Edward Francis Benedict Charlton

Admiral SIR Edward Francis Benedict Charlton, K.C.B, K.C.M.G., Royal Navy (21 March, 1865 – 23 October, 1937) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He entered the Navy in 1878 and qualified in Torpedo Duties. Having served in China during the Boxer Rebellion he served in command of destroyers, before becoming Assistant Director of Torpedoes at the Admiralty. During the First World War Charlton served as Commander-in-Chief on the Cape of Good Hope Station and Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England. After the war he served for three years on the Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control in Berlin, before retiring with the rank of Admiral in 1924. He was knighted in 1918.

Life & Career

Edward Francis Benedict Charlton was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 21 March, 1865, the eldest son of Edward Charlton, M.D., D.C.L. Educated at Ushaw College, Durham, and the Royal Academy, Gosport, Charlton entered the Royal Navy in January, 1878. he passed out of his term ninth overall. He was a Midshipman in the Alexandra at the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882 and landed with the Naval Brigade. He took all firsts in his examinations for the rank of Lieutenant, and spent only six months as a Sub-Lieutenant. He served in the Rapid on the Australia Station, and in September, 1888 was appointed to qualify in Torpedo Duties. He trained in the Vernon under Captain Arthur K. Wilson, and then served on the instructional staff. Charlton afterwards served as Torpedo Lieutenant in ships at sea.

Charlton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1897. He then spent a year in the Naval Ordnance Department at the Admiralty.

On 1 January, 1903, he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

On 1 January, 1904, Charlton was appointed Captain (D) in the Home Fleet. On 8 February, 1905, he was appointed to the Sapphire to superintend the transfer of duties from Erebus to Sapphire II, ahead of Rear-Admiral Alfred L. Winsloe taking up his duties as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Destroyers and Submarines.^[Inference]

On 1 February, 1911, Charlton was appointed to the Admiralty, and on 11 February became Assistant Director of Torpedoes.

In July, 1914 it was announced that Charlton would succeed Rear-Admiral Bernard Currey as Rear-Admiral in the Home Fleets at Portsmouth on 18 November.

Great War

On 4 September, 1914, Charlton was appointed Admiral Commanding East Coast Minesweepers.

He was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the Cape of Good Hope Station on 6 December, 1915, and assumed command on 12 February, 1916. He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 30 January, 1918. On 15 July, he was appointed Vice-Admiral Commanding East Coast of England.

He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 3 March, 1924.

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir Edward Charlton" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 25 October, 1937. Issue 47824, col C, pg. 20.
• Urban, Frank (1998). Ned's Navy: The Private Letters of Edward Charlton from Cadet to Admiral. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1853109045.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.

Naval Offices
Preceded by Stuart Nicholson	Assistant Director of Torpedoes 1911 – 1914	Succeeded by Philip W. Dumas
Preceded by New Command	Admiral of Minesweeping 1914 – 1915	Succeeded by The Hon. Edward S. Fitzherbert
Preceded by Herbert G. King-Hall	Commander-in-Chief on the Cape of Good Hope Station 1915 – 1918	Succeeded by The Hon. Edward S. Fitzherbert
Preceded by Stuart Nicholson	Vice-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England 1918 – 1919	Succeeded by Command Abolished