View source for Robert Gerald Hamond

{{CaptRN}} '''Robert Gerald Hamond''', D.S.O. (1 December, 1879 &ndash; ) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]] who commanded torpedo boats and destroyers in the [[Great War]].  His service was notable in that he almost certainly destroyed one submarine and severely damaged a second in an era when anti-submarine methods were not extremely effective.

==Life & Career==
Born in Gibraltar, the son of Robert N. Hamond, bank manager and retired Royal Navy Commander.  Hamond gained five months time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} on 15 January, 1896.  By coincidence, his first appointment was in the {{UK-Gibraltar|f=t}}, in which he stayed until mid December, 1898.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

Hamond was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 April, 1902.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

In January, 1905, he took a ten day navigation course in {{UK-Cressy}} and was noted as "showing great interest in the duty."  In November, 1906 he successfully carried out assistant navigator duties in {{UK-Russell}} in accordance with Article 315 of the King's Regulations.  Hamond left ''Russell'' to take up command of {{UK-Starfish}} in March of 1908.  He was appointed in command of {{UK-TB27}} on year later and received satisfactory inspection reports and contributed to good gunnery results.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

Hamond was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 1 April, 1910.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

Hamond was appointed in command of the {{UK-Viking|f=t}} on 15 December, 1910.{{NLApr14|p. 393}}

==Great War==
Hamond was appointed in command of the {{UK-Owl|f=t}} on 27 April, 1914.

Recommended by Captain Tyrwhitt in October, Hamond was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1914.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

Hamond commanded ''Owl'' at the [[Battle of Jutland]], where she fought as part of the {{UK-DF|4}}.{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 34, 44}}

Hamond fell ill on 21 May, 1917 and was not ready for service for one month.  He was barely back in the action in command of the {{UK-Patriot}} when on 12 July he led her in destroying an enemy submarine (likely {{DE-U69}} using a kite balloon to help direct his attacks.  This success elicited Hamond's personal recommendation by the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet.

On 19 July, 1917, Hamond was appointed in command of the {{UK-Valorous|f=t}}.

==Post-War==
In 1919, Hamond was awarded a bar to his D.S.O. for his services in command of the {{UK-DF|1}} in the Baltic, but this flotilla command is not clearly indicated in the usual, dated fashion in his service record.  It seems most likely that this is during the time span when he was in command of {{UK-Valorous}} and {{UK-Velox}}.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

In 1919, there was a Court of Enquiry into the grounding of the oiler ''Appleleaf'' at Libau which prompted an expression of the Admiralty's displeasure toward Hamond.  However, on 10 August, Senior Naval Officer, Baltic, then Rear Admiral Cowan, offered a special commendation for Hamond's "prompt and correct action" which was believed to have sunk the Bolshevik {{RU-Ersh|f=t}} on 27 July, 1919.  In truth, ''Ersh'' was able to return to base having received heavy damage.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

On 12 December, 1919, Hamond was granted 45 days to undergo an operation at his own risk and expense.  He was promoted on the last day of the year to the rank of {{CaptRN}} and was declared fit on 14 January, 1920.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

Hamond was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 7 July, 1922.  He received permission to travel to Argentina in 1924.  His service in World War II suggests that he moved there.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

==World War II==
On 31 August, 1939, Hamond was appointed as a Consular Shipping Adviser with N.C.S. duties in Montevideo, not to be borne on ship's books.  He was reverted to the Retired List owing to medical concerns on 22 August, 1941.<ref>Hamond Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/45/170.|D7603422}} f. 174.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Robert+Gerald+Hamond Service Records]
* [[Fourth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland]]
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gerald_Hamond}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Stephen Hervey Morres|Stephen H. Morres]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Starfish (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Starfish'']]'''<br>3 Mar, 1908{{NLOct08|p. 378}}|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Viking (1909)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Viking'']]'''<br>15 Dec, 1910{{NLMay14|p. 393}} &ndash; mid 1914{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Paget Gibbs|John P. Gibbs]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Owl (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Owl'']]'''<br>27 Apr, 1914{{NLOct15|p. 396''i''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Werden Wilson|William W. Wilson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Patriot (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Patriot'']]'''<br>Jun, 1916{{NLDec16|p. 396''j''}} &ndash; mid Jul, 1917{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Maxwell Napier Williamson-Napier|Maxwell N. Williamson-Napier]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Valorous (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Valorous'']]'''<br>19 Jul, 1917{{NLFeb19|p. 923''a''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmond Julius Gordon Mackinnon|Edmond J. G. Mackinnon]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Edward Ketelbey Strong|Frederick E. K. Strong]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Velox (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Velox'']]'''<br>17 Feb, 1919{{NLMar19|p. 923''a''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Fischer Burges Watson|Fischer B. Watson]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamond, Robert}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1879|}}
{{CatCaptain|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1894}}