William Henry Darwall

Captain (retired) William Henry Darwall, D.S.O. (17 February, 1881 – 26 April, 1952) served in the Royal Navy as a navigating officer. After the war, he seemed to be overcome with lethargy.

Life & Career

Born in Dover, William was the son of Captain William Eveleigh Darwall, R.N.. He gained seven months time on passing out of Britannia and received his first appointment to Gibraltar on 1 June, 1897.

Darwall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1903.

In 1909, he grounded Falcon.

On 12 February, 1910, he was admitted to Plymouth Hospital, suffering from a septic left leg. He was again fit on the 22nd.

Darwall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 March, 1911.

Great War

Of 5 September, 1914, he damaged Jason's rudder and was told he'd committed an error in judgment in moving his ship in the weather conditions prevailing.

Darwall was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1915.

He was awarded a D.S.O. for his work with convoy sloops in 1917, gazetted 6 April, 1918.

Post-War

Darwall was appointed to Malabar for charge of Naval Personnel, Bermuda on 26 May, 1919. He was unsuccessful in getting his wife and two children on passage on the same ship. In 1920, he was again making such requests, this time for an additional nurse, and was again told there was no way. He subsequently took charge of the Barracks, ending in August, 1921. He left Bermuda on the 23rd, travelling to Britain by way of New York. Captain Allen wrote of him at the end, "Very retired. Lacks energy & personality." Soon enough, Darwall was indeed very retired, being placed on the Retired List at his own request on 2 July, 1922.

Darwall was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 17 February, 1926.

World War II

Darwall was appointed Royal Naval Officer, Folkestone on 28 May 1940, but this lasted only until July when the Flag Officer in Charge wrote, "Has insufficient character [illeg] to get on with his work and is generally ineffective. Folkestone and the coast to Rye which is his area is an important area & I consider that a more efficient officer is necessary to cope with this work." Darwall was placed back on the Retired List on 15 August, 1940.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John A. Gregory	Captain of H.M.S. Janus 15 May, 1905 – 13 Mar, 1907	Succeeded by Charles A. Fremantle
Preceded by Charles W. Cock	Captain of H.M.S. Handy 13 Mar, 1907 – 1908	Succeeded by Basil J. D. Guy
Preceded by Edward M. C. Rutherfoord	Captain of H.M.S. Falcon 29 Mar, 1909 – 15 Aug, 1910	Succeeded by William B. Mackenzie
Preceded by William B. Mackenzie	Captain of H.M.S. Brazen 15 Aug, 1910 – 12 Jan, 1911	Succeeded by John P. Landon
Preceded by John M. Barker	Captain of H.M.S. Britomart 29 Mar, 1912 – 6 Jan, 1914	Succeeded by Quintin B. Preston-Thomas
Preceded by Harold E. Denison	Captain of H.M.S. Jason 1 Aug, 1914 – Apr, 1916	Succeeded by Cyril P. Franklin
Preceded by Duncan W. Roe	Captain of H.M.S. Primrose 21 May, 1916 – 26 May, 1919	Succeeded by Joseph Horsfield