Robert James Buchanan

Commander (retired) Robert James Buchanan, D.S.O. (26 March, 1881 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Buchanan gained a commendable twelve months' time on passing out of Britannia on 15 January, 1897. He served in the battleships Royal Sovereign and Mars in the Channel Squadron through the end of 1897 and then Cæsar in the Mediterranean. In November, 1901 he commenced a series of short appointments in smaller ships, Tiger, Ostrich and Lively. Buchanan was still in Lively when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 July, 1902. He continued to serve in her in lieu of a Sub-Lieutenant until 1 August, 1902.

Lieutenant Buchanan spent the latter half of 1902 through September 1905 serving in Magnificent and Victorious before being placed in a string of seven command appointments in T.B.Ds., ending with an appointment in command of the destroyer Leopard on 10 July, 1907.

Buchanan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July, 1910 while in command of the river gunboat H.M.S. Teal on the China Station.

In December, 1911, he left the Orient for home in S.S. Himalaya, arriving in England on 27 January, 1912 to undertake short appointments in command of Cheerful and T.B. 25 before being appointed in command of the new Acheron Class destroyer Hydra on 23 May, 1912. Buchanan commanded her for a considerable period, operating as part of the First Destroyer Flotilla. When she collided with Lizard in February, 1913, the Admiralty expressed displeasure at the manner with which Buchanan had handled the vessel.

On 21 October 1914, Buchanan was cautioned after Hydra collided with the oiler Suwanee while coming alongside. Apparently, he had misjudged his ship's speed in the accident.

Buchanan commanded Hydra her at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24 January, 1915.

On 11 September 1915, Buchanan earned the Admiralty's displeasure when Hydra again collided, this time with the scout cruiser Fearless.

In February, 1916, he was ordered to undertake staff work at the Admiralty, and to await the commissioning of the new Arabis Class sweeping sloop Celandine, to take command at that juncture with the rank of Acting Commander while holding that appointment. Celandine was sent to Gibraltar where she was one of the sweeping sloops directly attached the station until June 1918 when it became part of the Eleventh Sloop Flotilla based there. Buchanan requested command of a destroyer in Home Waters in mid-1916, but this request seems to have been unfulfilled, as he served out of Gibraltar in Celandine for the duration.

On 27 September, 1917, Celandine encountered a U-boat and Buchanan was praised for his "prompt and skilful action" in the affair, which was adjudged to have "probably slightly damaged" the enemy submarine.

Buchanan was awarded a D.S.O. for services on the Mediterranean Station between 1 July and 11 November, 1918, gazetted 22 April, 1919.

Post-War

Buchanan was appointed to the training ship Eaglet on 6 June, 1919. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 5 August, 1919, to be granted a step in rank upon reaching his fortieth birthday. Buchanan was accordingly promoted to the rank of Commander on 26 March, 1921.

World War II

From August, 1939, Buchanan worked with the Ministry of Information censoring cable and wireless traffic. His eyesight was failing, however. In 1942, he was diagnosed with glaucoma at the Royal London Ophthalmology Hospital.

Buchanan's M.O.I. appointment was terminated and he was reverted to the Retired List as medically unfit on 27 February, 1943.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Archibald Gilbert	Captain of H.M. T.B. 58 16 Jul, 1901	Succeeded by Charles S. Forbes
Preceded by Charles F. Corbett	Captain of H.M.S. Ure 1 Sep, 1905 – 3 Sep, 1905	Succeeded by James R. P. Hawksley
Preceded by James R. P. Hawksley	Captain of H.M.S. Spitfire 4 Sep, 1905 – 1 Jan, 1906	Succeeded by John Reep
Preceded by William J. Scott	Captain of H.M.S. Hunter 1 Jan, 1906 – 12 May, 1906	Succeeded by Aubrey E. D. Moore
Preceded by Aubrey E. D. Moore	Captain of H.M.S. Zebra 12 May, 1906 – 28 May, 1906	Succeeded by Thomas N. James
Preceded by Aubrey E. D. Moore	Captain of H.M.S. Hunter 28 May, 1906 – 1 Jan, 1907	Succeeded by Walter G. Jones
Preceded by Walter G. Jones	Captain of H.M.S. Fervent 1 Jan, 1907 – 4 Jul, 1907	Succeeded by Henry M. Fothergill
Preceded by Francis A. W. Buller	Captain of H.M.S. Leopard 10 Jul, 1907 – 18 Feb, 1908	Succeeded by Reginald E. Marcon
Preceded by Henry J. G. Good	Captain of H.M.S. Teal 5 May, 1910 – 5 Aug, 1911	Succeeded by Hugh D. Marryat
Preceded by William S. Hargreaves	Captain of H.M.S. Cheerful 5 Mar, 1912 – 10 Apr, 1912	Succeeded by Francis L. Back
Preceded by Charles L. Fox	Captain of H.M. T.B. 25 10 Apr, 1912 – 23 May, 1912	Succeeded by Richard F. White
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Hydra 23 May, 1912 – 18 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by Francis G. Glossop
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Celandine 12 Mar, 1916 – 6 Jun, 1919	Succeeded by ?