Leslie Gerald Griffiths

Lieutenant-Commander (retired) Leslie Gerald Griffiths, Royal Navy (15 March, 1895 – ) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Griffiths named his mother as his guardian upon joining the navy, as his father was deceased.

He was deprived of three months' seniority for being absent without leave and being found drunk on board H.M.S. Bellerophon in March, 1914. He was subjected to quarterly reports for awhile, but these stopped about the time that war began. R/A Eyres deemed him "lazy & rather a weak character, otherwise satis." Captain Bruen added to this dire assessment: "lacks application, but satisfactory." He continued to serve in Bellerophon until being appointed to the sweeping sloop Jonquil on 12 June, 1915. He was superseded in this appointment on 4 April, 1916.

From May to September 1916, he served in the monitor M.32. He then reported to H.M.S. Dolphin for instruction in submarines. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 December, 1916 and completed his training in submarines, but an appointment to H 8 was cancelled, however. Instead, on 3 May 1917, he was appointed to the Laforey Class destroyer Llewellyn.

In 1918, he applied to qualify as a torpedo specialist. On 12 November 1918 he was appointed to the destroyer Searcher. This would last only about two months, however.

Placed on the Retired List at his own request on 17 May, 1920, Griffiths was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1924.

World War II

He started in the Contraband Control Service at Ramsgate in August 1939. Later appointments involved oversight of armed guards.

In 1941, while appointed to St. Andrew, he was dismissed his ship and severely reprimanded after having been adjudged guilty of charges involving drinking.

See Also

• Service Records