Maurice Woollcombe
Admiral Maurice Woollcombe, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (18 April, 1868 – 19 December, 1930) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Early Life & Career
Maurice Woollcombe was born on 18 April, 1868, the fourth son of Mr. W. J. Woollcombe, of Plympton St. Maurice, Devon. He was educated at Plympton Grammar School and Eastman's Royal Navy Academy, Southsea.
Lieutenant & Commander
Woollcombe was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 October, 1889.[1]
Woollcombe was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1901.[2]
Captain
Woollcombe was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1907.[3]
He was appointed in command of Europa on 1 August, 1908, also assuming command of Cruiser Division of Special Reserve ships at Devonport.[4]
On 1 April, 1910, Woollcombe was appointed in command of H.M.S. Brilliant.[5]
He served as captain of the battleship Irresistible on 27 March 1912, remaining one day shy of a year.[6]
He was appointed in command of the destroyer Diana on 18 April, 1913,[7] remaining in her to the beginning of October.[8]
Woollcombe was appointed in command of H.M.S. Commonwealth on 1 October, 1913.[9]
Great War
On 26 October, 1915, Woollcombe was appointed in command of the new battleship Valiant.[10]
He commanded her at the Battle of Jutland.[11]
On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[12]
Woollcombe was relieved in command of Valiant on 1 October, 1918, by Captain Henry T. Buller,[13] and was promoted Rear-Admiral on 2 October, 1918 in the vacancy caused by the retirement of Rear-Admiral Charles William Keighly-Peach.[14] On 28 October he was appointed to H.M.S. President for Special Service.[15]
Post-War
Woollcombe was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 19 July, 1924,[16] and was advanced to the rank of Admiral on 22 February, 1928.[17]
There is a photograph of him as Captain of Valiant in Crawford Scrapbook, Liddle Collection.
Bibliography
- "Admiral Woollcombe" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 20 December, 1930. Issue 45701, col D, p. 14.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Morgan Singer |
Captain of H.M.S. Prometheus 29 Sep, 1904[18] – 19 Sep, 1906[19] |
Succeeded by Rudolf W. Bentinck |
| Preceded by Charles H. Morgan |
Captain of H.M.S. Europa 1 Aug, 1908[20] – 1 Apr, 1910[21] |
Succeeded by Gerald C. A. Marescaux |
| Preceded by Francis F. Haworth-Booth |
Captain of H.M.S. Brilliant 1 Apr, 1910[22] – 15 Dec, 1911[23] |
Succeeded by Robert E. Vaughan |
| Preceded by Cunningham R. de C. Foot |
Captain of H.M.S. Irresistible 27 Mar, 1912[24] – 26 Mar, 1913[25] |
Succeeded by Noel Grant |
| Preceded by Sydney S. Hall |
Captain of H.M.S. Diana 18 Apr, 1913[26] – 1 Oct, 1913[27] |
Succeeded by James R. P. Hawksley |
| Preceded by Price V. Lewes |
Captain of H.M.S. Commonwealth 1 Oct, 1913[28] – 26 Oct, 1915[29] |
Succeeded by Herbert W. Richmond |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Valiant 26 Oct, 1915[30] – 1 Oct, 1918[31] |
Succeeded by Henry T. Buller |
| Preceded by James A. Fergusson |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Devonport Reserve 9 Apr, 1919[32] – 9 Apr, 1920[33] |
Succeeded by Philip H. Colomb |
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25994. p. 6135. 19 November, 1889.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27335. p. 4780. 19 July, 1901.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28034. p. 4433. 28 June, 1907.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 310.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 16 February, 1910. Issue 39197, col E, p. 12.
- ↑ Woolcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 301.
- ↑ Woolcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393b.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398u.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 923a.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30942. p. 11860. 8 October, 1918.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 876.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32959. p. 5638. 25 July, 1924.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33362. p. 1494. 2 March, 1928.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woolcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woolcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 301.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woolcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 287.
- ↑ Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
