Leonard Andrew Boyd Donaldson

Admiral Leonard Andrew Boyd Donaldson, C.B., C.M.G. (1 August, 1875 – 28 June, 1956) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Donaldson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1898.

Donaldson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1909, leaving his command of the torpedo gunboat Speedy and being appointed to Andromeda on 25 January, 1910 and then promptly to Monmouth on 12 March. He would stay in Monmouth until 10 April, 1912.

Great War

Donaldson left Vernon on 12 August and was appointed to President for Special Service, as President of the Submarine Attack Committee. On 1 October he was given the Acting Rank of Captain. He was confirmed in the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1914, and reappointed to President. He left the Admiralty on 4 October, 1915, and appointed to the Bonaventure on 11 Octoober, additional. On 21 October he was given command of Bonaventure as Captain (S) of the Sixth Submarine Flotilla. He was appointed to Victory on 20 June, 1916, for command of the converted German merchant ship Lucia (ex-Spreewald), and the Tenth Submarine Flotilla.

In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1918, Donaldson was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.). In September he was given command of the battle cruiser New Zealand in the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron.

Post-War

He was appointed in command of the battleship Temeraire on 20 August, 1919, remaining in her until at least January, 1921 and possibly through her decommissioning later that year.

He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 1 January, 1925.

Flag Rank

Donaldson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 2 March, 1926.

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 23 May, 1930, vice Waistell. He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1935.

Donaldson's widow, Nora Caroline, died on 10 October, 1958, at 10 High Street, Fareham, Hants. She was cremated after a service at Fareham Parish Church on 24 October.

Bibliography

• "Admiral L. A. B. Donaldson" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 30 June, 1956. Issue 53571, col C, pg. 1.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/141.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/125.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/90.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/44.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Adolphus H. Williamson	Captain of H.M.S. Rocket Jun, 1906 – late Jun, 1906	Succeeded by Theodore E. J. Bigg
Preceded by Charles E. W. Pyddoke	Captain of H.M.S. Speedy 15 Jul, 1909 – 1 Jan, 1910	Succeeded by Francis G. C. Coates
Preceded by Stanley L. Willis	Captain of H.M.S. Bonaventure 21 Oct, 1915 – 20 Jun, 1916	Succeeded by Malcolm K. de M. Burgess
Preceded by Stanley L. Willis as Commander (S), Sixth Submarine Flotilla	Captain (S), Sixth Submarine Flotilla 21 Oct, 1915 – 20 Jun, 1916	Succeeded by John B. Glencross
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Lucia 20 Jun, 1916 – Sep, 1918	Succeeded by Martin E. Dunbar-Nasmith
Preceded by ?	Captain (S), Tenth Submarine Flotilla 20 Jun, 1916 – Sep, 1918	Succeeded by Martin E. Dunbar-Nasmith
Preceded by Richard Webb	Captain of H.M.S. New Zealand Sep, 1918 – 11 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Oliver E. Leggett
Preceded by Francis W. Caulfeild	Captain of H.M.S. Temeraire 20 Aug, 1919 – before 17 Oct, 1921	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Albert P. Addison	Director of Torpedoes and Mining 1 Mar, 1922 – 15 May, 1924	Succeeded by Brien M. Money
Preceded by Arthur B. S. Dutton	Captain Superintendent, Pembroke Dockyard 4 Jul, 1924 – 31 May, 1926	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Bertram S. Thesiger	Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard 13 May, 1927 – 13 May, 1931	Succeeded by Henry K. Kitson