Ralph Michael Mack

Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Michael Mack (11 October, 1883 – 23 December, 1917) was an officer in the Royal Navy who died when his destroyer was mined late in the Great War.

Life & Career

Mack gained three months' time on passing out of Britannia on 15 May 1900 and was immediately appointed to the first class protected cruiser Theseus in the Mediterranean , where he spent two years. Captain Tisdall noted that his new midshipman was "physically weak, but may develop."

With a Watchkeeping Certificate awarded him that August, Mack was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1905.

Mack ended twenty months in Albion on the China Station when she was reduced in April, 1906 and was appointed to join Russell on the 21st.

By November her Captain Lowry noted that Mack now possessed a "good physique" and was reliable. Mack remained with her until 30 June, 1908 when he received a three month appointment in Gibraltar.

Mack was appointed in command of the Swale of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on 20 May, 1912. In July, she and the submarine C 31 grounded and Mack drew Their Lordships' "severe displeasure" for "not paying sufficient attention to warning as to Reefdyke in 'North Sea Reef'". His troubles continued, as in December he was found to have committed an error in judgement when Swale collided with the steam trawler Japonica.

Mack was appointed in command of the destroyer Stour on 7 February, 1913.

Mack was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1913.

On 28 April, 1914, Mack was appointed in command of the newly completed destroyer Lucifer.

At the end of 1916, Mack was placed in command of the destroyer Phoebe. One week later, however, he was admitted to hospital and sent to London Homeopathic Hospital. Although his malady is not described, he was found fit on the 27th. Perhaps zeppelin chemtrails combined with homeopathic mojo to produce this recovery. On 22 June, Mack was gazetted for a mention in despatches noting that he had "served continuously throughout the war and distinguished himself on many occasions with the Harwich Force."

In November 1917, Mack was appointed in command of the destroyer Tornado, but he was killed less than a month later when the destroyer was mined and lost on 23 December, 1917.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Cyril Callaghan	Captain of H.M.S. Swale 20 May, 1912 – 7 Feb, 1913	Succeeded by Harry MacL. Fraser
Preceded by Harry MacL. Fraser	Captain of H.M.S. Stour 7 Feb, 1913 – 18 Apr, 1914	Succeeded by Basil W. L. Owen
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Lucifer 18 Apr, 1914 – 12 Dec, 1916	Succeeded by Maxwell N. Williamson-Napier
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Phoebe 12 Dec, 1916 – Jul, 1917	Succeeded by George H. Creswell
Preceded by Charles H. Knox-Little	Captain of H.M.S. Sturgeon 11 Jul, 1917 – 30 Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Henry M. Coombs
Preceded by William E. B. Magee	Captain of H.M.S. Tornado 30 Nov, 1917 – 23 Dec, 1917	Succeeded by Vessel Lost