Hugh Clausen

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Temporary Lieutenant R.N.V.R. Hugh Clausen, O.B.E. ( – ) was an Electrical Artificer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve with exceptional, perhaps unique inventive talents in Electrical Engineering and practical shipboard design of fire control mechanisms.

Life & Career

Clausen was promoted to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant with seniority of 9 June, 1915 and appointed to Benbow, to "assist the Torpedo Lieutenant", which must actually have been Lt. Cdr. (T) Eric Clover Ward.[1]

Captain Henry Parker of Benbow noted that Clausen was very good at draughting, lathework and Electrical Engineering in general. Beyond these talents, Parker noted that Clausen spoke German and French. In late 1917, Clausen would ask to be permitted to take examinations to be qualified as an interpreter in German. It was granted that this should happen in January 1919, but he failed an examination in French in 1918.[2]

In April 1917, Clausen was thanked for submitting a design for a "Range Correcting instrument" which was not adopted. His special talents continued to impress others. On 28 September 1917, Rear-Admiral Clinton-Baker noted that Clausen was an "[i]nventor, prac. engineer, elec. engr., expert electrician, invented many invaluable instruments & aids : should not be lost sight of after the war."[3]

Clausen was re-appointed to Benbow, additional, on 11 April 1918. This time, he was expressly appointed for "design duties" (a designation I have never seen elsewhere) and was granted a special allowance of 5/- a day to be considered as thanks from the Admiralty for "various proposals and for improving the fighting efficiency of the Fleet." It bears repeating that such stipulations and endorsements are not just uncommon – no one else enjoyed them.[4]

In 1918, Clausen was thanked for various proposals for firing from through a smoke screen[?]. It seems likely that this is a reference to Gyro Director Training Gear.[5]

Clausen's skills were in high demand. In May 1919, Vice-Admiral, Second Battle Squadron was informed that his services were unavailable for an appointment to Valiant. In light of this, it is surprising that Clausen was demobilised on 2 July, 1919. He was awarded a military O.B.E. for experimental duties in the Grand Fleet, gazetted 17 July 1919.[6]

The final report of the Grand Fleet Dreyer Table Committee prompted Beatty to suggest that a follow-on effort to design fire control tables from the ground up should include Clausen.[7]

Awards

Clausen, along with Lt. Cdr. John Scott Dove would be awarded £2,000 by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors for their work in designing Gyro Director Training Gear, C.P. Patent No. 4622/19[illeg].[8]

Bibliography

See Also

 

Footnotes

  1. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  2. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  3. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  4. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  5. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  6. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  7. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.
  8. Clausen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 337/119/419. f. 214.