Lewis Clinton-Baker

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Admiral SIR Lewis Clinton-Baker, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., C.B.E., Royal Navy (16 March, 1866 – 12 December, 1939) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Lewis Clinton Baker was born in Bayfordbury, Hants. A letter from his father on 29 December, 1881 indicated that he was to have the last two names hyphenated.[1]

At the examination for naval cadetships Clinton-Baker placed twenty-fifth out of thirty-seven successful candidates.[2]

Clinton-Baker was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 January, 1890.[3]

Clinton-Baker was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1901.[4]

He was appointed to Gibraltar of the Cape Squadron on 5 March, 190, remaining in her until 17 June, 1904. Some downtime followed when he was placed on the Committee on Canteen Victualling in late July of 1906.[5]

Captain

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1906.[6]

Lionel Dawson, a naval cadet, later recalled that having taught the cadets how to tie a reef knot, Clinton-Baker explained that that was how he always tied his bootlaces.[7]

Clinton-Baker was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Berwick on 16 August, 1907,[8] and of the King Alfred on 1 February, 1908.[9]

He was again appointed in command of Berwick on 16 May, 1911.[10]

Great War

He commanded Hercules at the Battle of Jutland and wrote her report of the action.

During the battle, when Hercules passed the remains of H.M.S. Invincible and the crew started cheering (under the impression she was a German wreck), Clinton-Baker is alleged to have "called out from the bridge, 'Stop that cheering — that's one of our ships!'"[11]

On 15 September he 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.[12]

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 19 August, 1917, vice Mundy.[13]

On 24 January, 1918, Clinton-Baker took up the appointment of Rear-Admiral (M) in command of minelayers at Grangemouth.[14]

Post-War

Clinton-Baker was appointed Rear-Admiral in the Second Battle Squadron on 1 April, 1919. In recognition of his services during the war, on the occasion of the King's birthday Clinton was appointed a Commander of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) on 3 June, 1919.[15]

On 26 May, 1920, he assumed the office of Admiral Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard.

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 July, 1922, vice Dampier.[16]

Clinton-Baker was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 8 November, 1926, vice Stanley.[17] He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 August, 1927.[18]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Lewis Clinton-Baker" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 13 December, 1939. Issue 48487, col E, p. 11.
  • Baynham, Henry (1976). Men from the Dreadnoughts. London: Hutchinson & Co (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-09-121380-0.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood
Captain of H.M.S. Berwick
16 Aug, 1907[19][20] – 15 Jan, 1908[21]
Succeeded by
William C. M. Nicholson
Preceded by
Cecil F. Thursby
Captain of H.M.S. King Alfred
1 Feb, 1908[22] – 6 Jun, 1910[23]
Succeeded by
Eric P. C. Back
Preceded by
Hugh T. Hibbert
Captain of H.M.S. Berwick
16 May, 1911[24][25] – 24 Mar, 1915[26]
Succeeded by
Adolphus H. Williamson
Preceded by
Henry H. Bruce
Captain of H.M.S. Hercules
23 Apr, 1915[27] – Jun, 1916[28][29]
Succeeded by
Henry W. Parker
Preceded by
Henry W. Parker
Captain of H.M.S. Benbow
Jun, 1916[30] – 28 Sep, 1917[31]
Succeeded by
Arthur K. Waistell
Preceded by
Cecil F. Thursby
Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Fifth Battle Squadron
1 Apr, 1919[32] – 7 Apr, 1919[33]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Sir Douglas R. L. Nicholson
Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Second Battle Squadron
8 Apr, 1919[34]
Succeeded by
Edward B. Kiddle
Preceded by
Sir William E. Goodenough
Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard
26 May, 1920[35]
Succeeded by
Edward B. Kiddle
Preceded by
Sir Hugh H. D. Tothill
Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
29 Sep, 1921[36]
Succeeded by
Herbert W. Richmond
Preceded by
Sir Hugh H. D. Tothill
Admiral Commanding Reserves
1925 – 1927[37]
Succeeded by
Arthur A. M. Duff

Footnotes

  1. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 25 June, 1879. Issue 29603, col E, p. 7.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 26007. p. 7553. 31 December, 1889.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 27263. p. 82. 4 January, 1901.
  5. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 27927. p. 4466. 29 June, 1906.
  7. Dawson. Flotillas. p. 8.
  8. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 3 August, 1907. Issue 38402, col D, p. 6.
  9. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 336.
  10. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 285.
  11. Quoted in Baynham. Men from the Dreadnoughts. p. 236.
  12. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
  13. The London Gazette: no. 30248. p. 8703. 24 August, 1917.
  14. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 6.
  15. The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13459. p. 2066. 5 June, 1919.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 32728. p. 5201. 11 July, 1922.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 33222. p. 7477. 19 November, 1926.
  18. The London Gazette: no. 33300. p. 5105. 5 August, 1927.
  19. The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 283.
  20. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 3 August, 1907. Issue 38402, col D, p. 6.
  21. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  22. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 336.
  23. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  24. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 285.
  25. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  26. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  27. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394n.
  28. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 43.
  29. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  30. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 392k.
  31. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  32. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  33. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  34. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  35. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 1 May, 1920. Issue 42399, col F, p. 6.
  36. Day of year taken from predecessor. Tothill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 186.
  37. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.