Lawrence Walter Braithwaite

Vice-Admiral Lawrence Walter Braithwaite, C.M.G., Royal Navy, Retired (18 July, 1878 – 18 January, 1961) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Braithwaite was born in Ramsgate and was his mother was listed as his father on his service record upon entering Britannia on 15 July, 1892. He gained six months time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1894 and was made a Midshipman on 15 January, 1895.

While serving as a Sub-Lieutenant with Endymion in China, he was badly wounded on 22 June 1900 near Hsiku, but served to the entire satisfaction of his superiors.

Braithwaite was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 9 November, 1900.

On 15 September, 1i903, he married Elfreda Helen Cookes.

On 23 January, 1908, he received a plum appointment as first lieutenant and gunnery officer in the new battlecruiser Indefatigable. He remained in the post until 10 January, 1910.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913. In August 1913, he was appointed to the cadet ship Cumberland.

Great War

Braithwaite spent the early part of the war still in Cumberland, leaving when she paid off on 18 October, 1916. In mid November, he was sent to the monitor M.25 for a temporary appointment which seems to have lasted between two and six weeks. On Christmas Day, he was appointed to be the executive officer in Sydney.

Braithwaite was promoted to Captain on 31 December, 1917.

Post-War

In June 1919, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Highflyer.

He was appointed in command of the battleship H.M.S. Ajax in April 1925.

Braithwaite was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 26 May, 1929 and was placed on the Retired List the following day.

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 28 February, 1934.

He offered his services in 1939 as war again loomed, and was thanked for this offer. There is no indication he was employed in the conflict.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William Cooper	Captain of H.M.S. Hornet 3 Jan, 1905 – 11 Jul, 1905	Succeeded by Berwick Curtis
Preceded by ?	Naval Assistant to the Fourth Sea Lord 31 May, 1917 – Jul, 1919	Succeeded by Thomas H. Binney
Preceded by William J. B. Law	Captain of H.M.S. Highflyer Jul, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Theodore J. Hallett	Captain of H.M.S. Southampton c. late 1919 – Nov, 1921	Succeeded by Wilfrid A. Egerton
Preceded by William M. Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Ajax 24 Apr, 1925 – 17 Aug, 1926	Succeeded by Arthur L. Snagge
Preceded by William J. S. Alderson as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Nore Reserve	Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, The Nore 24 Apr, 1925 – 17 Aug, 1926	Succeeded by Arthur L. Snagge
Preceded by Walter J. C. Lake	Captain of H.M.S. Hawkins 2 Oct, 1926 – late 1928	Succeeded by Wilfred N. Custance