James Douglas Dick
Captain James Douglas Dick, Royal Navy (1 August, 1871 – 9 July, 1917) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War. He commanded the dreadnought battleship Vanguard at the Battle of Jutland, and was killed when that ship was sunk by an internal explosion in Scapa Flow in 1917.
Early Life and Career
Dick was born on 1 August, 1871 at Alverstoke, Hampshire. On 15 January, 1887 he joined the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth and remained there until 6 December, 1887. On passing out from Britannia he "gained 12 months time" (a boost in his seniority because of his performance).
- 10 Jan 1887 he joined his first commission, HMS Minotaur, which formed part of the Oman Squadron.
Dick was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, dated 14 January, 1891, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 January, 1892.[1]
- Jan 1892 he was promoted to full Lieutenant. This promotion may not have been ratified until after April 1892 as I believe from the papers that his promotion was reward for obtaining five first class certificates in; Seamanship (Jan 91), College (Sept 91), Torpedo (Nov 91), Gunnery (Feb 92) and Pilotage (Apr 92).
- June 1894 gained first class certificate in his final examination for gunnery.
- 1902(?) comment made on his record "unsatisfactory prize firing of Gibralter 1902 - should have obtained better results".
On 31 December, 1902, he was promoted to the rank of Commander.[2]
- April 1906 he was given 6 weeks sick leave and was to return to the UK but was then considered unfit to travel. It appears he did not return to duty until almost a year later, 15 March 1907, (presumably having been returned to the UK when fit to travel).
Appointed command of Amethyst on 7 May, 1907.[3]
Captain
Dick was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1908.[4]
In March 1909, it appears that he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Hyacinth.[5][6]
- December 1910 "Landing of armed party at Dubai, Persian Gulf. Faced difficult situation with coolness and courage and extricated his men from a very dangerous position with great judgement."
- 22 June 1912 he was appointed Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance. He retained this position until 3 Jan 1915, when he was commissioned to Black Prince (as Captain).
In April 1911, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Highflyer.[7]
Appointed to command the battleship Vanguard on 22 January, 1916[8] He commanded the ship at the Battle of Jutland and was Mentioned in Dispatches by Admiral Jellicoe as part of a blanket award for all ships captains involved at Jutland. His report on the action was offered on June 2.
On 9 July 1917, he was killed by the internal explosion that destroyed Vanguard at Scapa Flow.
He had been awarded the Africa General Service Medal with clasp "Somaliland 1908-10" and was gazetted 29 August 1917 (so possible posthumous award) with Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (3rd Class). (This may have a link to Commander Eto having been an official observer of the Japanese Imperial Navy and aboard Vanguard and under JDD's command when she was destroyed).
Bibliography
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/89.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/43.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Amethyst 7 May, 1907[9] – ? |
Succeeded by Richard Webb |
| Preceded by Algernon Walker-Heneage-Vivian |
Captain of H.M.S. Hyacinth Mar, 1909[10] – ? |
Succeeded by Francis W. Caulfeild |
| Preceded by Arthur R. Hulbert |
Captain of H.M.S. Highflyer Apr, 1911[11] – ? |
Succeeded by Charles E. Le Mesurier |
| Preceded by James C. Ley |
Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes 22 Jun, 1912[Citation needed] – ? |
Succeeded by Herbert R. Norbury |
| Preceded by Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown |
Captain of H.M.S. Black Prince 3 Jan, 1915[12] – ? |
Succeeded by Thomas P. Bonham |
| Preceded by Cecil S. Hickley |
Captain of H.M.S. Vanguard 22 Jan, 1916[13] – ? |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26286. p. 2704. 10 May, 1892.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
- ↑ The Navy List (October, 1908). p. 276-7.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28211. p. 32. 1 January, 1909.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ N.B., Mackie records the names as "John D. Dick".
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Dick Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 204.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 276-7.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392k.
- ↑ Dick Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 204.
