Berwick Curtis

Vice-Admiral Berwick Curtis, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Navy (9 October, 1876 – 9 May, 1965) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Curtis was born in Croyden.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1898.

Curtis was appointed in command of the destroyer Ardent on 28 August, 1909.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 22 June, 1911.

Curtis was appointed in command of the destroyers Desperate and Derwent on 5 July, 1913.

Great War

Curtis appointed in command of the flotilla leader Abdiel on 3 February, 1916 through the end of the war, commanding her at the Battle of Jutland.

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1916.

He was appointed Captain (D) of the Twentieth Destroyer Flotilla on 5 March, 1918 and oversaw their participation in Operation ZZ.

Post-War

Curtis 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.) on 1 January, 1919.

Curtis was appointed in command of the depot ship Columbine on 20 November, 1919, though the ship would be sold in the coming year.

He was appointed in command of Emperor of India in October, 1925.

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 January, 1928.

He was appointed Rear-Admiral in Charge and Admiral-Superintendent of Gibraltar Dockyard in 1929, remaining there for two years.

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 23 September, 1932 and placed on the Retired List on 24 September, 1932 under the provisions of the Order in Council of 9 March, 1914, having not hoisted his flag at sea.

World War II

Curtis was made a Commodore of Convoy as part of the Liverpool Convoy Pool on 10 October, 1940. He served for a year and requested that he be returned to the Retired List. In light of this request, he reverted to the Retired List on 11 September, 1941.

Bibliography

• "Obituary" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 11 May, 1965. Issue 56318, col E, pg. 14.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Lewis W. Braithwaite	Captain of H.M.S. Hornet 11 Jul, 1905 – 12 Mar, 1908	Succeeded by Frederick W. Law
Preceded by Harold V. Dundas	Captain of H.M.S. Locust 12 Mar, 1908 – 26 Aug, 1909	Succeeded by Hamilton C. Allen
Preceded by Herbert M. Denny	Captain of H.M.S. Ardent 28 Aug, 1909 – May, 1911	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by George W. Taylor	Captain of H.M.S. Chelmer 10 Jun, 1911 – 29 Aug, 1911	Succeeded by Gerald C. Dickens
Preceded by Herbert A. Adam	Captain of H.M.S. Dido 1 Feb, 1912 – 23 Aug, 1912	Succeeded by Robert H. Coppinger
Preceded by Claude L. Cumberlege	Captain of H.M.S. Kale 23 Aug, 1912 – Jun, 1913	Succeeded by Berwick Curtis
Preceded by Owen T. H. Phillips	Captain of H.M.S. Desperate 5 Jul, 1913 – 16 Dec, 1913	Succeeded by George E. Casley
Preceded by George H. H. Holden	Captain of H.M.S. Derwent 5 Jul, 1913 – Jun, 1914	Succeeded by William H. S. S. Thomson
Preceded by Berwick Curtis	Captain of H.M.S. Kale Jun, 1914 – 6 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by Henry Haire-Forster
Preceded by George P. England	Captain of H.M.S. Laurel 6 Sep, 1915 – 3 Feb, 1916	Succeeded by Henry D. C. Stanistreet
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Abdiel 3 Feb, 1916 – Sep, 1919	Succeeded by Basil E. Reinold
Preceded by ?	Captain (D), Twentieth Destroyer Flotilla 5 Mar, 1918 – Sep, 1919	Succeeded by Ernest R. Archer
Preceded by Charles A. Fountaine	Captain of H.M.S. Columbine 20 Nov, 1919 – 20 Nov, 1921	Succeeded by Arthur K. Macrorie
Preceded by Gordon Campbell	Captain of Training Ship H.M.S. Impregnable 22 Aug, 1922 – 25 Aug, 1924	Succeeded by Charles G. Ramsey
Preceded by Frederick P. Loder-Symonds	Captain of H.M.S. Emperor of India mid Oct, 1925 – 1 Jan, 1927	Succeeded by Cecil H. Pilcher
Preceded by Cyril S. Townsend as Rear-Admiral in Charge, Gibraltar	Rear-Admiral in Charge & Admiral Superintendent, Gibraltar 22 Mar, 1929 – 30 Mar, 1931	Succeeded by Thomas N. James