Godfrey Francis William Grayson
Commander Godfrey Francis William Grayson (6 April, 1879 – 13 April, 1922) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Grayson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1901.[1]
Having compiled and delivered a helpful report on mines used in the Greek Navy in October, Grayson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1913.[2]
Grayson was appointed in command of the destroyer Matchless on 12 October, 1914.[3] After Matchless collided with Manly on 13 March, 1915, blame was attributed to Grayson for failing to notify his next astern that he had stopped his engines.[4]
On 12 June, 1916, one month after Grayson received a scathing S.206 report from Captain Henry Blackett of Duke of Edinburgh which described him as "[s]low, lazy and inexperienced & does not pay sufficient attention to orders verbal or written; does not exercise sufficient control [illegible] the officers nor interest himself in the welfare of the ship's company", the Admiralty expressed their displeasure with Grayson. This may have had little to do with Grayson, however. In August, relations between Blackett and Grayson's replacement (whom we've yet to identify) resulted in a Court Martial where the commander was not found guilty of the charges against him and seemingly excused, for Blackett had threatened to place him in irons! The consequences of this seemed to fall more heavily on Blackett than on his beleaguered commander.[5]
Grayson was placed on the Retired List on 13 April, 1922. He died in Salisbury after a two year battle with tuberculosis.[6]
See Also
Bibliography
Service Records
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Brien M. Money |
Captain of H.M.S. Vesuvius 31 Mar, 1914[7] – 1 Aug, 1914[8] |
Succeeded by Roderick B. T. Miles |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Matchless 12 Oct, 1914[9][10] – 27 Apr, 1915[11] |
Succeeded by George L. D. Gibbs |
Footnotes
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 356.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62. Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62. Day of month taken from predecessor's date of discharge.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 356.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
- ↑ Grayson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 62.
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