Reginald Vesey Holt

Rear-Admiral Reginald Vesey Holt, 1937.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Vice-Admiral Reginald Vesey Holt, C.B., D.S.O., M.V.O. (26 May, 1884 – 1957) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He commanded a considerable number of destroyers and torpedo craft

Life & Career

Holt was born in Belgrave Square, London, the son of V. G. M. Holt, Esq..

Holt joined the training ship H.M.S. Britannia as a Naval Cadet with the May 1899 intake term. He emerged in mid-September 1900 with a modest two months' additional seniority and was appointed to H.M.S. Jupiter of the Channel Squadron. Completing nearly a year's service in her, he was sent out to the China Station, first in the destroyer Isis before transferring to the battleship Goliath later in 1901.

When Goliath paid off on 8 October, 1903, Holt was placed in Empress of India, which was apparently returning to serve in the Home Fleet. He arrived back in England on 31 January, 1904 and joined the Royal Naval College on 9 February.

Holt participated in the Annual Manoeuvres of 1904, being on loan to the destroyer Sylvia.

Holt was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1906, being appointed to the destroyer Hart on the China Station that day in lieu of a Sublieutenant. He was invalided on 13 July however. On 12 August, he was deemed too sick to travel and had to spend some time convalescing in Yokohama. He did arrive (in England, it is assumed) on 26 November, but was still suffering from remittent fever. On 10 December, he was finally found fit, having apparently traveled to Austria for treatment. He was appointed to a two year stint in the battleship Magnificent in the Home Fleet on 10 January, 1907.

Following two months of physical training in early 1909, Holt was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 055 on 1 March, 1909. In December, he moved over to command the T.B. 85.

Holt was appointed in command of the destroyer Itchen on 14 April, 1913. Holt was placed in temporary command of Kale from July 1913 to perhaps June 1914 and on 9 August, 1913 was again appointed in command of the destroyer Itchen.

Holt was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1914 and left Itchen when he was appointed in command of T.B. 16 on 19 December 1914.

On 3 February, 1916 he was apponted in command of Tenth Destroyer Flotilla's Mastiff, which was part of the Harwich Force.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Redoubt on 18 January, 1917.

Holt attacked a submarine with Redoubt on 18 May, 1917 and was awarded a D.S.O. for the effort, gazetted 20 July.

Holt was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1917.

Post-War

Holt was appointed in command of the destroyer Rowena in April, 1920.

Holt was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1925.

Holt was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 22 June, 1936.

World War II

Holt was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 15 December, 1939. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 4 May, 1940.

In 1942, Cosmo Moray Graham returned from Burma to relieve Holt as Flag Officer in Charge, Humber.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Ronald M. Fraser	Captain of H.M. T.B. 055 1 Mar, 1909 – Dec, 1909	Succeeded by Granville Murray-Browne
Preceded by Reginald A. Yonge	Captain of H.M. T.B. 85 Dec, 1909 – 17 Jun, 1910	Succeeded by Henry L. M. Coxon
Preceded by Ralph W. Wilkinson	Captain of H.M.S. Doon 15 Oct, 1912 – 4 Apr, 1913	Succeeded by Walter L. Allen
Preceded by Sydney Hopkins	Captain of H.M.S. Itchen 14 Apr, 1913 – 15 Jul, 1913	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by Berwick Curtis	Captain of H.M.S. Kale 15 Jul, 1913 – c. Jun, 1914	Succeeded by Berwick Curtis
Preceded by Reginald V. Holt	Captain of H.M.S. Itchen Jul, 1914 – 15 Sep, 1914	Succeeded by Herbert M. Denny
Preceded by Alfred E. Evans	Captain of H.M. T.B. 16 19 Dec, 1914 – 3 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by Conyngham C. Dennison
Preceded by James L. Forbes	Captain of H.M.S. Mastiff 3 Feb, 1916 – 18 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Colin A. G. Hutchison
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Redoubt 18 Jan, 1917 – 15 Apr, 1919	Succeeded by John Fawcett
Preceded by Arthur Marsden	Captain of H.M.S. Maenad 15 Apr, 1919 – 16 Aug, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Patrick B. Crohan	Captain of H.M.S. Rowena Apr, 1920 – 1 Feb, 1922	Succeeded by William E. B. Magee
Preceded by Reginald T. Amedroz	Captain of H.M.S. Vanity 17 Aug, 1922 – Nov, 1922	Succeeded by Henry A. Simpson
Preceded by Henry de B. Tupper	Captain of H.M.S. Vampire 16 Nov, 1922 – Jun, 1923	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by Walter F. Smithwick	Captain of H.M.S. Vesper c. Jun, 1923 – Sep, 1923	Succeeded by Valentine M. Wyndham-Quin
Preceded by Reginald V. Holt	Captain of H.M.S. Vampire Sep, 1923 – Aug, 1925	Succeeded by Stephen Barry
Preceded by Edward O. B. S. Osborne	Captain of H.M.S. Malcolm Jan, 1925 – 8 Feb, 1925	Succeeded by John W. C. O. Shelton
Preceded by Edward O. B. S. Osborne as Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla	Commander (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla Jan, 1925 – 8 Feb, 1925	Succeeded by Kenneth MacLeod as Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla
Preceded by John C. Tovey	Captain of H.M.S. Bruce 13 Sep, 1926 – 4 Jan, 1927	Succeeded by Malcolm R. J. Maxwell-Scott
Preceded by John C. Tovey	Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla 13 Sep, 1926 – 4 Jan, 1927	Succeeded by Malcolm R. J. Maxwell-Scott
Preceded by John C. Tovey	Captain of H.M.S. Campbell 10 Jan, 1927 – 4 Sep, 1928	Succeeded by Tom S. V. Phillips
Preceded by John C. Tovey	Captain (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla 10 Jan, 1927 – 4 Sep, 1928	Succeeded by Tom S. V. Phillips
Preceded by Colin A. M. Sarel	Captain in Charge of H.M. Naval Establishments, Bermuda 18 Oct, 1928 – Nov, 1930	Succeeded by Henry B. Maltby
Preceded by Frederick A. Buckley	Captain of H.M.S. Shropshire 11 Aug, 1933 – Nov, 1934	Succeeded by William E. C. Tait
Preceded by Norman A. Wodehouse	Captain of Royal Naval College, Dartmouth 28 Dec, 1934 – 29 Dec, 1936	Succeeded by Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton
Preceded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe	Senior Naval Officer, Yangtse 20 Aug, 1937 – Oct, 1939	Succeeded by ?