Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet

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Admiral Sir Walter H. Cowan, Bart., 1919.
© National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet, K.C.B.D.S.O.*M.V.O., R.N. (11 June, 1871 – 14 February, 1956), also known as "Tich" Cowan, was an officer of the Royal Navy in the First World War.

Early Life & Career

On 28 January, 1892, Cowan was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, dated 14 July, 1890.[1]

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 13 November, 1893.[2]

Cowan was appointed in command of the destroyer Boxer on 20 January, 1898.[3]

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1901, for services in South Africa.[4]

On the occasion of the King's visit to Ireland he was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 5 May, 1904.[5]

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1906.[6]

He was appointed to command the armoured cruiser Cressy in August, 1909.[7]

In July, 1910, he assumed command of the light cruiser Gloucester.[8]

On 1 May, 1912, he was appointed Assistant to the Admiral of Patrols.[9]

He was appointed to command the battleship Zealandia on 7 February, 1914.[10]

Great War

On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[11]

On 7 July, 1917, he was appointed Commodore, First Class Commanding the First Light Cruiser Squadron, from the bridge of H.M.S. Caledon.[12]

On 2 September, 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral.[13]

Post-war Activity

He was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1919.[14]

In June, 1919, he would transfer his flag to Delhi as 1 L.C.S. was rejuvenated and became part of the new Atlantic Fleet. He would serve in that capacity until striking his flag on 5 July, 1920.[15]

On 2 November, 1923 he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral.[16]

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 August, 1927, vice Clinton-Baker.[17]

He was placed on the Retired List on 6 October, 1931.[18]

Retirement and the Second World War

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir W. Cowan" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 15 February, 1956. Issue 53455, col A, pg. 11.
  • "Adml. Sir Walter Cowan" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 5 March, 1956. Issue 53471, col C, p. 13.
  • Dawson, Lionel George (1949). Sound of the Guns: Being an Account of the Wars and Service of Admiral Sir Walter Cowan. Oxford: Pen-in-Hand.

Papers

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William S. Lambert
Captain of H.M.S. Boxer
20 Jan, 1898[19] – 27 Jun, 1898[20]
Succeeded by
Randal M. Lambert
Preceded by
William G. E. Ruck-Keene
Captain of H.M.S. Falcon
5 Mar, 1903[21]
Succeeded by
Hubert S. Cardale
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Itchen
2 Feb, 1904[22] – 13 Apr, 1904[23]
Succeeded by
Wilfred Henderson
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Foyle
13 Apr, 1904[24] – 9 Jun, 1904[25]
Succeeded by
Joseph A. Shuter
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Blackwater
9 Jun, 1904[26] – 17 Sep, 1904[27]
Succeeded by
Harry L. Boyle
Preceded by
John G. Armstrong
Captain of H.M.S. Lively
1904[28] – 2 Feb, 1904[29]
Succeeded by
Claude A. Rombulow-Pearse
Preceded by
William C. Castle
Captain of H.M.S. Sylvia
17 Sep, 1904[30] – 6 Jan, 1905[31]
Succeeded by
Philip H. Waterer
Preceded by
John May
Captain of H.M.S. Ostrich
6 Jan, 1905[32] – 17 Feb, 1905[33]
Succeeded by
William H. H. S. Thomson
Preceded by
William H. H. S. Thomson
Captain of H.M.S. Kennet
17 Feb, 1905[34] – 14 Mar, 1905[35]
Succeeded by
Philip H. Waterer
Preceded by
John May
Captain of H.M.S. Sylvia
14 Mar, 1905[36] – 24 Jul, 1905[37]
Succeeded by
Vaughan A. E. Hanning-Lee
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Skirmisher
24 Jul, 1905[38] – 1 Jan, 1907[39]
Succeeded by
Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt
Preceded by
Cecil F. Lambert
Captain of H.M.S. Sapphire
1 Jan, 1907[40] – 5 Jan, 1909[41]
Succeeded by
Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
Preceded by
Thomas Jackson
Captain of H.M.S. Cressy
6 Aug, 1909[42][43] – 9 May, 1910[44]
Succeeded by
Hugh P. E. T. Williams
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Gloucester
9 Jul, 1910[45][46] – 1 May, 1912[47]
Succeeded by
Eustace La T. Leatham
Preceded by
?
Assistant to the Admiral of Patrols
1 May, 1912[48] – 7 Feb, 1914[49]
Succeeded by
Edward G. Lowther-Crofton
Preceded by
Thomas D. L. Sheppard
Captain of H.M.S. Zealandia
7 Feb, 1914[50] – 17 Feb, 1915[51]
Succeeded by
Richard M. Harbord
Preceded by
Osmond de B. Brock
Captain of H.M.S. Princess Royal
17 Feb, 1915[52][53]
Succeeded by
John D. Kelly
Preceded by
Claud H. Sinclair
Captain of H.M.S. Caledon
7 Jul, 1917[54]
Succeeded by
Henry S. M. Harrison-Wallace
Preceded by
Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Light Cruiser Squadron
? – 5 Jul, 1920[55]
Succeeded by
James A. Fergusson
Preceded by
Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, Bart.
Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
31 Mar, 1921[56] – 15 May, 1923[57]
Succeeded by
Sir Frederick L. Field
as Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart.
Admiral Superintendent of Rosyth Dockyard
30 Jun, 1925[58] – 2 Jun, 1926[59]
Succeeded by
Colin Cantlie
Preceded by
Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart.
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland
30 Jun, 1925[60] – 2 Jun, 1926[61]
Succeeded by
Humphrey W. Bowring
Preceded by
James A. Fergusson
as Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station
Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station
2 Jun, 1926[62] – 22 Jul, 1928[63]
Succeeded by
Cyril T. M. Fuller
Court Appointments
Preceded by
Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
12 Dec, 1930[64]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 26253. p. 544. 2 February, 1892.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 26359. p. 2. 2 January, 1893.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 24 January, 1898. Issue 35421, col A, p. 11.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 27335. p. 4780. 19 July, 1901.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27675. p. 3000. 10 May, 1904.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 27982. p. 31. 1 January, 1907.
  7. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  8. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  9. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 23 April, 1912. Issue 39880, col G, p. 16.
  10. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 398.
  11. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
  12. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. . 24.
  13. The London Gazette: no. 30892. p. 10661. 10 September, 1918.
  14. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31099. p. 106. 1 January, 1919.
  15. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 32878. p. 7658. 9 November, 1923.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 33300. p. 5105. 5 August, 1927.
  18. The London Gazette: no. 33761. p. 6464. 9 October, 1931.
  19. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 24 January, 1898. Issue 35421, col A, p. 11.
  20. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  21. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  22. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  23. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  24. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  25. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  26. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  27. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  28. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  29. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 157.
  30. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  31. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  32. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  33. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  34. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  35. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  36. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  37. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  38. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  39. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  40. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  41. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  42. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 297.
  43. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  44. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  45. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  46. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 320.
  47. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  48. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  49. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  50. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 398.
  51. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  52. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  53. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 397c.
  54. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 392a.
  55. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  56. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  57. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  58. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  59. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  60. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  61. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  62. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  63. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 249.
  64. The London Gazette: no. 33670. p. 8077. 16 December, 1930.