Philip Howard Colomb

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For the Nineteenth Century author on naval strategy see Philip Howard Colomb (1831 – 1899).

Admiral Philip Howard Colomb, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (13 December, 1867 – 18 April, 1958) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Philip Howard Colomb was born at Harrow on 13 December, 1867, the fourth son of Commander Philip Howard Colomb, R.N., and Ellen Bourne.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 16 May, 1888.

Colomb was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1900.[1]

Colomb was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1906.[2]

In March 1909, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Encounter.[3]

Great War

On 17 August, 1917, Colomb was appointed in command of H.M.S. Lancaster, with the rank of Commodore, Second Class, titled Rear-Admiral, Pacific.[4] [5] On 28 September he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V, vice Bruen.[6] He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Benson, on 27 April, 1918.[7] His future in the Navy had been discussed at a meeting of the Board of Admiralty on 15 June, when three of the five Sea Lords (Burney, Halsey and Paine) voted that he be retired on promotion to Flag Rank under Section III of the Order-in-Council of 9 March, 1914.[8]

Post-War

In May, 1919, he ceased duty as Rear-Admiral, Pacific.[9] His flag was struck on board Lancaster at Sheerness on 14 June 1919.[10]

On 9 April, 1920, Colomb relieved Rear-Admiral Maurice Woollcombe in command of the Reserve Fleet at Devonport.[11] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral Charles D. Johnson on 9 April, 1921, striking his flag in Colossus at sunset that day.[12]

Colomb was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 8 October, 1923, vice Phillpotts.[13] He was placed on the Retired List on 14 October at his own request "in order to facilitate the promotion of younger officer."[14]

He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 August, 1927.[15]

Colomb died at his home, Grove House, Coltishall, Norfolk on 18 April, 1958, aged ninety.[16][17]

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Herbert A. S. Fyler
Captain of H.M.S. Encounter
5 Mar, 1909[18][19] – 20 Jun, 1911[20]
Succeeded by
Spencer A. Hickley
Preceded by
Henry J. L. Clarke
Flag Captain at the Nore
29 Aug, 1911[21] – 1 Jan, 1915[22]
Succeeded by
Ernest A. Taylor
Preceded by
Colpoys C. Walcott
Captain of H.M.S. Empress of Asia
18 Feb, 1915[23]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
William H. Baker-Baker
Assistant to Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves
31 Jan, 1916[24] – 6 Feb, 1917[25]
Succeeded by
Edward L. Booty
Preceded by
Edward L. Booty
Captain of H.M.S. Otway
6 Feb, 1917[26] – 23 Jul, 1917[27]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
John R. Segrave
Captain of H.M.S. Lancaster
17 Aug, 1917[28]
Succeeded by
Arthur L. Gresson
Preceded by
Maurice Woollcombe
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Devonport Reserve
9 Apr, 1920[29]
Succeeded by
Charles D. Johnson
 

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 27263. p. 82. 4 January, 1901.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 27982. p. 31. 1 January, 1907.
  3. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  4. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 394y. The National Archives. ADM 196/42..
  5. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 7..
  6. The London Gazette: no. 30343. p. 10762. 19 October, 1917.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 30678. p. 5602. 10 May, 1918.
  8. The National Archives. ADM 167/52.
  9. The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
  10. Royal Navy Log Books of the World War 1 Era: Accessed on 30 April 2020.
  11. "Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 11 March, 1920. Issue 42356, col F, p. 6.
  12. "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 11 April, 1921. Issue 42691, col D, p. 16.
  13. The London Gazette: no. 32871. p. 6966. 16 October, 1923.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 32886. p. 8537. 7 December, 1923.
  15. The London Gazette: no. 33300. p. 5105. 5 August, 1927.
  16. "Obituary" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 22 April, 1958. Issue 54131, col A, p. 14.
  17. "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Tuesday, 22 April, 1958. Issue 54131, col A, p. 1.
  18. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 309.
  19. Colomb Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 476.
  20. Colomb Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 476.
  21. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 366.
  22. Colomb Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 476.
  23. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 401l.
  24. Colomb Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 476.
  25. Colomb Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 476.
  26. The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 401v.
  27. Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 97.
  28. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 394y.
  29. Colomb Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 476.