View source for Richard Anthony Aston Plowden

{{RearRN}} '''Richard Anthony Aston Plowden''', D.S.O., R.N. (24 May, 1881 &ndash; 24 February, 1941) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].  His career would be highlighted by command of destroyers.

==Life & Career==
{{SubRN}} Plowden was appointed to the {{UK-1Ramillies|f=t}} in the Mediterranean on 12 April, 1902 and then to {{UK-Harrier}} later that year for special service in the Red Sea.  This appears to have involved anti-slaving work, as in November, 1902 his service record states that he was in command of a captured slaver dhow which had been given the delightful moniker of H.M.S. ''Irresponsible''.    Plowden was sent back to ''Ramillies'' upon his promotion to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 March, 1903.<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>

Plowden's early work in destroyer command started after a typical sequence of early appointments in large ships, ending with a year in {{UK-Cornwallis}} which ended on 23 March 1907 when he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Bat|f=c}}, arriving in England on 5 April.  Six successive destroyer commands were broken, finally, by an appointment in the {{UK-Superb|f=t}} on 12 February, 1911.  His experience commanding small ships did not seem to prepare him to please Captain [[Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt|Gaunt]], whose final evaluation of the young officer was that he was "rather slow, bad manner & lacks enthusiasm."<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>

Promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 31 March, 1911, Plowden continued his battleship appointment until 20 December, 1912 when he received an appointment in command of the {{UK-Sheldrake|f=c}}, which was part of the {{UK-DF|4}}.  When ''Sheldrake'' collided with the {{UK-1Fury|f=t}} on 11 July, 1913, both captains were chided for not having been on the bridge at the time of the accident.  He would remain in command of the ship until some time into the war.<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>

==Great War==
Plowden was re-appointed in {{UK-Sheldrake}} upon his promotion to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1915.  He was superseded in her in July, and took command of the {{UK-Mandate|f=c}} for three months.<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>

Plowden commanded the {{UK-1Hardy|f=t}} when she operated with the {{UK-DF|4}} at the [[Battle of Jutland]].{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 34, 44}}

==Post-War==
On 28 December, 1918, Plowden was appointed in command of the {{UK-Musketeer|f=t}}.{{NLFeb19|p. 849}}

He was appointed in command of the {{UK-1Satyr|f=t}} on 1 October, 1919.{{NLDec20|p. 861}}

Plowden was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1921.<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>

Plowden was appointed in command of the {{UK-Centurion|f=t}} in January, 1931.

Plowden was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 1 September, 1933 and placed on the Retired List the following day.<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>

==World War II==
On 3 September, 1939, Plowden was appointed to ''Victory'' additional as Commodore of Convoy, Second Class, R.N.R., being sent to the Liverpool Convoy Pool later that year.

Richard Plowden was killed in action at age 59 on 24 February, 1941 when his steam merchant ''Sirikishna'' of the dispersed convoy OB-288 was torpedoed by U-96 (the submarine upon which ''Das Boot'' was loosely based) and lost in the North Atlantic.  He left a widow, Phyllis Mary, née Higginson, whom he had married on 18 November, 1911.<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref><ref>[http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/785.html uboat.net page on ''Sirikishna''].</ref>

