James Lewis Soltan Kirkness
Commander James Lewis Soltan Kirkness, R.N. (15 September, 1877 – 5 February, 1925) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Spencer Hill, Wimbledon.
Kirkness was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1899.[1]
Kirkness was faulted for "gross negligence" in a collision between Nile and Trafalgar on 25 October, 1901. He had allowed Nile to drop rapidly out of station by failing to ascertain that his orders to increase speed had been understood. He was moved into the first class protected cruiser St. George on 1 November.[2]
Kirkness was appointed to Good Hope as gunnery officer on 27 January, 1908.[3] In her gunlaying tests of 9 June 1908, Kirkness's gunners really shone, making her the top ship in the entire navy, and prompting the Commander-in-Chief, Charles Beresford to signal, "Commander-in-Chief to GOOD HOPE, – I congratulate you on brilliant firing."[4]
Kirkness left Good Hope on 17 August, 1909 and went back to Excellent to requalify in gunnery.[5]
His Service Record does not indicate that Kirkness was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
Kirkness was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1911.[6]
Following a month in command of Aboukir, Kirkness remained with the ship for three and a half months further before spending two months in command of the first class protected cruiser Diadem. He was then appointed to Hampshire in the Mediterranean on 18 December, 1912. On 12 July 1913, he was invalided from the ship and sent home for pulmonary issues. Some time recuperating proved of no avail, and Kirkness was placed on the Retired List as unfit on 5 January, 1914.[7]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Robert L. Way |
Captain of H.M.S. Brazen 14 Jul, 1904[8] – c. Aug, 1904[Inference] |
Succeeded by Harry C. S. Rawson |
| Preceded by Eric V. F. R. Dugmore |
Captain of H.M.S. Aboukir 1 Jun, 1912[9][10] – 1 Jul, 1912[11] |
Succeeded by A. Ernle M. Chatfield |
| Preceded by John W. L. McClintock |
Captain of H.M.S. Diadem 22 Oct, 1912[12] – 18 Dec, 1912[13] |
Succeeded by Charles P. Beaty-Pownall |
Footnotes
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 11 June 1908, p. 7.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ "Appointments for the Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Jul 09, 1904; pg. 12; Issue 37442.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 271.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
- ↑ Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
