Robert Arthur Hornell

Vice-Admiral Robert Arthur Hornell, D.S.O. (23 October, 1877 – 4 May, 1949) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Hornell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1900.

Hornell was deemed "first class" after attending the War College as a Lieutenant from 12 February - 31 May, 1907, and then joined the Staff College, Camberley, on May 13th.

Hornell was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1912.

He commanded the destroyer Rother from 29 July, 1912 until 21 February of 1913 and then was appointed to Bulwark for one year. In early 1914, he was appointed additional to Leander for command of reduced T.Bs. and T.B.Ds..

The Great War

On the eve of war, Hornell was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 14 on 29 July, 1914. He would remain in her until 16 October, 1916 when he was appointed in command of the destroyer Laforey. He was only there ten days before he Laforey fought on the periphery of a substantial night action of 26-7 October, 1916.

Hornell was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1917.

He was appointed Captain (D) of the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla on 1 October, 1918.

Hornell served as captain of Colossus from February, 1919 until he was appointed in command of the battleship Orion on 1 April.

Post-War

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 19 May, 1929 and placed on the Retired List the next day. Hornell was advanced to Vice-Admiral on 11 February, 1934.

He proved of some assistance as Commodore of Convoys in World War II in 1941, but was put back on the Retired List in 1942. He seems to have come back after some issues with the common cold, but was finally retired again as medically unfit on 12 December, 1944.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/142/25.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/125/181.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/44/435.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/90.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Herbert W. W. Hope	Captain of H.M.S. Leda 1 Jan, 1910 – 15 Aug, 1912	Succeeded by Joseph A. Shuter
Preceded by John P. Landon	Captain of H.M.S. Rother 29 Jul, 1912 – 21 Feb, 1913	Succeeded by Walter L. Allen
Preceded by Hugh R. Troup	Captain of H.M. T.B. 14 29 Jul, 1914 – 16 Oct, 1916	Succeeded by Frederick B. Noble
Preceded by Graham R. L. Edwards	Captain of H.M.S. Laforey 16 Oct, 1916 – 13 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Arthur E. Durham
Preceded by Francis A. W. Buller	Captain of H.M.S. Meteor 13 Jan, 1917 – 29 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Henry Forrester
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sturgeon 15 Feb, 1917 – 30 Apr, 1917	Succeeded by Charles H. Knox-Little
Preceded by Rafe G. Rowley-Conwy	Captain of H.M.S. Nimrod 30 Apr, 1917 – 12 Feb, 1918	Succeeded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith
Preceded by Alan C. Bruce	Captain of H.M.S. Patrol 14 Feb, 1918 – Apr, 1918	Succeeded by Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Reginald L. Crichton as Acting Captain (D), Seventh Destroyer Flotilla	Captain (D), Seventh Destroyer Flotilla 14 Feb, 1918 – 1 Oct, 1918	Succeeded by Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by Charles P. Beaty-Pownall	Captain of H.M.S. Colossus 1 Feb, 1919 – 18 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by The Hon. Arthur L. O. Forbes-Sempill
Preceded by Cecil H. Pilcher	Captain of H.M.S. Orion 1 Apr, 1919 – 1 Apr, 1920	Succeeded by Alan Dixon
Preceded by Walter E. Woodward	Captain of H.M.S. Princess Margaret 6 Mar, 1923 – 21 Apr, 1925	Succeeded by Leonard L. P. Willan