Nigel Cameron Westall

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Westall's boxing trophy.
Courtesy of and © Eric Fintelman.

Lieutenant Nigel Cameron Westall (29 March, 1888 – 4 November, 1914) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Westall was born in Shanghai or Hong Kong. In 1901 he lived together with his brothers and sisters and his widower father at 6 Bedford Place, Bloomsbury.[1][2]

Westall entered the Royal Navy via H.M.S. Britannia, which was then on the Dartmouth on 15th January 1903 when he was fourteen. A pugilist, Westall won a Middle Weight boxing trophy aboard Britannia on 2nd December, 1903.[3]

Westall passed out in April 1904, placed twenty-seventh out of sixty-eight in order of merit, having obtained First Class ratings in Maths and Seamanship and a Second Class in Extra Subjects.[4]

Westall was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on 30 October, 1907, having obtained First Class ratings in Seamanship and Gunnery, and Second Class in Pilotage and Torpedoes.[5]

Westall was appointed to the Sappho to date 19 January, 1909, to be appointed to the Pegasus upon her imminent re-commissioning.[6]

Westall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 October, 1909.[7]

Westall was appointed to the battleship Swiftsure, temporary and additional, as assistant navigating officer in August, 1911.[8]

Westall was appointed to the third class protected cruiser H.M.S. Pyramus on 14 February, 1913 for navigating duties.[9]

He was still in Pyramus after the outbreak of war, and he died of a gastric ulcer during a trip to New Zealand on 4 November 1914. He is buried in Fremantle, Australia.[10][11]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Email from Eric Fintelman to Tone, 20180808. His Service Record indicates Hong Kong as place of birth.
  2. Westall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/198. f. 200.
  3. Email from Eric Fintelman to Tone, 20180808.
  4. "Britannia Prize Distribution." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Apr 14, 1904; pg. 5; Issue 37368.
  5. The Navy List. (July, 1908). pp. 75a, 137.
  6. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Dec 24, 1908; pg. 5; Issue 38838.
  7. The Navy List. (June, 1914). p. 77f.
  8. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Aug 05, 1911; pg. 4; Issue 39656.
  9. The Navy List. (June, 1914). p. 363.
  10. Email from Eric Fintelman to Tone, 20180808.
  11. Westall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/198. f. 200.