Arthur Lucas Ashby

Captain (retired) Arthur Lucas Ashby (27 April, 1876 – 25 February, 1956) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Ashby's father was A. Ashby, Esq., M.D.. Ashby gained some time on passing out of Britannia in December, 1891.

Ashby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 October, 1897 as he completed his first appointment performing navigation duties, in the training brig Martin. He was immediately appointed to the gunboat Redpole, on the China Station, for navigating duties.

Ashby was to navigate Dolphin, Bellona, Assistance, Donegal twice and Jupiter before being promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1909 while in Topaze.

Ashby again served as navigating officer in Jupiter from September 1905 to February, 1908.

He served as navigating officer in the Prince George briefly before receiving a longer appointment as navigating officer in the pre-dreadnought New Zealand from October 1911 to April, 1912, where an inspection indicated he was "well worthy of promotion".

On 1 June, 1912, he left for Constantinople. He served with the Turkish Government, on loan to assist Rear Admiral Limpus until the end of June, 1914, his time there to be counted as naval service that would accrue to his seniority.

On 20 September 1914, Ashby was appointed to Imogene in command, temporary, and to assist the Captain of Egmont. On 9 March 1915, he was placed in command of the hired yacht Triad. On 27 May, 1915 he went to Hussar, additional, for duty with P.N.T.O. as Transport Officer at Kephala. He suffered Malta Fever, and spent much of October, 1915 in a Malta hospital. He was not fit until 27 December.

Ashby commanded the armed merchant cruiser Avenger from March, 1916 until she was sunk by U 69 East-Southeast of Iceland on 14 June, 1917. At some point in 1916, he failed to detect an enemy raider and was told the Admiralty considered him "very much to blame for not ascertaining ship had correct flag of the day." On 23 June, 1917 he was ordered to take up work as a Liaison Officer in India as an Acting Captain, becoming S.N.O., Bombay, though he only arrived there on 21 August.

In July 1918, the C-in-C, East Indies informed the Admiralty by telegram that Ashby would relieve Captain Warren in command of the third class protected cruiser H.M.S. Proserpine, pending the arrival of Commander Bedwell, contradicting a telegram of three days earlier indicating that Asby was returning to England.

Completing work as King's Harbour Master, Gibraltar in late 1921, Ashby was informed that he was not eligible for a Coast Guard appointment. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 1 June, 1922.

In September 1937, Ashby was admitted to Osborne Convalescent Home for two weeks. Similar visits occurred in 1938 and 1939. In September 1946, he spent six weeks in Haslar Hospital with angina, being discharged to home on 23 October.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Harold Escombe	Captain of H.M.S. Imogene 20 Sep, 1914 – 9 Mar, 1915	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Triad 9 Mar, 1915 – 27 May, 1915	Succeeded by Charles G. Brodie
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Avenger 2 Mar, 1916 – 14 Jun, 1917	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Arthur G. Warren	Captain of H.M.S. Proserpine c. 20 Jul, 1918 – 29 Jul, 1918	Succeeded by Harold B. Bedwell
Preceded by ?	Captain Attendent and King's Harbour Master, Gibraltar 17 Jun, 1919 – 1 Oct, 1921	Succeeded by Cuthbert D. Longstaff