Owen Francis Gillett

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Admiral Owen Francis Gillett, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (8 February, 1863 – 21 March, 1938) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

He came fourth in order of merit out of forty-two candidates who passed the examination for naval cadetships.[1]

Gillett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1885.[2]

Gillett was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1898.[3] In October, 1891, he was appointed to H.M.S. President for a two week course in compass adjustment.[4]

Gillett was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1903.[5]

In 1907, he assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Diadem.

He failed to complete a course at the Royal Navy War College from 11 February 1908, being deemed "Captious."

Gillett was appointed in command of the battleship Jupiter on 13 May, 1908,[6] then of the armoured cruiser Warrior on 16 February, 1909.[7]

Great War

Gillett was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 11 September, 1914, vice Farquhar,[8] remaining in command of the Armed Merchant Cruiser Armadale Castle for the time being. He was appointed Senior Naval Officer, Simon's Town, on 17 November, 1914, and left HMS Armadale Castle to assume his duties on 7 December, 1914.[9]

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List on 26 May, 1915, at his own request.[10] It had been decided at a meeting of the Board of Admiralty of 7 July, 1914, that he be retired upon promotion to Flag Rank under the provisions of the Order in Council of 9 March, 1914,[11] but he was evidently allowed to retire later. He remained on at Simon's Town until 4 May, 1918.[12]

On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June, 1918.[13]

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 12 February, 1919,[14] and to the rank of Admiral on 3 March, 1924.[15]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Gillett" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 23 March, 1938. Issue 47950, col B, p. 16.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Arthur T. Stuart
King's Harbour Master, Malta
23 Feb, 1904[16] – 4 Mar, 1907[17]
Succeeded by
James C. Tancred
Preceded by
Charles H. Umfreville
Captain of H.M.S. Diadem
17 Apr, 1907[18] – 16 Nov, 1907[19]
Succeeded by
Constantine H. Hughes-Onslow
Preceded by
Drury St. A. Wake
Captain of H.M.S. Hawke
16 Nov, 1907[20] – 13 Mar, 1908[21]
Succeeded by
Arthur H. Oldham
Preceded by
Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart.
Captain of H.M.S. Jupiter
13 May, 1908[22][23] – 3 Feb, 1909[24]
Succeeded by
Herbert J. Savill
Preceded by
Arthur W. Waymouth
Captain of H.M.S. Warrior
16 Feb, 1909[25][26] – 5 Apr, 1911[27]
Succeeded by
Charles L. Vaughan-Lee
Preceded by
Charles E. Anson
Commodore-in-Charge, Portland
6 Jun, 1911[28] – 1 Sep, 1913[29]
Succeeded by
Gerald C. A. Marescaux
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Armadale Castle
3 Aug, 1914[30] – 26 May, 1915[31]
Succeeded by
Sidney A. G. Hill
Preceded by
?
Senior Naval Officer, Simonstown
17 Nov, 1914[32] – 4 May, 1918
Succeeded by
Marcus R. Hill

Footnotes

  1. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 4 December, 1875. Issue 28490, col A, p. 6.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 25516. p. 4598. 2 October, 1885.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 26983. p. 3983. 1 July, 1898.
  4. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 369.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27632. p. 25. 1 January, 1904.
  6. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 335.
  7. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  8. The London Gazette: no. 28902. p. 7293. 15 September, 1914.
  9. Ship's Log, available at https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_ArmadaleCastle.htm. Accessed on 7 October 2021.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 29175. p. 5107. 28 May, 1915.
  11. Board Minute. The National Archives. ADM 1/8383/176.
  12. ADM 196/88. f. 31.
  13. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30723. p. 6527. 3 June, 1918.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 31201. p. 2738. 25 February, 1919.
  15. The London Gazette: no. 32919. p. 2323. 18 March, 1924.
  16. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  17. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  18. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  19. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  20. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  21. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  22. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 335.
  23. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  24. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  25. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  26. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 396.
  27. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  28. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  29. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  30. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 401d.
  31. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.
  32. Gillett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 123.