Hugh Joseph Woodward

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Captain Hugh Joseph Woodward, D.S.O., R.N., (20 January, 1886 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy who provided good service during the [Great War]] but whose judgment was often questioned by his superiors.

Life & Career

On 29 September, 1906 Woodward was granted leave to France until his services were required.

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 August, 1907.[1]

On 5 February, 1909 he was admitted to Haslar for a knee ailment. Although he was discharged to duty ten days later, this same or another issue apparently required admission to King Edward VII Hospital on 7 June and then a spell in Osborne Convalescent Home. Then a glandular issue in his neck arose in September. He was finally discharged on 18 October, 1909.[2]

Great War

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 August, 1916.[3]

Woodward damaged Portia's propeller in an accident with a drifter on 27 November, 1916. Cautioned to be more careful in future, Woodward was permitted leave to France on 26 February, 1917 while Portia underwent refit.

Woodward's destroyer H.M.S. Sable was rammed in the Captain's cabin by squadron mate Salmon in 1917 when the destroyers were proceeding in fog at 20 knots. Woodward shouted to Salmon's captain Dawson that he should "keep your stem in the hole," but the ships separated. Both were able to return to Rosyth. Woodward able to save a signed photograph of Queen Alexandra from his demolished cabin, which he had obtained when serving in the Royal yacht as a Sub-Lieutenant. A Court of Inquiry apparently attached no blame to either commander. The incident is entirely unrecorded in one of Dawson's Service Records.[4][5]

At the end of 1917, Captain Dutton opined that Woodward lacked sound judgment.

Interbellum

Woodward was appointed in command of the destroyer Tumult on 5 November, 1918.[6]

Awarded a bar to his D.S.O. for his services in action with a submarine in 1919, gazetted 22 January, 1920.[7]

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1919.[8]

In late 1920, Woodward assisted in the evacuation of Crimea, prompting an expression of thanks from the Commander-in-Chief, Russian Naval Forces. However, some other incident in 1921 or 1922 involving his failure to properly process Mess Bills before leaving Portsmouth incurred the displeasure of the Admiralty.[9]

He impressed the Admiralty when he salvaged S.S. Borulos in October 1925. Similarly, in 1926 the Foreign Office thanked him for his help in negotiating with King Ali in the surrender of Jeddah.[10]

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Captain on 20 January, 1931.[11]

World War II

On 30 August, 1939 Woodward was appointed in command of a ship named something like H.M.S. Almania. Woodward was granted the acting rank of Captain on 10 November, 1939.[12]

On 24 October, 1941, Woodward was appointed in command of H.M.S. Racer, vice Maxwell, and as Naval Officer in Charge, Larne. He was superseded on 6 August, 1942.[13]

Woodward was assigned to the Liverpool Convoy Pool on 22 August, 1942 to serve in the rank of Commodore, Second Class, R.N.R..[14]

Upon being reverted to the Retired List on 5 February 1944, Woodward told the Admiralty that he felt he was "willing, & medically fit for sea service, if required."[15]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John Fawcett
Captain of H.M. T.B. 87
Dec, 1909[16]
Succeeded by
Stephen Phillimore
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Lavender
21 Jul, 1915[17] – 16 Sep, 1916
Succeeded by
Thomas S. L. Dorman
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Portia
6 Oct, 1916[18]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey N. Henson
Preceded by
Theodore E. J. Bigg
Captain of H.M.S. Sable
13 Jul, 1917[19]
Succeeded by
Edward B. Hoyle
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Tumult
5 Nov, 1918[20]
Succeeded by
Richard Harter
Preceded by
Guy P. Bowles
Captain of H.M.S. Clematis
12 Jun, 1924[21]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  2. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  3. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  4. Dawson. Flotillas. pp. 199-201.
  5. Dawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. 208.
  6. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 922.
  7. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  8. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  9. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  10. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  11. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  12. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  13. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 190.
  14. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 190.
  15. Woodward Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/83. f. 211.
  16. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 401.
  17. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 395j.
  18. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396o.
  19. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 397t.
  20. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 922.
  21. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 225.

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