William John Standly Alderson

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Vice-Admiral William John Standly Alderson, C.B., R.N., Retired (10 June, 1867 – 30 May, 1946) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

William John Standly Alderson was born at Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds, on 10 June, 1867,[1] the second son of Edward Samuel and Caroline Alderson.[2]

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant dated 1 October, 1890.[3]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 31 December, 1902.[4]

Promotion to Captain came on 30 June, 1908.[5]

In October 1910, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Isis.

Alderson was appointed in command of the light cruiser Yarmouth in October 1911. On 10 August, 1913 he was appointed to command the heavy cruiser Devonshire.[6]

He was appointed in command of H.M.S. Dreadnought on 1 July, 1914 and allowed to immediately go on leave.[7]

Great War

Alderson was in command of Dreadnought on 18 March, 1915 when she veered off to ram and sink Otto Eduard Weddigen's submerged U 29.[8]

On 20 July 1916, Alderson was appointed in command of the Scottish District of the Coast Guard. On 27 September, he moved on to the Western District.[9]

On 1 April, 1918, he was named Captain of, Deputy Superintendent of and King's Harbour Master of Devonport Royal Dockyard.

Post-War

Alderson was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 16 September, 1919 and superseded at Devonport in October.[10]

He was gazetted an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 2 January, 1922.[11]

He was placed on the Retired List on his own request on 12 December, 1923 and advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 18 January, 1925.[12]

Alderson served for some time as Cardiganshire's representative on the National Service Committee from 1939.[13]

He died at Ovingham House, Cardigan on 30 May, 1946, aged seventy-eight.[14]

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Frederick M. Walker 		Captain of H.M.S. Pilot
4 Sep, 1899[15] 		Succeeded by
Cecil F. L. Watson
Preceded by
Richard M. Harbord 		Captain of H.M.S. Isis
3 Oct, 1910[16][17] – 24 Jul, 1911[18] 		Succeeded by
Frederick A. Powlett
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Yarmouth
10 Oct, 1911[19] – 10 Aug, 1913[20] 		Succeeded by
Henry L. Cochrane
Preceded by
Henry B. Pelly 		Captain of H.M.S. Devonshire
10 Aug, 1913[21] – 9 Jun, 1914[22] 		Succeeded by
Edwin V. Underhill
Preceded by
Wilmot S. Nicholson 		Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought
1 Jul, 1914[23][24] – 19 Jul, 1916[25] 		Succeeded by
John W. L. McClintock
Preceded by
Stuart St. J. Farquhar 		Captain-in-Charge of the Scottish Coast Guard District
19 Jul, 1916[26] – 20 Sep, 1916[27] 		Succeeded by
Marcus R. Hill
Preceded by
Herbert C. C. Da Costa 		Captain-in-Charge of the Western Coast Guard District
27 Sep, 1916[28] – 1 Apr, 1918[29] 		Succeeded by
George B. Hutton
as Rear-Admiral-in-Charge of the Western Coast Guard District
Preceded by
John Nicholas 		Captain of Devonport Dockyard
1 Apr, 1918[30] – Oct, 1919[31] 		Succeeded by
Christopher R. Payne
Preceded by
Vivian H. G. Bernard 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Nore Reserve
17 Mar, 1921[32] – 15 Apr, 1922[33] 		Succeeded by
Lawrence W. Braithwaite
as Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, The Nore

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  2. ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Saturday, 1 June, 1946. Issue 50467, col A, p. 1.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26093. p. 5268. 3 October, 1890.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 2.
  6. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  7. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  8. ↑ Dawson. Flotillas. pp. 133-5.
  9. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  10. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32563. p. 10712. 31 December, 1921.
  12. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  13. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  14. ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Saturday, 1 June, 1946. Issue 50467, col A, p. 1.
  15. ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1902). p. 292.
  16. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. 196/42. f. 455.
  17. ↑ Predecessor left ship on 3rd. Harbord-Hamond Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. Unnumbered folio.
  18. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. 196/42. f. 455.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 397a.
  20. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. 196/42. f. 455.
  21. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  22. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. 196/42. f. 455.
  23. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  24. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393m.
  25. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  26. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  27. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  28. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  29. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  30. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  31. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 455.
  32. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 17 March, 1921. Issue 42671, col A, p. 21.
  33. ↑ Alderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 213.

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