Cecil Nugent Reyne

Rear-Admiral Sir Cecil Nugent Reyne, K.B.E (23 December, 1881 – 19 February, 1958) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life and Career

Reyne was born on 23 December, 1881 the second son of Major James Frederick Reyne, The Hampshire Regiment (1834-1890) and Lucy Ann Moss. He entered H.M.S. Britannia in 1895. He first went to sea on the battleship Prince George for the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Fleet Review. As a Midshipman he was appointed to H.M.S. Terrible on 24 March, 1898. He spent time in South Africa during the 2nd Boer War, and was promoted Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 23 December, 1900. Confirmed in this rank on 29 March, 1902 (with seniority dating back to his acting promotion) Reyne was sent to the Partridge on 1 April, in which gunboat he served on the Cape and West Africa Station.

Promoted to Lieutenant on 23 March, 1903 was reappointed to Partridge until Reyne was given notice of his appointment to the battleship H.M.S. Cornwallis on 15 March, 1905. On 20 January, 1906 Reyne was selected to join the class of Lieutenants chosen to qualify for Gunnery duties from 19 March of that year. On 29 May, Reyne was presented to H.M. Edward VII at a Levée held at St. James's Palace. The following year, Reyne was appointed to H.M.S. Cambridge for Junior Staff (G) duties on 8 May and instructed to take a gunnery course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. The following year he was attached to the Royal Naval Barracks, Plymouth and lent for service with the college at Greenwich, dated 5 November, 1907.

On 12 April, 1909 Reyne joined H.M.S. Hannibal on his first ocean-going appointment as a gunnery officer. At the end of 1910, Reyne joined the Queen as gunnery officer on 15 December after the ship's recommissioning. On 7 March, 1913, by this time promoted to Lieutenant-Commander, Reyne became gunnery officer of H.M.S. Dreadnought, still a legend after nearly seven years in service. He was to remain in this ship as gunnery officer and then as Commander until 1918.

First World War and After

Reyne was Gunnery Control Officer in Dreadnought until his promotion to Commander on 30 June, 1916, when he became Commander and Executive Officer of the ship. He remained in this position until after the Armistice, when he was appointed Commander in H.M.S. Royal Oak on 18 December, 1918. From 17 January, 1921 Reyne was given the position of Squadron Gunnery Officer in the British Reserve Fleet. In 1917 he had married Gladys Mary Savory, the daughter of Captain H.C. Savory.

Gunnery Officer HMS Dreadnought 1914-1918 Executive Officer 1916-1918