David Wardlaw-Ramsay

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David Wardlaw-Ramsay (11 June, 1890 – 11 March, 1924) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Wardlaw-Ramsay had some Chinese language skills and was to take a preliminary test if the opportunity arose for such in 1912.[1]

Wardlaw-Ramsay was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1912.[2]

Shortly after being passed over for a navigation course, Wardlaw-Ramsay was appointed to the battleship Hercules on 2 September, 1913 and fought in her at the Battle of Jutland. Though he'd applied for command of a destroyer, Wardlaw-Ramsay left Hercules upon being appointed in command of the sweeping sloop Daphne on 20 May, 1917. He served as her captain through the end of the war, being lent to Victory for a minesweeping course on 4 February, 1918.[3]

Wardlaw-Ramsay was appointed in command of the gunboat Scarab on 18 February, 1919.

Wardlaw-Ramsay was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1920.[4]

In December 1921, he was admitted to Plymouth Hospital for gastrointestinal problems. He was appointed to the sweeping sloop Magnolia on 18 October, 1922, to take command upon joining her. Though he had never had anything negative written in his service record, his postwar career suddenly nosedived. On 21 January, 1923, the Commander-in-Chief, China sent a telegram to the Admiralty reporting that Wardlaw-Ramsay had been hospitalised for excessive drinking and that he regarded it as "quite impossible that he should remain in command of Magnolia", though he was doubtful that a conviction at a Court Martial could be speedily obtained. Accordingly, on the 27th, Wardlaw-Ramsay was appointed to the light cruiser Durban, additional, vice James. He remained there until an agreement was reached that he should retire with a gratuity. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request upon his relief on 1 December, 1923.[5]

Wardlaw-Ramsay died just three months later, in Paris on 11 March, 1924, reported in The Times on the 17th.[6]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Roland A. Clark
Captain of H.M.S. Daphne
20 May, 1917[7]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
R. C. Primrose
Captain of H.M.S. Scarab
18 Feb, 1919[8] – 14 Jan, 1921[9][10]
Succeeded by
Alexander G. B. Wilson
Preceded by
Basil R. Brooke
Captain of H.M.S. Magnolia
18 Oct, 1922[11]
Succeeded by
Hugh B. Robinson

Footnotes

  1. Wardlaw-Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/320. f. 694.
  2. Wardlaw-Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/320. f. 694.
  3. Wardlaw-Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/320. f. 694.
  4. Wardlaw-Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/320. f. 694.
  5. Wardlaw-Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/320. f. 694.
  6. Wardlaw-Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/320. f. 694.
  7. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 774.
  8. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 861.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 861.
  10. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 808.
  11. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 780.

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