Morris Davies Gilmore
Captain (retired) Morris Davies Gilmore (14 November, 1889 – 2 October, 1960) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Gilmore was born in Pennsylvania and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1911. He was commissioned Ensign on 7 March, 1912 while serving on battleship Idaho.[1] Gilmore was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 7 March, 1915 and later that year began training in submarines.[2]
Early in World War I, Gilmore served as an Inspector of Naval Material in Philadelphia, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, temporarily on 1 July, 1917 and permanently on 7 March, 1918.[3][4][5] By March 1918 he was assigned duty in connection with the fitting out of submarine N-5 and he assumed command upon the vessel's commissioning on 13 June, 1918. On 1 July, 1918 he was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander.[6][7]
Gilmore was awarded the Navy Cross for his anti-submarine patrols during the war, and was relieved from command in early 1919. He was then appointed as the first commanding officer of another boat, submarine R-21 upon its commissioning on 17 June, 1919.[8][9][10]
Though he never held another ship command, Gilmore continued submarine-related service throughout the 1920's, having been promoted to the permanent rank of Lieutenant Commander on 31 December, 1921.[11] This service included further Inspection duty, and two years as Force Material Officer on the Staff of the Commander, Control Force. By 1930, he commanded a Submarine Division.[12][13][14]
Poor health then derailed Gilmore's career, as he was relieved of his division command and hospitalized in late 1930.[15] He was placed on the Retired List on 1 October, 1931 for incapacity incident to the service.[16]
During World War II, Gilmore was recalled to active duty, serving as Assistant Director of Athletics at the Naval Academy.[17] Both his namesake son and his brother were killed in action in early 1942.
Gilmore was promoted to the rank of Commander on the Retired List on 24 December, 1942, and to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 25 October, 1944. He retained this latter rank after returning to inactive duty, with his date of rank being listed as 9 April, 1946.[18][19][20]
Gilmore resided in Annapolis and died there in October, 1960.
See Also
Bibliography
Service Records
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. N-5 13 Jun, 1918[21] – Feb, 1919[22] |
Succeeded by John H. Brown, Jr. |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. R-21 17 Jun, 1919 |
Succeeded by Allen R. McCann |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. pp. 56-57.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1916. pp. 52, 275.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. p. 342.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1918. p. 48.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. p. 50.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 March, 1918 p. 62.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 50-51.
- ↑ Hall of Valor
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 38-39.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 p. 510.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1922. p. 36.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1925. p. 42.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1927. p. 40.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 January, 1926 p. 145.
- ↑ Evening Star (Washington, DC) 9 November, 1930 p. 26.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 394-395, 465.
- ↑ Hartford Courant 30 November, 1944 p. 15.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1943. p. 494.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1945. p. 522.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1949. p. 561.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 50-51.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. p. 38.