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

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Philip Douglas Roberts West|Philip D. R. West]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Bat (1896)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Bat'']]'''<br>23 Mar, 1907{{NLJan08|p. 282}}<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 13 May, 1908<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Uchtred Farie|James U. Farie]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Uchtred Farie|James U. Farie]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cheerful (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cheerful'']]'''<br>13 May, 1908<ref> Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLOct08|p. 293}} &ndash; 24 Jul, 1908<ref> Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Randolph Divett|Randolph Divett]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Randolph Divett|Randolph Divett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Bat (1896)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Bat'']]'''<br>6 Oct, 1908<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 13 Mar, 1909<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Edmund Power Bickford|John E. P. Bickford]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Corlett|Geoffrey Corlett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ostrich (1900)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ostrich'']]'''<br>13 Mar, 1909<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul09|p. 352}} &ndash; 3 Aug, 1909<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Pritzler Green|George P. Green]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Reginald Charles Lloyd Owen|Reginald C. L. Owen]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Doon (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Doon'']]'''<br>3 Aug, 1909<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJan10|p. 302}} &ndash; 10 Sep, 1910<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Reginald Watkins Grubb|Reginald Watkins Grubb]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Reginald Watkins Grubb|Reginald Watkins Grubb]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Thrasher (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Thrasher'']]'''<br>10 Sep, 1910<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 4 Jan, 1911<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Justin Tweedie|Hugh J. Tweedie]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Amcotts Wilson|Robert A. Wilson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Sheldrake (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Sheldrake'']]'''<br>20 Dec, 1912<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLApr15|p. 398''a''}} &ndash; Jul, 1915<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Maurice Crause Bomford|Maurice C. Bomford]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Maurice Crause Bomford|Maurice C. Bomford]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Mandate (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Mandate'']]'''<br>late Jul, 1915<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 26 Oct, 1915<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Eric Quintin Carter|Eric Q. Carter]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Norton Allen Sulivan|Norton A. Sulivan]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Moon (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Moon'']]'''<br>26 Jul, 1915<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 10 May, 1916<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Edward Meade Harris|Robert E. M. Harris]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ophelia (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ophelia'']]'''<br>10 May, 1916<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; late May, 1916<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lewis Gonne Eyre Crabbe|Lewis G. E. Crabbe]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Lewis Gonne Eyre Crabbe|Lewis G. E. Crabbe]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hardy (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hardy'']]'''<br>10 May, 1916{{NLDec18|p. 808}} &ndash; 28 Dec, 1918<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Eastwick-Field|Edward Eastwick-Field]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Eastwick-Field|Edward Eastwick-Field]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Musketeer (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Musketeer'']]'''<br>28 Dec, 1918<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLFeb19|p. 849}} &ndash; 29 Jan, 1919<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Horace Walker|Horace Walker]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Horace Walker|Horace Walker]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Mindful (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Mindful'']]'''<br>29 Jan, 1919<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 26 Mar, 1919<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Spencer Francis Russell|Spencer F. Russell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Minion (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Minion'']]'''<br>26 Mar, 1919<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul19|p. 847}} &ndash; 1 Oct, 1919<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''C. & M. Party at Devonport'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Henniker-Heaton|Arthur Henniker-Heaton]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Satyr (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Satyr'']]'''<br>1 Oct, 1919<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLDec20|p. 861}} &ndash; 10 Jun, 1921<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Eric Quintin Carter|Eric Q. Carter]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Aubrey Thomas Tillard|Aubrey T. Tillard]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Castor (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Castor'']]'''<br>15 Sep, 1923<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 28 Apr, 1924<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Evelyn Claude Ogilvie Thomson|Evelyn C. O. Thomson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Oliver Brudenell Seymour Osborne|Edward O. B. S. Osborne]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Bruce (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Bruce'']]'''<br>28 Apr, 1924<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 219}} &ndash; 31 Dec, 1924<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Kenneth MacLeod|Kenneth MacLeod]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Oliver Brudenell Seymour Osborne|Edward O. B. S. Osborne]]'''|'''[[Eighth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>28 Apr, 1924{{NLJul24|p. 219}} &ndash; 31 Dec, 1924<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Cronyn Tovey|John C. Tovey]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Coombe Hodgson|John C. Hodgson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Campbell (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Campbell'']]'''<br>31 Dec, 1924<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 219}} &ndash; 19 Apr, 1926<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Cronyn Tovey|John C. Tovey]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Coombe Hodgson|John C. Hodgson]]'''|'''[[Sixth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>31 Dec, 1924<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 219}} &ndash; 19 Apr, 1926<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Cronyn Tovey|John C. Tovey]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Barry Stewart Bingham|The Hon. Edward B. S. Bingham]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Malcolm (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Malcolm'']]'''<br>29 Dec, 1926<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 219}} &ndash; 29 Jun, 1928<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmond Julius Gordon Mackinnon|Edmond J. G. Mackinnon]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Barry Stewart Bingham|The Hon. Edward B. S. Bingham]]'''|'''[[Nore Local Defence Flotilla|Captain (D), Nore Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>29 Dec, 1926<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 219}} &ndash; 29 Jun, 1928<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmond Julius Gordon Mackinnon|Edmond J. G. Mackinnon]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Malcolm Lennon Goldsmith|Malcolm L. Goldsmith]]'''|'''[[Malta Dockyard|Captain of Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master, Malta]]'''<br>8 Oct, 1928<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref> &ndash; 7 Oct, 1930<ref>Superseded that day.  Young Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/25.}} f. 429.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Harold Young|John H. Young]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Aubrey Thomas Tillard|Aubrey T. Tillard]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Centurion (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Centurion'']]'''<br>5 Jan, 1931<ref>Plowden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/64.|D7603571}} f. 64.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Noel Louis Veresmith|Noel L. Veresmith]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plowden, Richard Anthony}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1881|1941}}
{{CatRear|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1895}}
{{CatKilledOnActiveService|UK}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Officers Educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy]]
{{CatRN}}