Walter Burdge Compton

Captain Walter Burdge Compton, M.V.O., D.S.O., (10 May, 1876 – 19 April, 1932) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in London, Compton gained seven months' time on passing out of Britannia. He was appointed to the second class battleship Victoria on 22 September 1892. He was discharged from her on 1 December 1892 for an appointment in Imperieuse on the China Station, and was thus able to avoid being involved in Victoria's loss.

Compton's time on the China Station evolved into time aboard Centurion commencing from April 1894, followed by an appointment in Undaunted on 8 August of that year before finally going to Edgar on 3 December. His service in Edgar did not impress Captain Henderson who thought his "ability only of a poor order." This impression was cemented with the resounding non-endorsement that Compton possessed "no known physical defects."

Compton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1899.

Compton was appointed first officer in Foresight on 25 August, 1905. By 1906, he was gaining a reputation of being good at handling men. On 15 November 1906, he left Foresight for an appointment in Bacchante in the Mediterranean. In mid 1908 he went to Enchantress, in which he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1910, shortly before leaving the ship at the end of July. He was next appointed to be executive officer in Devonshire on 16 September 1910.

On 31 October 1911, he was appointed to Venerable in the Atlantic. He left her just over two years later, on 13 November, 1913. After a year in command of T.B. 116 which also placed him in command of the Portsmouth Escort Flotilla, on 12 December, 1914, Compton was appointed in command of the destroyer Spiteful, and for command of the same flotilla.

On 10 January, 1917, Compton was appointed to Victory for command of Badger and in command of the Portsmouth Escort Flotilla. On 26 February, 1917, he was re-appointed to Victory for Miscellaneous Service, and was given the rank of Acting Captain to serve as Captain (D) of the Portsmouth Escort Flotilla, though he surrendered his command of H.M.S. Badger in so doing.

Compton would receive a D.S.O. for his steadfast and "excellent services" in guarding the approaches to Portsmouth in mid-1917 and was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1917.

Compton remained in at Portsmouth until he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Calliope on 10 March, 1919.

On 11 January, 1921, Compton was admitted to Chatham Naval Hospital with gastritis, and was discharged fit on the 19th. In March of that year, Compton was appointed in command of the light cruiser Calcutta. He would take the cruiser to visit Christmas Island in March of 1922, during which his assistance and hospitality offered to Captain "Westamacott" would prompt the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific to relay his thanks. Compton's was relieved in command later in 1922, perhaps in May and was granted permission to remain in Canada.

Compton retired on 5 August, 1922, following the expiration of his foreign service leave.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Frederick B. Noble	Captain of H.M. T.B. 116 1 Dec, 1913 – 12 Dec, 1914	Succeeded by Ernest E. Lowe
Preceded by Ernest E. Lowe	Captain of H.M.S. Spiteful 12 Dec, 1914 – 10 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Henry F. H. Wakefield
Preceded by Alan M. Yeats-Brown	Captain of H.M.S. Badger 10 Jan, 1917 – 26 Feb, 1917	Succeeded by Conyngham C. Denison
Preceded by Percy L. H. Noble	Captain of H.M.S. Calliope 10 Mar, 1919 – 1 Mar, 1921	Succeeded by William D. Paton
Preceded by Percy L. H. Noble	Captain of H.M.S. Calcutta 1 Mar, 1921 – 9 May, 1922	Succeeded by Kenneth Dewar