Hugh Undecimus Fletcher

Captain (retired) Hugh Undecimus Fletcher (28 July, 1881 – 1 August, 1948) was an officer in the Royal Navy. His service record is features liberal use of adjectives such as "slow."

Life & Career

Born in Hampstead, the son of an architect and surveyor, Fletcher gained four months time on passing out of Britannia. He first joined the first class protected cruiser Gibraltar in the Mediterranean, on 1 June, 1897. He was invalided from her on 1 October, 1898. He was declared fit on 30 March, 1899 after a stay in Haslar Hospital and was appointed to the first class protected cruiser Terrible, based in Portsmouth, that same day. He stayed only briefly, being appointed next to the Channel Squadron's Diadem on 1 June, 1899.

In 1899, Captain Hales wrote that Fletcher was "slow".

Fletcher was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1903. In 1905, H.M.S. Aboukir's Captain Sawle wrote that Fletcher was "slow but improving".

Fletcher was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1911.

Fletcher was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1915.

Fletcher was appointed in command of the destroyer Redpole on 31 January, 1911.

Great War

Fletcher commanded the destroyer Morning Star at the Battle of Jutland, operating with the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla.

Fletcher was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Nimrod on 11 March, 1918.

Interbellum

On 15 October, 1920, Fletcher was appointed in command of the destroyer Trenchant.

Fletcher was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 3 September, 1922 and was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on his forty-fifth birthday on 28 July, 1926.

World War II

Fletcher was called up in July, 1940 for special service. On 17 June, 1941, he was appointed in command of Eaglet and to the staff of the Flag Officer in Charge, Liverpool and as Maintenance Captain, vice Elgood. Superseded on 3 November, 1941, he worked next as D.S.T.O. at Plymouth and then transferred to Avonmouth to serve in the same capacity on 17 February, 1942. He reverted to the Retired List in mid-1946.

See Also

• Service Records
• Eleventh D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William L. W. Williams-Mason	Captain of H.M.S. Surly 5 Oct, 1907 – 29 Mar, 1909	Succeeded by Montague G. B. Legge
Preceded by Leslie D. Fisher	Captain of H.M.S. Spiteful 29 Mar, 1909 – 3 Jan, 1911	Succeeded by James F. Houstoun
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Redpole 31 Jan, 1911 – Aug, 1915	Succeeded by Edward O. Broadley
Preceded by Edward O. Broadley	Captain of H.M.S. Morning Star late Aug, 1915 – 11 Mar, 1918	Succeeded by Humphrey E. Archer
Preceded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith	Captain of H.M.S. Nimrod 11 Mar, 1918 – 24 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Roger L'E. M. Rede
Preceded by Reginald T. Amedroz	Captain of H.M.S. Swift 24 Mar, 1919 – Nov, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Frederic A. H. Russel	Captain of H.M.S. Trenchant 15 Oct, 1920 – 6 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by Patrick E. Fell