Difference between revisions of "James Lewis Soltan Kirkness"

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{{CommRN}} '''James Lewis Soltan Kirkness''', R.N. (15 September, 1877 – 5 february, 1925) served in the [[Royal Navy]].
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{{CommRN}} '''James Lewis Soltan Kirkness''', R.N. (15 September, 1877 – 5 February, 1925) served in the [[Royal Navy]].
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
Born in Spencer Hill, [illeg].
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Born in Spencer Hill, Wimbledon.
  
Kirkness was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 30 June, 1899.
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Kirkness was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 30 June, 1899.<ref>Kirkness Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/356.|}} f. 360.</ref>
  
Appointed to {{UK-GoodHope}} as gunnery officer on 27 January, 1908.
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Kirkness was faulted for "gross negligence" in a collision between {{UK-Nile}} and {{UK-Trafalgar}} on 25 October, 1901.  He had allowed ''Nile'' to drop rapidly out of station by failing to ascertain that his orders to increase speed had been understood.  He was moved into the {{UK-StGeorge|f=t}} on 1 November.<ref>Kirkness Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/356.|}} f. 360.</ref>
  
In {{UK-GoodHope}}'s gunlaying tests of 9 June 1908, Kirkness's gunners really shone, making her the top ship in the entire navy, and prompting the Commander-in-Chief, [[Charles Beresford]] to signal, "Commander-in-Chief to GOOD HOPE, &ndash; I congratulate you on brilliant firing."{{NMI|11 June 1908, p. 7}}
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Kirkness was appointed to {{UK-GoodHope}} as gunnery officer on 27 January, 1908.<ref>Kirkness Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/356.|}} f. 360.</ref>  In her gunlaying tests of 9 June 1908, Kirkness's gunners really shone, making her the top ship in the entire navy, and prompting the Commander-in-Chief, [[Charles Beresford]] to signal, "Commander-in-Chief to GOOD HOPE, &ndash; I congratulate you on brilliant firing."{{NMI|11 June 1908, p. 7}}
  
Kirkness left ''Good Hope'' on 17 August, 1909 and went back to {{UK-Excellent}} to requalify in gunnery.
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Kirkness left ''Good Hope'' on 17 August, 1909 and went back to {{UK-Excellent}} to requalify in gunnery.<ref>Kirkness Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/356.|}} f. 360.</ref>
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Kirkness was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on -->
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Kirkness was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1911.
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His Service Record does not indicate that Kirkness was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}}.
  
Kirkness was placed on the Retired List as unfit on 5 January, 1914.
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Kirkness was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1911.<ref>Kirkness Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/356.|}} f. 360.</ref>
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Following a month in command of {{UK-Aboukir}}, Kirkness remained with the ship for three and a half months further before spending two months in command of the {{UK-Diadem|f=t}}.  He was then appointed to {{UK-Hampshire}} in the Mediterranean on 18 December, 1912.  On 12 July 1913, he was invalided from the ship and sent home for pulmonary issues.  Some time recuperating proved of no avail, and Kirkness was placed on the Retired List as unfit on 5 January, 1914.<ref>Kirkness Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/356.|}} f. 360.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
 
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+James+Lewis+Soltan+Kirkness Service Records]
 
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+James+Lewis+Soltan+Kirkness Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lewis_Soltan_Kirkness}}
 
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  

Revision as of 19:01, 1 December 2021

Commander James Lewis Soltan Kirkness, R.N. (15 September, 1877 – 5 February, 1925) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Spencer Hill, Wimbledon.

Kirkness was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1899.[1]

Kirkness was faulted for "gross negligence" in a collision between Nile and Trafalgar on 25 October, 1901. He had allowed Nile to drop rapidly out of station by failing to ascertain that his orders to increase speed had been understood. He was moved into the first class protected cruiser St. George on 1 November.[2]

Kirkness was appointed to Good Hope as gunnery officer on 27 January, 1908.[3] In her gunlaying tests of 9 June 1908, Kirkness's gunners really shone, making her the top ship in the entire navy, and prompting the Commander-in-Chief, Charles Beresford to signal, "Commander-in-Chief to GOOD HOPE, – I congratulate you on brilliant firing."[4]

Kirkness left Good Hope on 17 August, 1909 and went back to Excellent to requalify in gunnery.[5]

His Service Record does not indicate that Kirkness was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.

Kirkness was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1911.[6]

Following a month in command of Aboukir, Kirkness remained with the ship for three and a half months further before spending two months in command of the first class protected cruiser Diadem. He was then appointed to Hampshire in the Mediterranean on 18 December, 1912. On 12 July 1913, he was invalided from the ship and sent home for pulmonary issues. Some time recuperating proved of no avail, and Kirkness was placed on the Retired List as unfit on 5 January, 1914.[7]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Robert L. Way
Captain of H.M.S. Brazen
14 Jul, 1904
Succeeded by
Harry C. S. Rawson
Preceded by
Eric V. F. R. Dugmore
Captain of H.M.S. Aboukir
1 Jun, 1912[8] – 1 Jul, 1912
Succeeded by
A. Ernle M. Chatfield

Footnotes

  1. Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
  2. Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
  3. Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
  4. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 11 June 1908, p. 7.
  5. Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
  6. Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
  7. Kirkness Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/356. f. 360.
  8. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 271.