Henry George Thursfield

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Rear-Admiral Henry George Thursfield, R.N. (Retired) (12 May, 1882 – 23 October, 1963) served in the Royal Navy. He would specialise in wireless in the years 1913-17.

Life & Career

Thursfield was born in London, the son of the naval historian and journalist James R. Thursfield, M.A., J.P..[1]

Thursfield entered the Royal Navy with the January, 1897 intake term at H.M.S. Britannia, passing in 8th of sixty-three in order of merit with 1499 marks in the competitive entrance examinations.[2]

Thursfield passed out of Britannia with eight months' time and truly excelled at his passing out examinations, passing out first of 62 overall. He won a clock and barometer for Study Subjects, a naval telescope for General Seamanship, a dressing case for Drawinga pocket aneroid for Steam[3]

Thursfield was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 May, 1902. He was selected for submarine training in July, 1903.[4]

Thursfield was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 May, 1910.[5]

Thursfield was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1914.[6]

Post-War

Thursfield was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1920.[7]

Thursfield was appointed in command of the light cruiser Concord in September, 1922.

Thursfield was appointed in command of the light cruiser Comus in July, 1923.

In May, 1930, he was appointed in command of the battleship Royal Oak.

Thursfield was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 13 October, 1932.[8]

World War II

He was mobilized in 1939.[9]

Last Years

In retirement he lived at The Ship House, Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk. He died, aged 81 years, on 23 October, 1963.[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Brien M. Money
Captain of H.M.S. Concord
5 Sep, 1922[11] – May, 1923[12]
Succeeded by
Henry G. Thursfield
Preceded by
Edmond J. G. Mackinnon
Captain of H.M.S. Comus
Jul, 1923[13] – 27 May, 1924[Inference]
Succeeded by
George P. Sherston
Preceded by
Henry G. Thursfield
Captain of H.M.S. Concord
27 May, 1924[14] – 30 Sep, 1924[15]
Succeeded by
Alexander R. W. Woods
Preceded by
Wilbraham T. R. Ford
Captain of H.M.S. Royal Oak
23 May, 1930[16][17] – Feb, 1931[18]
Succeeded by
Charles G. Ramsey
Preceded by
G. Frederick B. Edward-Collins
Captain of H.M.S. Renown
21 Mar, 1932[19] – May, 1932
Succeeded by
Thomas F. P. Calvert

Footnotes

  1. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  2. Hampshire Telegraph and Naval Chronicle (Portsmouth, England), 6 Feb 1897, p. 8.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Apr 14, 1898; pg. 8; Issue 35490.
  4. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  5. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  6. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  7. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  8. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  9. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  10. Ancestry.com [pay to view site], England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
  11. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  12. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  13. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  14. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 227.
  15. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  16. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 266.
  17. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  18. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.
  19. Thursfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 276.