Ralph George Dinwiddy

Captain Ralph George Dinwiddy, R.N., Retired (18 Ocotber, 1882 – 8 December, 1942) was an exceptionally sharp officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Greenwich, the son of architect Thomas Dinwiddy, Dinwiddy gained eight months' time on passing out of Britannia. He received the most marks of any cadet in his class in December 1897 – 2,047.

Dinwiddy was awarded the Beaufort Testimonial for 1902 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 28 April, 1902.

In April 1905, he qualified as an acting interpreter in French. In March 1906 he qualified as a Lieutenant (G) with 1,766 marks.

Dinwiddy was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 28 April, 1910.

Dinwiddy was appointed to the light cruiser Liverpool as first and gunnery officer on 6 January, 1914. He promoted in her to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1915. He remained with her until he was invalided from Brindisi on 25 November, 1916, suffering from hemiplegia. Arriving back in England, Haslar suggested several possibilities, but noted a paralysis of the legs. He was discharged in December, but issues persisted.

Perhaps because it did not seem prudent to send him to sea, in June, 1917 Dinwiddy was appointed as one of seven Assistants to the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance. He did not impress Captain Crooke, who found him lacking drive and who noted that Dinwiddy had misplaced a confiential book.

Post-War

Dinwiddy was still assisting the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance, where he was noted as "very clever but lacks energy in routine work & is not thorough" when he was placed on the Retired List at his own request, postdated to 31 March, 1923. He was promoted to the rank of Captain (retired) on 28 October, 1927.

Dinwiddy was found unfit for service in May 1938, with disseminated sclerosis.