Robert Bertram Ramsay

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Rear-Admiral Robert Bertram Ramsay (12 October, 1884 – 10 February, 1942) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Madras, Ramsay gained three and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia in September, 1900. He was appointed to join Majestic in the Channel Squadron but received an immediate six month leave "for the benefit of his health." This was extended a further three months and Ramsay was appointed to Barfleur on the China Station on 11 June, 1901. Later that year, he moved to the battleship Albion, remaining there for a two year appointment ending on 30 November, 1903. At the end of his time in Albion, Ramsay impressed the Admiralty with his ingenuity in designing a submersible target.[1]

Ramsay joined the Naval College on 9 February, 1904. He received some extra leave in advance of Christmas, 1904 to attend to his father who was ill. Ramsay was appointed to Thames for a submarine course and soon thereafter promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 November, 1905. He was appointed from there to Mercury on 1 October, 1906 for command of unspecified submarines.[2]

In September 1910, Ramsay damaged the propeller of C 22 when shoving off from Vulcan in what the Admiralty deemed an error in judgment on his part.

Ramsay was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 November, 1913. On 7 December, he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his left eye. He was found fit on 6 February, 1914.[3]

Despite his submarine experience, Ramsay moved on to appointments in larger surface ships, being made first and gunnery officer in Philomel on 30 May 1912 and then to Jupiter and finally Natal in 1914.

Great War

Ramsay served in Natal until being sent back to submarines when appointed to E 25 on 1 July 1915, to assume command upon her commissioning. He commanded her until 28 September, 1916 when he left Malta for England on fourteen days' leave. His next appointment was in command of J 1, commencing 12 November, 1916.

Ramsay was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1917 and was re-appointed in command of J 1. He was mentioned in despatches "for long and continuous service in [illeg] submarine", gazetted 2 November, 1917.[4]

Ramsay was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1924.[5]

Ramsay was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 January, 1936 and placed on the Retired List at his own request the following day.[6]

World War II

Ramsay served in the Liverpool Convoy Pool with the rank of Commodore, Second Class R.N.R. from 1939 until mid 1941. In August, 1941 he was reverted briefly to the retired list before being appointed as Naval Officer in Charge, Faroe Islands, vice Crowther. This appointment lasted only until 23 December, 1941, when he was reverted once more to the Retired List.[7]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Clyfford H. Warren
Captain of H.M.S. B 11
7 Aug, 1908[8] – 1 Feb, 1909[9]
Succeeded by
Charles de Burgh
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. C 22
1 Feb, 1909[10][11] – 8 May, 1911[12]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey N. Biggs
Preceded by
Frederick A. Sommerville
Captain of H.M.S. D 1
15 May, 1911[13][14] – 1 Dec, 1911[15]
Succeeded by
William R. D. Crowther
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. E 25
1 Jul, 1915[16] – 9 Oct, 1916[17]
Succeeded by
Hugh E. Heaton
Preceded by
Noel F. Laurence
Captain of H.M.S. J 1
12 Nov, 1916[18] – Aug, 1918[19]
Succeeded by
Ronald A. Trevor
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. M 1
10 Oct, 1918[20] – Jan, 1920[21]
Succeeded by
Hubert Vaughan-Jones
Preceded by
Noel F. Laurence
Captain of H.M.S. Adamant
Jan, 1920[22] – Jul, 1920[23]
Succeeded by
Charles de Burgh
Preceded by
Charles de Burgh
Captain of H.M.S. Adamant
4 Nov, 1920[24][25] – 7 Jul, 1921[26]
Succeeded by
Archibald D. Cochrane
Preceded by
Geoffrey Layton
Captain of H.M.S. Maidstone
7 Jul, 1921[27][28] – 8 Jan, 1924[29]
Succeeded by
Reginald B. Darke
Preceded by
Geoffrey Layton
Commander (S), Third Submarine Flotilla
Jul, 1921[30]
Succeeded by
Reginald B. Darke
Preceded by
Geoffrey Layton
Captain of H.M.S. Lucia
14 Apr, 1924[31][32] – Jun, 1926[33]
Succeeded by
Reginald B. Darke
Preceded by
Cecil P. Talbot
Captain (S), Second Submarine Flotilla
14 Apr, 1924[34] – Jun, 1926[35]
Succeeded by
Reginald B. Darke
Preceded by
Douglas B. Le Mottée
Captain of H.M.S. Despatch
24 Feb, 1927[36] – Jan, 1928[37]
Succeeded by
Andrew B. Cunningham
Preceded by
Raymond Fitzmaurice
Vice-President of the Chemical Warfare Committee
1 Apr, 1929[38] – 17 Mar, 1931[39]
Succeeded by
Robert S. MacFarlan

Footnotes

  1. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  2. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  3. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  4. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  5. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  6. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  7. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  8. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  9. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  10. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  11. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 395a.
  12. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  13. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Saturday, May 06, 1911; pg. 8; Issue 39578.
  14. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  15. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  16. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  17. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  18. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  19. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  20. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  21. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  22. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  23. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  24. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  25. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 723.
  26. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  27. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  28. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 780.
  29. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  30. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 780.
  31. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  32. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 252.
  33. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  34. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  35. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  36. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  37. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  38. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.
  39. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/137. ff. 75, 78.