George Bibby Hartford
Captain George Bibby Hartford, D.S.O.*, Royal Navy, Retired (10 April, 1883 – 29 May, 1941) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Early Life & Career
He was appointed in command of the destroyer Waveney, serving in the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, on 14 March, 1913.[1]
He was appointed in command of Electra on 11 December, 1913.[2]
He was appointed in command of Acorn on 6 November, 1914.[3] He was still in command of Acorn at the Battle of Jutland, where she operated with the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla.[4]
Hartford's career was notable for a considerable number of command appointments in destroyers. His book, Commander, R.N. outlines his service as follows.
| 1898 | Joined H.M.S. Britannia as Naval Cadet. |
| 1899 | Joined first seagoing ship: H.M.S. Crescent, Flagship, North America and West Indies; Vice-Admiral Bedford; Captain Colville; Commander Henry Campbell. |
| 1899 | Promoted to Midshipman. |
| 1902 | Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant. |
| 1902 | to 1903. Undergoing various courses and examinations for the rank of Lieutenant. |
| 1903 | Joined H.M.S. Ariadne, Flagship, North America and West Indies ; Vice-Admiral Douglas; Captain Browning. |
| 1904 | Joined H.M.S. Tribune, North America and West Indies Squadron. |
| 1904 | Commanded T.B. 74. |
| 1904 | Promoted to Lieutenant and reappointed to command of above. |
| 1906 | Joined Formidable ; Captain Symons and later Captain Lyon. |
| 1908 | Commanded the destroyer Vigilant ; Captain Tyrwhitt ; Captain (D). |
| 1909 | Commanded the destroyer Racehorse; Captain Alexander-Sinclair; Captain (D). |
| 1910 | Commanded the destroyer Whiting, China. |
| 1912 | Advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, 31 December, 1912. |
| 1913 | Commanded the destroyer Waveney; Captain Lowther-Crofton; Captain (D). |
| 1913 | Commanded the destroyer Boyne ; same flotilla. |
| 1914 | Commanded the destroyer Electra; Commander Peck; Commander (D). |
| 1914 | Commanded the destroyer Acorn, Second Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet. |
| 1915 | Commanded the destroyer Marne, Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet. Commanded her at the Battle of Jutland. |
| 1917 | Promoted to the rank of Commander, 30 June, 1917. |
| 1917 | Re-appointed to H.M.S. Marne in command and as Divisional Leader of Escorts in connection with newly-organised Convoy System. |
| 1919 | Commanded H.M.S. Kinsha, gunboat; Flagship of the Yangtze Flotilla ; Commodore Ellison. |
| 1920 | Re-appointed in command and as Chief Staff Officer to Rear-Admiral Borrett. |
| 1921 | Paid off H.M.S. Kinsha. |
| 1922 | Retired. |
Post War
After the war he was Chief Staff Officer to the Rear-Admiral on the Yangtze River for two years, before retiring as a Commander in 1922, being advanced to Captain on the retired list in 1928.
At the outbreak of the second war he was recalled to active duty, where he received a bar to his D.S.O. and was Mentioned in Despatches. He died on active service on 29th May, 1941, but his death wasn't announced until August. A keen archer, he was a member of the Royal Toxophilite Society.
See Also
- George Bibby Hartford Account of Life in H.M.S. Britannia (Cadet Training Ship)
- His book, Commander, R.N., written in 1927.
Bibliography
- "Fallen Officers" (Deaths). The Times. Thursday, 21 August, 1941. Issue 49010, col E, pg. 7.
Service Record
- The National Archives. ADM 196/48.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by The Hon. G. A. Hardinge |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 74 3 Jan, 1905[5] |
Succeeded by Arthur M. Longmore |
| Preceded by Owen T. H. Phillips |
Captain of H.M.S. Waveney 14 Mar, 1913[6] |
Succeeded by Ralph W. H. Roberts |
| Preceded by Frank G. Terry |
Captain of H.M.S. Electra 11 Dec, 1913[7] |
Succeeded by Ralph Tindal |
| Preceded by Norman A. K. Money |
Captain of H.M.S. Acorn 6 Nov, 1914[8] |
Succeeded by Alfred G. Peace |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Marne Aug, 1915[9] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 396.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 308.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 267.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 34, 44.
- ↑ The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 399.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 397.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 308.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 267.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 843.
