Percy Withers

Captain Percy Withers (23 September, 1875 – 2 February, 1946) was an officer in the Royal Navy. Though he held important commands during the war, his naval service was unusual for a string of medical issues.

Life & Career

Withers entered the navy with the July 1889 intake term at the training ship H.M.S. Britannia, scoring lowest of 48 candidates on entry with 871 marks.

Withers was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 June, 1897.

In July 1899, his gums became ulcerated after a tooth extraction, causing him to be unfit for four and a half weeks.

Lieutenant Withers was found to have lacked forethought and business management acumen in an affair of an ablebodied seaman's embezzlement from a canteen.

Withers was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1908.

He failed to complete a course at the Royal Navy War College 9 February – 28 May, 1909.

In November, 1910 he was found fit at Portland Hospital after a cataract issue.

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1915.

Withers was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Active in April 1916, and fought in her at the Battle of Jutland.

In July, 1920, Withers had hepatitis and enteritis while Commodore in Hong Kong. A series of wires sent home indicate an appendectomy and arduous recovery. At the end of the year, he was sent home in S.S. Bremen, arriving home on 18 February, 1921. He would be evaluated several times and not be found fit before 7 June.

Percy Withers retired on 14 July, 1922. He requested promotion to Rear-Admiral on the Retired List, but was denied.

Withers succumbed to pneumonia in 1946.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 141.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Hugh K. Arbuthnot	Captain of H.M. T.B. 73 8 Jul, 1896 – before 18 Aug, 1896	Succeeded by Ivor F. Chichester
Preceded by Cyril Asser	Captain of H.M.S. Foyle 25 Feb, 1909 – 1 Jun, 1910	Succeeded by Henry C. D. Field
Preceded by Henry C. D. Field	Captain of H.M.S. Kennet 1 Jun, 1910 – 25 Nov, 1910	Succeeded by Richard M. King
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Cameleon 25 Nov, 1910 – 19 Sep, 1911	Succeeded by Hugh J. Tweedie
Preceded by James R. P. Hawksley	Captain of H.M.S. Active 3 Apr, 1916 – Dec, 1916	Succeeded by Neston W. Diggle
Preceded by Charles D. Roper	Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla 6 Jul, 1916 – 7 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Arthur E. Wood
Preceded by Arthur E. Wood	Captain of H.M.S. Hecla Dec, 1916 – 7 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by John B. Sparks
Preceded by Charles D. Johnson	Captain (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla 7 Jan, 1917 – 10 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Wilfred Tomkinson
Preceded by Alan G. Hotham	Assistant Director of Naval Equipment 10 Jan, 1918 – 7 May, 1919	Succeeded by Claud H. Sinclair
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Colombo 7 May, 1919 – after Dec, 1919	Succeeded by Arthur H. Walker