Henry Ernest Digby Hugh Willoughby

Commander Henry Ernest Digby Hugh Willoughby (1 July, 1882 – 31 May, 1916) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Willoughby was born in North Grimston on 1 July, 1882, the eldest son of the Honourable Ernest Willoughby, retired Captain and J.P.. Henry was educated at Cheam School and passed into H.M.S. Britannia in 1896.

He passed out of Britannia in December, 1897 sixtieth out of the sixty-four cadets who passed out, with 1178 marks.

He served as Flag Lieutenant to Admirals Sir Hugo Pearson and Sir Wilmot Fawkes.

Willoughby served as Lieutenant at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and the Royal Naval College, Osborne, before being appointed to the Royal Yacht H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert in 1913.

At the outbreak of the First World War he was appointed to the recently requisitioned battleship Agincourt. On 30 June, 1915 he was promoted to Commander and posted to the battle cruiser Indefatigable. He was killed along with the rest of the crew when the ship sank at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May, 1916.

Bibliography

• "Officers of the Fleet" (news). The Times. Thursday, 8 June, 1916. Issue 41188, col G, pg. 10.

Service Record

• Service Records