John Douglas Edwards
Vice-Admiral John Douglas Edwards, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (29 September, 1871 – 30 March, 1952) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Edwards was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1909.[1] On 10 January, 1910, he was appointed to H.M.S. President for service on the staff of the Inspector of Target Practice.[2]
In or around September 1912, Edwards's command, the armoured cruiser King Alfred collided with Carnarvon while turning over gunnery targets. Captain Edwards was faulted for the mishap, as his arrangements for exchanging these materials "were not good."
Edwards was again appointed in command of the King Alfred on 16 July, 1913 for the Annual Manoeuvres of 1913. On 31 July 1913, King Alfred collided with the Spanish steamship Umbe. The cruiser was steaming on a northeasterly course in the North Sea in company with the cruisers Good Hope and Drake as well as the light cruisers Active and Amphion when the steamer was first sighted at considerable distance on a converging course between 7 and 7.15am. The steamer passed astern of Amphion – near enough that both vessels had to alter course to manage it, but then resumed her course and collided bow-to-bow with King Alfred. Acting Lieutenant R.N.R. Douglas George Jeffrey in King Alfred ordered "full speed ahead", and did not order the engines stopped before the yawing cruiser's propellers cut into the steamer so badly that the other ship sank. Jeffrey would be subjected to a Court Martial in February, 1914 in which he would be severely reprimanded for having negligently or by default having hazarded his ship.[3][4] I do not understand why Edwards is not mentioned in the proceedings; perhaps I need to read the articles more closely.
Great War
On 15 September Edwards was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[5]
On 1 December 1913, Edwards was appointed in command of the sloop Falmouth.[6] He commanded Falmouth at the Battle of Jutland, operating as part of the Third Light Cruiser Squadron.[7] He remained with the ship until she was lost to torpedo on 16 August, 1916.
He was appointed Captain of the armoured cruiser Kent in June 1918, and served in her until August, 1919.
Edwards was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 9 October, 1920 and placed on the Retired List the following day. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 1 March, 1926.[8]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Eustace La T. Leatham |
Captain of H.M.S. King Alfred 5 Jan, 1912[9] – 6 Jan, 1913 |
Succeeded by Walter M. Ellerton |
| Preceded by Reginald L. Crichton |
Captain of H.M.S. King Alfred 16 Jul, 1913[10] |
Succeeded by Richard H. Walters |
| Preceded by Trevylyan D. W. Napier |
Captain of H.M.S. Falmouth 1 Dec, 1913[11] – 19 Aug, 1916[12] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
| Preceded by George Trewby |
Captain of H.M.S. Kent Jul, 1918[13] – 7 Aug, 1919[14] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28325. p. 29. 4 January, 1910.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 12 January, 1910. Issue 39167, col B, p. 6.
- ↑ "Court Martial on an R.N.R. Officer." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Feb 03, 1914; pg. 10; Issue 40437.
- ↑ "R.N.R. Officer Severely Reprimanded." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Feb 04, 1914; pg. 12; Issue 40438.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 313.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 33, 46.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 336.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 212.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394d.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. ?.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/211. f. 212.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/211. f. 212.
