Reginald Thornton Amedroz

Captain (retired) Reginald Thornton Amedroz (23 October, 1882 – 29 November, 1949) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Amedroz was born in Guernsey, the son of retired Captain L. E. Amedroz.

Amedroz was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1904.

On 21 June, 1905 Amedroz was appointed to the "C" Class destroyer Whiting on the China Station. In October 1905, she lost an anchor, for which the Commander-in-Chief expressed his displeasure at Amedroz's lack of supervision. On 23 January, 1906, Amedroz was moved to the destroyer Dee. On 23 July, 1907, he was sent home from an appointment in H.M.S. Implacable by the P. & O. steamer Arabia, suffering from Pyrexia. He was treated at Plymouth Hospital and was found fit on 23 September, presently receiving a temporary appointment in Mars. He stayed in that appointment, despite a bout of influenza in March of 1908, through March, 1909.

Amedroz grounded the "C" Class destroyer Albatross in 1911 and was told to be more careful in future.

Amedroz was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1912. In December, 1912 he damaged Rother and was castigated for failing to report the accident in a proper manner.

Amedroz was appointed in command of the destroyer Grasshopper on 29 July, 1912. On 14 March 1916, Amedroz was mentioned in despatches for his services in command of Grasshopper during the evacuation of Gallipoli.

Amedroz was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916.

Amedroz left Grasshopper shortly after suffering a collision with the trawler Robert Betson in which he was faulted for failing to use sound signals. He was next appointed in command of the flotilla leader Swift on 1 October, 1917. He was in her command when he assisted in the blocking operations at Zeebrugge and Ostend on 22-23 April, 1918, gazetted 23 July, 1918.

Post-War

On 27 September 1919, Amedroz was appointed in command of the "R" Class destroyer Sylph. On 13 December 1919 Amedroz was admitted to Plymouth Hospital with tonsilitis. He returned to command on 23 December.

On 15 April, 1920, Amedroz was tried by Court Martial on a charge of having negligently or by default having stranded Sylph on 24 March. The verdict was that the charge was "not proved" and Amedroz was acquitted. The Admiralty complained that the court proceedings had been conducted in a "perfunctory" manner, and that Amedroz had not taken suitable care for the safety of his ship. He remained in command of Sylph until being appointed in command of the destroyer Vanity on 10 September, 1920.

In September 1921, Midshipman Reginald W. J. Nicholson of the destroyer Wryneck was injured in a serious accident. The medical officer was reportedly drunk at the time, and the Admiralty felt that Amedroz had failed to act decisively on this fact. Nicholson was able to continue his career, being transferred to Queen Elizabeth.

Amedroz was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 November, 1922.

On 10 January, 1927, Amedroz was appointed Harbour Master at Port Stanley on 10 January, 1927. Amedroz was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 23 October, 1927. In 1940, he made "indiscreet & objectionably worded communications" which aroused the Admiralty's "severe displeasure", resulting in his being reverted to the Retired List on 16 June, 1940.

Amedroz died of tongue cancer and a coronary embolism.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Herbert M. Denny	Captain of H.M.S. Albatross 17 May, 1910 – 13 May, 1912	Succeeded by Miles B. Birkett
Preceded by Francis E. H. G. Hobart	Captain of H.M.S. Stour 29 Jun, 1912 – Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Harry MacL. Fraser
Preceded by Walter J. Fletcher	Captain of H.M.S. Ure Jul, 1912 – 29 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Hugh Seymour
Preceded by Charles A. Fremantle	Captain of H.M.S. Grasshopper 29 Jul, 1912 – Sep, 1917	Succeeded by Edward B. Hoyle
Preceded by Ambrose M. Peck	Captain of H.M.S. Swift 1 Oct, 1917 – 26 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Hugh U. Fletcher
Preceded by Dashwood F. Moir	Captain of H.M.S. Valhalla 6 May, 1919 – 27 Sep, 1919	Succeeded by Cosmo M. Graham
Preceded by James V. Creagh	Captain of H.M.S. Sylph 27 Sep, 1919 – 10 Sep, 1920	Succeeded by Arthur G. H. Bond
Preceded by Henry C. Rawlings	Captain of H.M.S. Vanity 10 Sep, 1920 – 17 Aug, 1922	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt