Richard Anthony Aston Plowden

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Rear-Admiral Richard Anthony Aston Plowden, D.S.O., R.N. (24 May, 1881 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy. His career would be highlighted by command of destroyers.

Life & Career

Sub-Lieutenant Plowden was appointed to the battleship Ramillies in the Mediterranean on 12 April, 1902 and then to Harrier later that year for special service in the Red Sea. This appears to have involved anti-slaving work, as in November, 1902 his service record states that he was in command of a captured slaver dhow which had been given the delightful moniker of H.M.S. Irresponsible. Plowden was sent back to Ramillies upon his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 March, 1903.[1]

Plowden's early work in destroyer command started after a typical sequence of early appointments in large ships, ending with a year in Cornwallis which ended on 23 March 1907 when he was appointed in command of the "C" Class destroyer Bat, arriving in England on 5 April. Six successive destroyer commands were broken, finally, by an appointment in the battleship Superb on 12 February, 1911. His experience commanding small ships did not seem to prepare him to please Captain Gaunt, whose final evaluation of the young officer was that he was "rather slow, bad manner & lacks enthusiasm."[2]

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 March, 1911, Plowden continued his battleship appointment until 20 December, 1912 when he received an appointment in command of the Acorn Class destroyer Sheldrake, which was part of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. When Sheldrake collided with the destroyer Fury on 11 July, 1913, both captains were chided for not having been on the bridge at the time of the accident. He would remain in command of the ship until some time into the war.[3]

Great War

Plowden was re-appointed in Sheldrake upon his promotion to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1915. He was superseded in her in July, and took command of the "M" Class destroyer Mandate for three months.[4]

Plowden commanded the destroyer leader Hardy when she operated with the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland.[5]

Post-War

On 28 December, 1918, Plowden was appointed in command of the destroyer Musketeer.[6]

He was appointed in command of the submarine Satyr on 1 October, 1919.[7]

Plowden was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1921.[8]

Plowden was appointed in command of the battleship Centurion in January, 1931.

Plowden was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 September, 1933.[9]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
James U. Farie 		Captain of H.M.S. Cheerful
13 May, 1908[10] 		Succeeded by
James U. Farie
Preceded by
Edward O. Gladstone 		Captain of H.M.S. Doon
3 Aug, 1909[11] 		Succeeded by
Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M.S. Sheldrake
20 Dec, 1912[12] – mid 1915[13][14] 		Succeeded by
Maurice C. Bomford
Preceded by
Lewis G. E. Crabbe 		Captain of H.M.S. Hardy
10 May, 1916[15] – Dec, 1918[16][17] 		Succeeded by
Edward Eastwick-Field
Preceded by
Edward Eastwick-Field 		Captain of H.M.S. Musketeer
28 Dec, 1918[18] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Spencer F. Russell 		Captain of H.M.S. Minion
26 Mar, 1919[19] 		Succeeded by
C. & M. party at Devonport
15 October, 1919
Preceded by
Arthur Henniker-Heaton 		Captain of H.M.S. Satyr
1 Oct, 1919[20] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
John C. Hodgson 		Captain of H.M.S. Bruce
28 Apr, 1924[21] 		Succeeded by
John C. Tovey
Preceded by
The Hon. Edward B. S. Bingham 		Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla
28 Apr, 1924[22] – late 1924[23][24] 		Succeeded by
John C. Tovey
Preceded by
Owen F. Gillett
as King's Harbour Master, Malta 		Captain of Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master, Malta
? – 7 Oct, 1930[25] 		Succeeded by
John H. Young
Preceded by
Aubrey T. Tillard 		Captain of H.M.S. Centurion
6 Jan, 1931[26][27] 		Succeeded by
Montague G. B. Legge

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Plowden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/64. f. 64.
  2. ↑ Plowden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/64. f. 64.
  3. ↑ Plowden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/64. f. 64.
  4. ↑ Plowden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/64. f. 64.
  5. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 34, 44.
  6. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 849.
  7. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 861.
  8. ↑ Plowden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/64. f. 64.
  9. ↑ Plowden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/64. f. 64.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 293.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 302.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 398a.
  13. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398a.
  14. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 907.
  15. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 808.
  16. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 808.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 808.
  18. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 849.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 847.
  20. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 861.
  21. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 219.
  22. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 219.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 219.
  24. ↑ Tovey Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49. f. 131.
  25. ↑ Superseded that day. Young Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/25. f. 429.
  26. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  27. ↑ Day of month inferred from predecessor being discharged. Tillard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46. f. 95.


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