Vernon Saumarez Butler

Rear-Admiral Vernon Saumarez Butler, D.S.O., R.N. (19 October, 1885 – 25 June, 1954) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Butler was born in Bath, the son of a barrister.

Butler was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1907.

In March 1908 he was appointed to the armoured cruiser Shannon of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron. Three months later, there was a Court of Enquiry into the ship's unsatisfactory shooting in a heavy gunlaying test. Butler and two other officers were found to have failed to establish any system for the firing, or to have provided suitable oversight.

Butler was appointed in command of the destroyer Quail on 16 September, 1912. He seems not to have been involved with her collision with a quay on 8 May 1913, as it is not mentioned in his Service Record.

Great War

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Leopard on 19 February, 1914.

Butler was appointed in command of Lassoo on 24 September, 1915 and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October.

Butler was brought to notice by Commodore (T) for his conduct in saving the crew of the destroyer Medusa, which had collided with Laverock on the exceedingly dark night of 25 March 1916 in the face of a strong gale and heavy sea.

Lassoo was lost on 13 August, 1916 to what the Admiralty thought to be a mine, but which was more likely a torpedo from UB 10. In the routine Court Martial following her loss, it was noted that excellent discipline had prevailed.

Butler was awarded the D.S.O. in early 1918 "for services in Destroyer & Torpedo Boat Flotillas in the period ending 31/12/17". The award was bestowed at Buckingham Palace on 31 July, 1918.

Butler was appointed in command of the destroyer Redgauntlet on 9 April, 1918.

Post-war

Butler was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1918.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Serapis on 28 January, 1919.

Butler was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1926.

Butler was appointed in command of the light cruiser Cardiff in January, 1927 and was Flag Captain to Preston. He was subjected to a Court Martial on 6 March, 1928 on two counts of "negligent performance of duties". Both counts were found to be "not proved". He was superseded in January, 1929.

On 12 April, 1930 he was appointed to be Chief Staff Officer to Berwick Curtis, Rear Admiral in Charge, Gibraltar. Butler kept on after Curtis was replaced by Thomas Norman James on 30 March, 1931 until Butler was superseded in this post in May, 1932.

On 22 March, 1935 he was appointed in command of the sloop Shoreham and as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf, vice Creagh. He was superseded there on 20 March, 1937.

In early 1941, Butler was appointed as temporary Admiral Commanding Reserves, having twice been Naval Assistant to men holding that office. He was superseded in that position on 26 March, 1941. Thereafter, he continued to provide services to the A.C.R. with the rank of Commodore, Second Class, R.N.R..

Butler succumbed to haemochromatosis on 25 June, 1954.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Ralph Neville	Captain of H.M.S. Quail 16 Sep, 1912 – 30 Jan, 1914	Succeeded by Francis A. Clutterbuck
Preceded by Francis A. Clutterbuck	Captain of H.M.S. Panther 30 Jan, 1914 – 19 Feb, 1914	Succeeded by Brudenell Hunt-Grubbe
Preceded by Geoffrey T. Wright	Captain of H.M.S. Leopard 19 Feb, 1914 – 24 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by Reginald Nash
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Lassoo 24 Sep, 1915 – 13 Aug, 1916	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sabrina 8 Sep, 1916 – 9 Apr, 1918	Succeeded by Daniel H. Rainier
Preceded by Aubrey T. Tillard	Captain of H.M.S. Redgauntlet 9 Apr, 1918 – 28 Jan, 1919	Succeeded by Alban Knubley
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Serapis 28 Jan, 1919 – Aug, 1921	Succeeded by Austen G. Lilley
Preceded by Austen G. Lilley	Captain of H.M.S. Torch Aug, 1921 – 20 Nov, 1921	Succeeded by Richard L. Hamer
Preceded by Kenelm E. L. Creighton	Captain of H.M.S. Enchantress c. early 1926	Succeeded by Douglas Faviell
Preceded by St. A. B. Wake	Captain of H.M.S. Cardiff 1 Jan, 1927 – Jan, 1929	Succeeded by H. Evelyn C. Blagrove
Preceded by Herbert A. Forster	Naval Assistant to Admiral Commanding Reserves 20 Sep, 1932 – 20 Sep, 1934	Succeeded by Frederic C. Bradley
Preceded by James V. Creagh	Captain of H.M.S. Shoreham 22 Mar, 1935	Succeeded by Allan Poland
Preceded by Douglas B. Fisher	Senior Officer, Persian Gulf 22 Mar, 1935 – 20 Mar, 1937	Succeeded by George H. Faulkner
Preceded by Humphrey B. Jacomb	Naval Assistant to Admiral Commanding Reserves 18 Dec, 1939 – 13 Jan, 1941	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Noel F. Laurence	Admiral Commanding Reserves 13 Jan, 1941 – 26 Mar, 1941	Succeeded by William P. Mark-Wardlaw