Godfrey Francis William Grayson: Difference between revisions

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Grayson was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 March, 1901.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.</ref>
Grayson was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 March, 1901.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.</ref>


Grayson was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1913.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.</ref>
Having compiled and delivered a helpful report on mines used in the Greek Navy in October, Grayson was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1913.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.</ref>


Grayson was appointed in command of the {{UK-Matchless|f=t}} on 12 October, 1914.{{NLJan15|p. 356}}
Grayson was appointed in command of the {{UK-Matchless|f=t}} on 12 October, 1914.{{NLJan15|p. 356}} After ''Matchless'' collided with {{UK-Manly}} on 13 March, 1915, blame was attributed to Grayson for failing to notify his next astern that he had stopped his engines.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.</ref>


On 12 June, 1916, one month after Grayson received a scathing S.206 report from Captain [[Henry Blackett]] of {{UK-DukeOfEdinburgh}} which described him as "[s]low, lazy and inexperienced & does not pay sufficient attention to orders verbal or written; does not exercise sufficient control [illegible] the officers nor interest himself in the welfare of the ship's company", the Admiralty expressed their displeasure with Grayson.  This may have had little to do with Grayson, however.  In August, relations between Blackett and Grayson's replacement (whom we've yet to identify) resulted in a Court Martial where the commander was not found guilty of the charges against him and seemingly excused, for Blackett had threatened to place him in irons!  The consequences of this seemed to fall more heavily on Blackett than on his beleaguered commander.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.  Blackett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|}} f. 479.</ref>
On 12 June, 1916, one month after Grayson received a scathing S.206 report from Captain [[Henry Blackett]] of {{UK-DukeOfEdinburgh}} which described him as "[s]low, lazy and inexperienced & does not pay sufficient attention to orders verbal or written; does not exercise sufficient control [illegible] the officers nor interest himself in the welfare of the ship's company", the Admiralty expressed their displeasure with Grayson.  This may have had little to do with Grayson, however.  In August, relations between Blackett and Grayson's replacement (whom we've yet to identify) resulted in a Court Martial where the commander was not found guilty of the charges against him and seemingly excused, for Blackett had threatened to place him in irons!  The consequences of this seemed to fall more heavily on Blackett than on his beleaguered commander.<ref>Grayson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 62.  Blackett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|}} f. 479.</ref>

Revision as of 18:12, 24 April 2015

Commander Godfrey Francis William Grayson (6 April, 1879 – 13 April, 1922) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Grayson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1901.[1]

Having compiled and delivered a helpful report on mines used in the Greek Navy in October, Grayson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1913.[2]

Grayson was appointed in command of the destroyer Matchless on 12 October, 1914.[3] After Matchless collided with Manly on 13 March, 1915, blame was attributed to Grayson for failing to notify his next astern that he had stopped his engines.[4]

On 12 June, 1916, one month after Grayson received a scathing S.206 report from Captain Henry Blackett of Duke of Edinburgh which described him as "[s]low, lazy and inexperienced & does not pay sufficient attention to orders verbal or written; does not exercise sufficient control [illegible] the officers nor interest himself in the welfare of the ship's company", the Admiralty expressed their displeasure with Grayson. This may have had little to do with Grayson, however. In August, relations between Blackett and Grayson's replacement (whom we've yet to identify) resulted in a Court Martial where the commander was not found guilty of the charges against him and seemingly excused, for Blackett had threatened to place him in irons! The consequences of this seemed to fall more heavily on Blackett than on his beleaguered commander.[5]

Grayson was placed on the Retired List on 13 April, 1922. He died in Salisbury after a two year battle with tuberculosis.[6]

See Also

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Matchless
12 Oct, 1914[7]
Succeeded by
George L. D. Gibbs

Footnotes

  1. Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
  2. Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
  3. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 356.
  4. Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
  5. Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62. Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  6. Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
  7. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 356.

Template:CatCommander {CatBritannia|July, 1893}}