William Drummond Church

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Vice-Admiral (retired) William Drummond Church, C.B.E., (10 June, 1868 – 12 August, 1937) was an officer in the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Born in Bath, Church gained eleven months' time on passing out of Britannia.

Church was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in January, 1891.[1]

Church was sick from 8 October 1898 until 22 November, being treated in Guy's Hospital for an undisclosed reason. On 28 November 1899, he was informed that the Admiralty was displeased at a want of supervision in working the cables that led to the capstan in Juno being damaged.[2]

Church was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1903.[3]

Church was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December 1910.[4]

He was appointed in command of the light cruiser Weymouth on 15 August 1913.[5]

Church was invalided from command of Weymouth at the Cape of Good Hope on 6 April, 1915. He was sent home, arriving 22 May.[6]

In command of Almanzora, Church was mentioned in despatches for his work with the Tenth Cruiser Squadron in the latter half of 1916. He would later be awarded a C.B.E. for his work with the A.M.C. in ocean escort duties.[7]

Post-War

Church was appointed to Colleen, additional, as the Commanding Officer of the Kingstown Area and in command of the Coastguard in that area. Curiously, his service record bears the remark that "this appointment is NOT to be communicated to the press."[8]

Church was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 15 June, 1921.[9]

Church was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 8 July, 1926.[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Francis G. St. John
Captain of H.M.S. Ranger
31 May, 1898[11][12] – 10 Jan, 1899[13]
Succeeded by
Loftus C. O. Mansergh
Preceded by
Cecil I. Prowse
Captain of H.M.S. Nelson
16 Jul, 1907[14][15] – 30 Jul, 1909[16]
Succeeded by
William N. England
Preceded by
John F. Grant-Dalton
Captain of H.M.S. Diadem
11 Oct, 1909[17][18] – 25 Jun, 1910[19]
Succeeded by
Sidney R. Drury-Lowe
Preceded by
Octavius H. Daniel
Captain of H.M.S. Crescent
3 Apr, 1912[20] – 8 Jun, 1912[21]
Succeeded by
Thomas E. Wardle
Preceded by
Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville
Captain of H.M.S. Argonaut
15 Jul, 1913[22] – 15 Aug, 1913[23]
Succeeded by
Spencer A. Hickley
Preceded by
Edwin V. Underhill
Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth
15 Aug, 1913[24][25] – 6 Apr, 1915[26]
Succeeded by
Denis B. Crampton
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Almanzora
10 Sep, 1915[27][28] – 16 Jun, 1919[29]
Succeeded by
William C. Tarrant
Preceded by
Ernest G. Barton
as Captain-in-Charge of the North of Ireland Coast Guard District
District Captain, North of Ireland Coast Guard District
15 Jul, 1919[30] – 31 Dec, 1919[31]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
?
In Command of the Coastguard, Kingstown Area
1 Jan, 1920[32] – 15 Jul, 1921[33]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  2. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  3. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  4. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 15.
  5. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 397.
  6. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  7. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  8. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  9. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  10. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  11. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  12. The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 286.
  13. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  14. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  15. The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 348.
  16. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  17. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  18. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 300.
  19. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  20. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  21. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  22. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  23. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  24. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  25. The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 399g.
  26. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  27. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  28. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 985.
  29. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  30. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  31. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  32. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.
  33. Church Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/420. f. 502.