 Jun, 1923[22]
Succeeded by
Michael H. Hodges
Preceded by
John D. Kelly
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron
26 Jun, 1923[23] – Oct, 1924[24]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Richard Webb
Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station
14 Oct, 1924[25] – 16 Apr, 1925[26]
Succeeded by
Michael H. Hodges
Preceded by
Sir Douglas R. L. Nicholson
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron
14 Oct, 1924[27] – 16 Apr, 1925[28]
Succeeded by
Michael H. Hodges
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron
Preceded by
Sir Rudolf W. Bentinck
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet
3 Oct, 1926[29] – 4 Dec, 1928[30]
Succeeded by
Sir William Boyle

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 28211. p. 32. 1 January, 1909.
  3. Edinburgh Gazette: no. 12630. p. 7. 2 January, 1914.
  4. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 310.
  5. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 392k.
  6. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189. 24 February, 1920.
  8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32716. p. 4324. 3 June, 1922.
  9. The London Gazette: no. 33049. p. 3445. 22 May, 1925.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 33542. p. 6476. 11 October, 1929.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 33596. p. 2327. 11 April, 1930.
  12. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  13. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  14. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393t.
  15. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  16. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 272.
  17. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  18. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  19. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  20. "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 23 March, 1921. Issue 42676, col D, p. 12.
  21. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  22. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 272.
  23. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  24. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  25. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  26. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  27. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  28. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  29. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  30. Watson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.