Oliver Maurice Fitz-Gerald Stokes

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Oliver Maurice Fitz-Gerald Stokes, D.S.O. (28 May, 1881 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Major General Stokes and born in Enniskillin, Ireland, Oliver Stokes gained seven months' time on passing our of Britannia.

Stokes was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 March, 1903, having recently lost a Flotilla Signal Book from Rocket which prompted a warning from the Admiralty to be more careful.[1]

Stokes was told to be more mindful of article 564 of King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions (which appears to centre on boilers and steam readiness) after a 1909 collision between Eden and Amazon.[2]

Stokes was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 March, 1911.[3]

Stokes was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1916.[4]

Post-War

Stokes was appointed in command of the seaplane carrier Pegasus on 2 December, 1919.[5]

In the mid-20s, Stokes commanded several monitors.

Stokes was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 18 January, 1928.[6]

World War II

On 1 January, 1940, Stokes was appointed in command of the sloop Dundee, vice Allen. She was lost to a torpedo on 15 September 1940. Stokes was found by the Board of Enquiry to have committed a grave error in judgement in abandoning H.M.S. Dundee prematurely, perhaps causing her loss. Stokes injured his shoulder and the first Lieutenant lost his life as twenty men were incapacitated.[7]

Stokes was admitted to hospital on 12 October 1940 to explore recurrent dislocations of his right shoulder following the sinking of Dundee.

On 23 March, 1942, Stokes was appointed R.N.O., Preston vice Le Mottée. From early 1943 to the end of the war, Stokes served as X.N.O, Clyde vice Tancred.[8]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Ralph Collins
Captain of H.M.S. Eden
24 Jan, 1907[9][10] – 3 Mar, 1910[11]
Succeeded by
F. Burges Watson
Preceded by
Charles J. Wintour
Captain of H.M.S. Exe
8 Mar, 1910[12] – 13 Jun, 1910[13]
Succeeded by
Charles J. Wintour
Preceded by
Charles J. Wintour
Captain of H.M.S. Test
13 Jun, 1910[14][15] – 4 Apr, 1911[16]
Succeeded by
Edwin A. Homan
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Peony
9 Oct, 1915[17][18] – 1 Feb, 1917[19]
Succeeded by
Arthur F. Powell
Preceded by
Eric G. Robinson
Captain of H.M.S. M.21
25 Aug, 1917[20][21] – 20 Oct, 1918[22]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Harvester
15 Nov, 1918[23] – 25 Apr, 1919[24]
Succeeded by
John R. G. Moncreiffe
Preceded by
Cecil J. Crocker
Captain of H.M.S. Pegasus
25 Apr, 1919[25] – 15 Nov, 1921[26]
Succeeded by
Thomas F. P. Calvert
Preceded by
Gordon A. Coles
Captain of H.M.S. Agamemnon
9 Apr, 1923[27] – 6 Nov, 1923[28]
Succeeded by
Oliver M. F. Stokes
Preceded by
Oliver M. F. Stokes
Captain of H.M.S. Agamemnon
17 Mar, 1924[29][30] – 23 Feb, 1925[31]
Succeeded by
Edward C. Stubbs
Preceded by
Charles G. C. Sumner
Captain of H.M.S. Erebus
25 Sep, 1925[32] – 15 Jun, 1926[33]
Succeeded by
Patrick B. Crohan
Preceded by
Douglas W. O'B. Forsyth
Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Soult
15 Jun, 1926[34]c. Aug, 1926[35]
Succeeded by
Arthur L. Snagge
Preceded by
William F. Sells
Captain of H.M.S. Cleopatra
11 Nov, 1926[36] – 8 Dec, 1926[37]
Succeeded by
Gerald H. Brady
Preceded by
Arthur L. Snagge
Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Soult
1 Apr, 1927[38][39] – 20 Jul, 1927[40]
Succeeded by
Christopher J. F. Wood
Preceded by
Cecil C. A. Allen
Captain of H.M.S. Dundee
1 Jan, 1940[41] – 15 Sep, 1940[42]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost

Footnotes

  1. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  2. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  3. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  4. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  5. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 823-4.
  6. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  7. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  8. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  9. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  10. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 306.
  11. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  12. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  13. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  14. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  15. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 384.
  16. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  17. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  18. The Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 396m.
  19. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  20. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  21. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395i.
  22. Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 143.
  23. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  24. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  25. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  26. Superseded that day. Calvert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/14. f. 7.
  27. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  28. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  29. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  30. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 214.
  31. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  32. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  33. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  34. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  35. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  36. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103. Inferring from Sells.
  37. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  38. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 255.
  39. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  40. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  41. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.
  42. Stokes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/103. f. 103.