Vivian Lockyer Wiles
Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. (retired) Vivian Lockyer Wiles, R.D., R.N.R. (31 January, 1878 – 29 May, 1958) served in the Royal Naval Reserve.
Life & Career
Wiles joined the R.N.R. in 1907 and cruised in the Carnarvon.
He later served in the armed merchant cruiser Oceanic, operating from Southampton by 1914 and being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant R.N.R. on 30 May, 1914.[1]
Wiles survived Oceanic's loss to grounding in September 1914 and eventually served in the Rinaldo and also as a flight observer, stationed aboard the seaplane carrier Campania, which he joined at Birkenhead in February, 1915.[2]
Promoted to Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. in February, 1916, Wiles continued to serve in Campania, until late 1917, becoming her executive officer, and missing his chance to participate in the Battle of Jutland when his ship infamously failed to get the signal to sail when the Grand Fleet sortied from Scapa Flow.
In late 1917, Wiles was appointed to temporary command of the seaplane carrier Riviera.
He commanded the balloon ship Canning through the end of the war, and in her presided over the surrender of the German High Sea Fleet. Upon leaving her in April, 1919, he was presented with a silver cigarette box inscribed: "To Lieut-Commander Wiles, RNR. A jolly good fellow whom we shall all miss; good luck and the very best of wishes from his officers, HMS Canning, 2.4.19."[3]
Wiles was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. on 24 May, 1918. He was demobilised upon his arrival in India on 8 August, 1919. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 9 December, 1921.[4]
Wiles worked as a Marine Superintendent before retiring in Somerset in 1936 after a seagoing life spanning 40 years. In 1948, he reported that he was "quite fit & willing for any service but fear age is against me."[5][6]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Guy R. Livingstone |
Captain of H.M.S. Riviera 3 Dec, 1917[7][8] – c. Apr, 1918[Inference] |
Succeeded by Francis E. H. G. Hobart |
| Preceded by Charles F. R. Cowan |
Captain of H.M.S. Canning 24 May, 1918[9][10] – 8 Aug, 1919[11] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Wiles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/55/86. f. 86.
- ↑ Webpage based on Wiles's letters.
- ↑ Webpage based on Wiles's letters.
- ↑ Wiles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/55/86. f. 86.
- ↑ Wiles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/55/86. f. 86.
- ↑ Wiles family webpage.
- ↑ Wiles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/55/86. f. 86.
- ↑ Wiles family webpage.
- ↑ Wiles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/55/86. f. 86.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 751.
- ↑ Wiles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/55/86. f. 86.
