William Ancrum

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Captain William Ancrum (8 July, 1881 – 11 MArch, 1963) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Ancrum was born in South Carolina and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state in 1898. However, he resigned in early 1899, only to be reappointed a few months later and graduate with the Class of 1903. He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 3 February, 1905.[1][2]

Ancrum was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 3 February, 1908, while serving aboard battleship Minnesota during the cruise of the Great White Fleet.[3] He received his first command, destroyer Warrington at the end of 1912, remaining in command about six months. Ancrum was immediately appointed to command destroyer Jarvis, where he remained for only a few months.[4][5][6]

His next command lasted longer, as he was appointed to command destroyer Flusser and the First Division of the Atlantic Fleet Torpedo Flotilla from September, 1913 to July, 1915.[7][8]

Ancrum was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 28 August, 1916.[9] During World War I, he served on the staff of the Commander of United States Naval Forces in Europe, being promoted to the temporary rank of Commander on 1 January, 1918.[10]

Following the war, Ancrum continued to be appointed to destroyer commands. He commanded destroyer Sigourney (and Destroyer Division Six)[11] and then destroyer Alden (and Destroyer Division Twenty-Six) in succession, bringing the latter unit to the Eastern Mediterranean in 1920.[12][13]

Ancrum was promoted to the permanent rank of Commander on 8 June, 1920.[14]

After serving as Executive Officer of battleship Utah from 1923 to 1925, Ancrum was appointed to command hospital ship Mercy from September, 1925 to June, 1926.[15][16][17]

Following his promotion to the rank of Captain on 4 June, 1926, Ancrum served as Captain of the Yard at the Charleston Navy Yard from 22 June, 1927 to June 1929.[18] He then commanded destroyer tender Whitney from June, 1929 to May, 1931. This was followed by a two year tour as Marine Superintendent in the Panama Canal Zone.[19][20]

Ancrum's seagoing career was capped by his appointment as commanding officer of battleship Colorado in December 1934.[21] His final service came as Chief of Staff in the Fifth Naval District from 1936 to 1938.[22][23]

Passed over for promotion, Ancrum was placed on the Retired List on his own application after over 30 years service on 1 September, 1938.[24]

Recalled to active duty in World War II as Port Director in the Sixth Naval District, Ancrum returned to inactive duty in March, 1945.

William Ancrum died at his brother's residence in North Carolina on 12 March, 1963.[25]


See Also

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Walter M. Hunt 		Captain of U.S.S. Warrington
16 Dec, 1912[26] – May, 1913[27][28] 		Succeeded by
Daniel P. Mannix
Preceded by
Daniel P. Mannix 		Captain of U.S.S. Jarvis
20 May, 1913 – Sep, 1913[29] 		Succeeded by
Austin S. Kibbee
Preceded by
Ernest A. Swanson 		Captain of U.S.S. Flusser
5 Sep, 1913[30] – 20 Jul, 1915 		Succeeded by
Ralph G. Walling
Preceded by
William D. Puleston 		Captain of U.S.S. Sigourney
16 Oct, 1918 – 1 Nov, 1919 		Succeeded by
Evan G. Hanson
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of U.S.S. Alden
24 Nov, 1919 – before 1 Jan, 1921[31] 		Succeeded by
Eldred B. Armstrong
Preceded by
William H. Allen 		Captain, Navy Yard, Charleston
22 Jun, 1927[32] – Jun, 1929 		Succeeded by
John S. Abbott
Preceded by
Richard D. White 		Captain of U.S.S. Whitney
8 Jun, 1929[33] – May, 1931[34] 		Succeeded by
Lesley B. Anderson
Preceded by
Benyaurd B. Wygant 		Captain of U.S.S. Colorado
4 Dec, 1934[35] – 15 Feb, 1936[36] 		Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Register of Officers, 1900. p. 140.
  2. ↑ Register of Officers, 1906. pp 40-41.
  3. ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. pp. 36-37.
  4. ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 30.
  5. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle 16 May, 1913 p. 17.
  6. ↑ Evening Star (Washington, DC) 29 August, 1913 p. 14.
  7. ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 30, 249.
  8. ↑ Register of Officers, 1915. p. 30.
  9. ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 26-27.
  10. ↑ Register of Officers, 1918. p. 22.
  11. ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 pp. 8. 487.
  12. ↑ Register of Officers, 1921. pp. 20-21.
  13. ↑ The Lititz Express (Lititz, PA) 12 December, 1919, p. A3.
  14. ↑ Register of Officers, 1922. p. 20.
  15. ↑ Register of Officers, 1926. p. 20.
  16. ↑ Navy Directory 1 October, 1925 p. 2.
  17. ↑ Register of Officers, 1927. p. 18.
  18. ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 16-17.
  19. ↑ Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 16-17.
  20. ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 20-21.
  21. ↑ Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 20-21.
  22. ↑ Register of Officers, 1936. pp. 18-19.
  23. ↑ Register of Officers, 1938. pp. 18-19.
  24. ↑ Register of Officers, 1939. pp. 434, 560.
  25. ↑ Charlotte Observer 12 March, 1963 p. 9.
  26. ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 30.
  27. ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. p. 30.
  28. ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. p. 24.
  29. ↑ Evening Star (Washinton, DC) 29 August, 1913 p. 14
  30. ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 30, 249.
  31. ↑ Register of Officers, 1921. pp. 20-21.
  32. ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 16-17.
  33. ↑ Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 16-17.
  34. ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 20-21.
  35. ↑ Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 20-21.
  36. ↑ Register of Officers, 1936. pp. 18-19.

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