Thomas Erskine Wardle

Vice-Admiral Thomas Erskine Wardle, C.B., D.S.O., (9 January 1877 – 9 May 1944) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Wardle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 January, 1897.

Wardle was promoted to the rank of Commander on 15 January, 1907.

Wardle was appointed as Naval Secretary of the Ordnance Board on 15 February, 1910.

He was appointed in command of the Crescent on 10 February, 1913.

Wardle was promoted to Captain on 30 June, 1915.

Captain

Wardle was appointed in command of the armed merchant cruiser Alcantara on 23 March, 1915 and commissioned her in the following month. She sank the British steam trawler Kathleen on 3 June, prompting him to be more cautious in future. He remained in command of Alcantara until she was lost in action against Template:DE-Greif on 29 February, 1916.

Wardle was appointed in command of Dreadnought in January, 1918. He served in her as Flag Captain until 20 April, 1918. There seems to be some doubt about this, as he is noted as leaving Brindisi for England on 28 February, 1918 and navigating officer Harold Brisbane Bedwell's Service Record notes that he was appointed in command from 7 February until 20 April, 1918.

On 13 June, 1918, he was appointed in command of the newly-completed light cruiser Danae.

Wardle was appointed in command of the light cruiser Calliope in June, 1923.

He became Rear-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet for exactly two years, commencing on 30 April, 1924.

He retired at his own request on 9 July 1926 and was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the retired list on 1 April, 1931.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Francis G. Eyre	Captain of H.M.S. Canopus Dec, 1909 – 15 Feb, 1910	Succeeded by Francis G. St. John
Preceded by Percival H. Warleigh	Naval Secretary to the Ordnance Board 15 Feb, 1910 – Feb, 1913	Succeeded by George P. Bevan
Preceded by William D. Church	Captain of H.M.S. Crescent 10 Feb, 1913 – 23 Nov, 1914	Succeeded by George Trewby
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Calyx 19 Nov, 1914 – 23 Mar, 1915	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Alcantara 23 Mar, 1915 – 29 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Theobald W. B. Kennedy	Captain of H.M.S. Lowestoft late 1917 – Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Alister F. Beal
Preceded by Arthur C. S. H. D'Aeth	Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought Jan, 1918 – 20 Apr, 1918	Succeeded by Harold B. Bedwell
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Danae 13 Jun, 1918 – Mar, 1920	Succeeded by Frederick C. Fisher
Preceded by William D. Paton	Captain of H.M.S. Calliope 21 Jun, 1923 – 13 Feb, 1924	Succeeded by William M. Kerr
Preceded by Albert P. Addison	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Royal Australian Navy Squadron 30 Apr, 1924	Succeeded by George F. Hyde as Commodore Commanding, H.M. Australian Squadron