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]
Dick was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1908.[4]
- 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).
- 22 Jan 1916 - joined HMS Vanguard.
- 31 May 1916 in command of HMS Vanguard at Battle of Jutland and was Mentioned in Dispatches by Admiral Jellicoe. The MiD was a blanket award for all ships captains involved at Jutland given by Jellicoe.
- 9 July 1917 - was sadly killed by the internal explosion that destroyed HMS 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).
Footnotes
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26286. p. 2704. 10 May, 1892.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
- ↑ Navy List (October, 1908). p. 276-7.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28211. p. 32. 1 January, 1909.
Bibliography
Service Record
- The National Archives. ADM 196/43.
External Links
- 1871 births
- 1917 deaths
- Personalities
- H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1885
- Royal Navy Gunnery Officers
- Captains of H.M.S. Hyacinth (1898)
- Captains of H.M.S. Highflyer (1898)
- Assistant Directors of Naval Ordnance (Royal Navy)
- Captains of H.M.S. Black Prince (1904)
- Captains of H.M.S. Amethyst (1903)
- Captains of H.M.S. Vanguard (1909)
- Royal Navy Captains
- Royal Navy Officers Killed on Active Service
