William Drummond Church

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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."

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

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

See Also

• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Francis G. St. John	Captain of H.M.S. Ranger 31 May, 1898 – 10 Jan, 1899	Succeeded by Loftus C. O. Mansergh
Preceded by Cecil I. Prowse	Captain of H.M.S. Nelson 16 Jul, 1907 – 30 Jul, 1909	Succeeded by William N. England
Preceded by John F. Grant-Dalton	Captain of H.M.S. Diadem 11 Oct, 1909 – 25 Jun, 1910	Succeeded by Sidney R. Drury-Lowe
Preceded by Octavius H. Daniel	Captain of H.M.S. Crescent 3 Apr, 1912 – 8 Jun, 1912	Succeeded by Thomas E. Wardle
Preceded by Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville	Captain of H.M.S. Argonaut 15 Jul, 1913 – 15 Aug, 1913	Succeeded by Spencer A. Hickley
Preceded by Edwin V. Underhill	Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth 15 Aug, 1913 – 6 Apr, 1915	Succeeded by Denis B. Crampton
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Almanzora 10 Sep, 1915 – 16 Jun, 1919	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 – 31 Dec, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	In Command of the Coastguard, Kingstown Area 1 Jan, 1920 – 15 Jul, 1921	Succeeded by ?