H.M.S. H 23 (1918)

H.M.S. H 23 (1918)
Pendant Number:	H.23^[1]
Builder:	Vickers^[2]
Ordered:	Jan-Feb, 1917^[3]
Launched:	29 Jan, 1918^[4]
Commissioned:	Apr, 1918^[5]
Sold:	May, 1934^[6]

H.M.S. H 23 was one of forty-four "H" class submarines completed for the Royal Navy in the 1910s.

Service

From mid-1927, part of the Fifth Submarine Flotilla.^[7]

In early 1929, still part of the Fifth Submarine Flotilla.^[8]

She was reduced to immediate Reserve at Gosport on 22 July, 1932, but still affiliated with 5 S.F..^[9]

In 1934, her bell, inscribed with her name and perhaps her motto, was offered for sale to naval officers and others who might be interested, at a price between £1 and £5. Interested parties were to write the Director of Stores and were urged to include any special information which might convey the importance they attach to the bell, in light of the Admiralty's understanding that such items carry great sentimental value.^[10]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

Lieutenant in Command Ernest G. Ebblewhite, 20 February, 1918 – April, 1919^[11]
Lieutenant in Command John G. H. Steedman, 10 October, 1919 – early 1920^[12]
Lieutenant in Command Lancelot V. Donne, 3 September, 1920^[13] – 1 September, 1921
Lieutenant & Commander Aubrey C. Newbold, 27 September, 1921 – 27 February, 1922
Lieutenant in Command Brian L. Clark, 27 February, 1922^[14] – 19 January, 1923
Lieutenant-Commander Basil N. Downie, 19 January, 1923 – 19 February, 1924
Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Parkinson, 19 February, 1924^[15] – 20 August, 1924^[16]
Lieutenant in Command Walter E. Higham, 20 August, 1924 – 28 April, 1926
Lieutenant in Command Guy C. Harris, 29 April, 1926^[17] – 13 April, 1927^[18]
Lieutenant in Command Thomas E. K. Donaldson, 13 April, 1927^[19] – 3 August, 1927^[20]
Lieutenant-Commander Caledon C. Alexander, 3 August, 1927^[21] – 7 November, 1927^[22] (temporary)
Lieutenant in Command Hugh V. King, 7 November, 1927^[23] – 22 February, 1929
Lieutenant-Commander Albert M. Chovil, 2 February, 1931^[24]

Cyril Joseph Firth commanded this boat some time between 1929 and 1931.^[25]

Footnotes

↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. pp. 82, 88.
↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 92.
↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 21. p. 40.
↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 92.
↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 21. p. 40.
↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 92.
↑ The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 243.
↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 243.
↑ The Navy List. (January, 1933). p. 244.
↑ "Ships' Bells for Sale." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Apr 18, 1934; pg. 4; Issue 46731.
↑ Only year is clearly legible in Service Record.
↑ left when sub reduced
↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 782a.
↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 764.
↑ Parkinson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/63. f. 63.
↑ Parkinson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/63. f. 63.
↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/124/117. f. 117.
↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/124/117. f. 117.
↑ Donaldson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/147/149. f. 149.
↑ Donaldson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/147/149. f. 149.
↑ Alexander Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/87. f. 87.
↑ Alexander Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/87. f. 87.
↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 243.
↑ The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 244.
↑ "Commander C. J. Firth." The Times (London, England), 11 Aug. 1938, p. 13.