Vernon Hammersley-Heenan

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Commander (retired) Vernon Hammersley-Heenan, R.N. (25 March, 1888 – 6 May, 1954) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He would command destroyers in both World Wars.

Life & Career

Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Hammersley-Heenan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1910.[1]

Great War

Hammersley-Heenan married Victoria Wood on 4 August 1915 at the Registry Office in Newcastle.[2]

In 1917, he applied to work with lighter-than-aircraft.

On 10 January, 1918, he grounded Vehement and was found by a Court of Enquiry to have shown neglect in the affair. In April, he suffered briefly from a bronchial condition.[3]

On 2 August, 1918, Hammersley-Heenan was wounded in action when Vehement was lost to a mine. Hospitalised in Hull, a severe contusion kept him unfit to serve until 3 October. A Court of Enquiry into her loss found no blame attributable to her captain.[4]

Hammersley-Heenan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1918.[5]

Post-War

Vittoria was lost in the Baltic to a torpedo from a Bolshevik submarine on 1 September, 1919. A Court of Enquiry determined that there was no blame attributable to Hammersley-Heenan.[6]

Hammersley-Heenan was appointed in command of the destroyer Wrestler on 12 February, 1920.[7] He was praised for his work in rescuing survivors of S.S. Rowan on 9 October, 1921.

Hammersley-Heenan was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 2 November, 1929.[8]

World War II

Hammersley-Heenan returned to command several destroyers of Great War vintage, serving with the rank of Acting Commander.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Orpheus
12 Aug, 1916[9] – Sep, 1917[Fact Check]
Succeeded by
Martin J. C. de Meric
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Vehement
Oct, 1917[10]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Vittoria
11 Oct, 1918[11] – 1 Sep, 1919
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
John C. H. Lindsay
Captain of H.M.S. Chester
5 Nov, 1919[12] – 31 Mar, 1920[Inference]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Edward McC. W. Lawrie
Captain of H.M.S. Wrestler
12 Feb, 1920[13]
Succeeded by
Kenneth H. Grant
Preceded by
Joseph H. L. Yorke
Captain of H.M.S. Trinidad
?
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
George A. Scott
Captain of H.M.S. Venturous
Aug, 1923[14]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  2. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  3. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  4. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  5. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  6. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  7. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 902-945.
  8. Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
  9. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396i.
  10. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398q.
  11. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 936.
  12. The Navy List. (January, 1920). p. 745.
  13. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 902-945.
  14. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 279.

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