Miles Brock Birkett

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Captain Miles Brock Birkett, D.S.O., Royal Navy (26 June, 1883 – 29 March, 1948) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Broxbourne.

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1905.[1]

Birkett was appointed in command of the destroyer Albatross in January, 1912.[2]

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1913. After being superseded in Zulu in September, 1914, Birkett was appointed to Arethusa to serve as Flag Lieutenant-Commander to Tyrwhitt, and for War Staff duties. He would follow Tyrwhitt through a succession of flagships: Cleopatra in February, 1916, Conquest at the end of March, 1916, and to Carysfort on 1 May.[3]

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916 while remaining at Tyrwhitt's side. They moved to Centaur on 11 September, 1916 and to Concord on 18 February, 1917.[4]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Radiant on 11 September, 1918.[5]

Post-War

In 1921 and 1922, Birkett served as executive officer in Centurion, Iron Duke and then returned to Centurion.

Birkett was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1923 while working as Naval Adviser to the Conference of Ambassadors.[6]

On 15 November, 1928, he was appointed to the Air Ministry vice Rawlings.[7]

Birkett was reverted to the Retired List in February, 1940.[8]

After a training course in Portsmouth, he was appointed to Tamar III in command and as Captain in Charge, Singapore, vice Thomson. Appointed 2 October, 1931, he assumed duty on 14 November. He was invalided out on 30 September, 1932 and was not deemed fit until 12 December, 1932. He was informed that he would not be further employed and would be retired for non-service in 1935 unless he retired voluntarily before that time. Birkett took that option and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 26 June, 1934.[9]

World War II

Birkett was given command of Queen of Bermuda on 2 September, 1939 and superseded on 6 December to be hospitalised for gastritis. He was cleared for harbour service for six months from December, 1939. He applied for re-employment in 1941 and 1942 but was informed that no vacancies existed. A final offer to serve in 1944 was declined.[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Reginald T. Amedroz
Captain of H.M.S. Albatross
13 May, 1912[11] – Sep, 1913[12][13]
Succeeded by
Hugh T. England
Preceded by
Hugh T. England
Captain of H.M.S. Colne
Sep, 1913[14] – 21 Feb, 1914[15]
Succeeded by
Charles A. Poignand
Preceded by
Hugh B. Mulleneux
Captain of H.M.S. Zulu
29 Jul, 1914[16] – 2 Sep, 1914[17]
Succeeded by
William C. Castle
Preceded by
Charles G. C. Sumner
Captain of H.M.S. Opal
18 May, 1917[18] – 24 Jul, 1917[19]
Succeeded by
Charles C. de M. Malan
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Tormentor
24 Jul, 1917[20][21] – 11 Jan, 1918[22]
Succeeded by
Percy J. Helyar
Preceded by
Geoffrey S. Fleetwood Nash
Captain of H.M.S. Radiant
11 Sep, 1918[23][24] – 21 May, 1919[25]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Francis T. Hare
Captain of H.M.S. Orpheus
21 May, 1919[26] – 22 Jul, 1919[27]
Succeeded by
Guy O. Maund
Preceded by
Hugh T. England
Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth
8 Jul, 1924[28] – 20 Oct, 1924[29]
Succeeded by
Bertram H. Ramsay
Preceded by
Wilbraham T. R. Ford
Captain of H.M.S. Calliope
25 Nov, 1925[30] – 9 Apr, 1926[31]
Succeeded by
Roy N. Suter
Preceded by
Fischer B. Watson
Captain of H.M.S. Caledon
9 Apr, 1926[32] – 17 Aug, 1926[33]
Succeeded by
Claude C. Dobson
Preceded by
Arthur Evans
Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian
17 Aug, 1926[34][35] – 15 Dec, 1927[36]
Succeeded by
Richard H. O. Lane-Poole
Preceded by
Evelyn C. O. Thomson
Captain in Charge, Singapore
2 Oct, 1931 – 19 Nov, 1932
Succeeded by
Malcolm R. J. Maxwell-Scott

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 7.
  2. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 275.
  3. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  4. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  5. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 889.
  6. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  7. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  8. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  9. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  10. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  11. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  12. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  13. The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 295.
  14. The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 295.
  15. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  16. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  17. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  18. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  19. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  20. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398n.
  21. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  22. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  23. The Navy List. (June, 1919). p. 889.
  24. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  25. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  26. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  27. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  28. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  29. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  30. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  31. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  32. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  33. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  34. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 221.
  35. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.
  36. Birkett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 518.