Charles Lionel Napier

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Admiral Charles Lionel Napier, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (16 November, 1861 – 10 March, 1934) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Napier was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1884.[1]

On 22 August, 1893, Napier was appointed to the Sans Pareil, additional, for ‘special G duties’ at Malta,[2] which involved charge of the naval rifle range at Ricasoli.[3]

Napier was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1897.[4]

Captain

On 31 December, 1902 Napier was promoted to the rank of Captain.[5] He was appointed to Wildfire on 25 July, 1903, for command of the Edinburgh.[Citation needed] On 30 September he was appointed to President for a War Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, which he completed on 7 December, with a Second Class pass. The same day he was appointed an assistant to the Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes at the Admiralty, until he was superseded on 5 January, 1904, when he was appointed in command of H.M.S. Euryalus on the Australian Station.[6]

On 18 February, 1907, he was appointed to the Powerful, additional, as Captain in Charge of Naval Establishments in Sydney, Australia. He was superseded on 16 January, 1909. He was appointed to Victory on foreign service leave from 24 April to 21 May. On 14 June he was appointed in command of Edgar and as Senior Naval Officer of the Seventh Cruiser Squadron for the annual manœuvres. After going on half pay on 17 July he was appointed captain of the battle cruiser Inflexible on 14 December.

Rear-Admiral The Hon. S. Cecil J. Colville, commanding the First Cruiser Squadron, wrote in February, 1911: "A very capable, zealous, & thoroughly good captain of a ship in whom I have great confidence. Very strict & excellent disciplinarian & handles his ship very ably."[7] He was superseded in command of Inflexible on 21 November, 1911.[8] Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly, Colville's successor, wrote: "A v.g. disciplinarian, thoroughly reliable & loyal. Physically strong, will do well in the advanced ranks." Admiral Bridgeman added: "A very able and experienced officer. I have a high opinion of him."[9]

On 23 January, 1912, Napier was appointed to Victory for command of the new battleship Monarch.[10] He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 21 September.[11]

Jellicoe wrote of Napier: "Very zealous & capable with good power of command. Has excellent judgt, but an occasional severity of manner wh. is apt to flurry a nervous subordinate. A good disciplinarian otherwise. Shd prove capable afloat as a flag officer."[12]

Flag Rank

Napier was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 25 January, 1913, vice Lyon.[13]

From 13 July to 26 July, 1914, Napier commanded the Tenth Cruiser Squadron with his flag in the cruiser Hogue.[14][15]

Great War

On 31 October, 1914, Napier was apparently appointed to H.M.S. President for Special Service at the Admiralty.[16] On 2 November he was appointed as Rear-Admiral at Brightlingsea, where he remained until at least a year later.[17]

Napier was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 January, 1918, vice Patey.[18] He was placed on the Retired List on 26 April.[19] On 1 July, 1921, he was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List.[20]

Napier died at his home, Torriano, La Croix, Var, France, on 10 March, 1934, at the age of seventy-two.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Napier" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 14 March, 1934. Issue 46702, col C, p. 14.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Robert K. McAlpine 		Captain of H.M.S. Cleopatra
11 Jan, 1901[21] – 31 Dec, 1902[22] 		Succeeded by
Pennant A. I. Lloyd
Preceded by
The Hon. George A. Hardinge 		Captain of H.M.S. Edinburgh
25 Jul, 1903[23] – 13 Aug, 1903[24] 		Succeeded by
William B. S. Wrey
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Euryalus
5 Jan, 1904[25][26] – 15 Jan, 1906[27] 		Succeeded by
George A. Ballard
Preceded by
William S. Rees 		Naval Officer in Charge, Sydney
18 Feb, 1907[28] – 16 Jan, 1909[29] 		Succeeded by
John P. Rolleston
Preceded by
Christopher P. Metcalfe 		Captain of H.M.S. Edgar
14 Jun, 1909[30] 		Succeeded by
Carlton V. de M. Cowper
Preceded by
Henry H. Torlesse 		Captain of H.M.S. Inflexible
14 Dec, 1909[31][32] – 21 Nov, 1911[33] 		Succeeded by
Richard F. Phillimore
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Monarch
23 Jan, 1912[34][35] – 4 Dec, 1912[36] 		Succeeded by
Charles F. Sowerby
Preceded by
Edmund R. Pears 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Tenth Cruiser Squadron
13 Jul, 1914 – 26 Jul, 1914[37] 		Succeeded by
Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Force B

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25372. p. 3009. 1 July, 1884.
  2. ↑ Napier service record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/59.
  3. ↑ Aston. Memories of a Marine. p. 155.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26809. p. 4. 1 January, 1897.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 3. 2 January, 1903.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 January, 1904. Issue 37280, col E, p. 5.
  7. ↑ ADM 196/88. f. 1.
  8. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  9. ↑ ADM 196/88. f. 1.
  10. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28648. p. 7107. 27 September, 1912.
  12. ↑ ADM 196/88. f. 1.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28686. p. 764. 31 January, 1913.
  14. ↑ ADM 196/20. f. 674.
  15. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  16. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 374a.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 3.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30457. p. 273. 4 January, 1918.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30678. p. 5602. 10 May, 1918.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32384. p. 5487. 8 July, 1921.
  21. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  22. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  23. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  24. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  25. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 January, 1904. Issue 37280, col E, p. 5.
  26. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  27. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  28. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  29. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  30. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  31. ↑ Roberts. Battlecruisers. p. 122.
  32. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  33. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  34. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  35. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 346.
  36. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 72.
  37. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 674.

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