Vernon Hammersley-Heenan
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
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 902-945.
- ↑ Hammersley-Heenan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/289. ff. 303, 304.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396i.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398q.
- ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 936.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1920). p. 745.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 902-945.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 279.