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.

Great War

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

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.

On 2 August, 1918, Hammersley-Heenan was wounded in action when Vehement was lost to a mine and the explosion blasted him 400 yards through the air. 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.

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

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.

Hammersley-Heenan was appointed in command of the destroyer Wrestler on 12 February, 1920. 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.

World War II

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

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles H. N. James	Captain of H.M.S. Seal 29 May, 1915 – 2 Apr, 1916	Succeeded by Ernest J. Rodgers
Preceded by Frederick A. Warner	Captain of H.M.S. Boyne 2 Apr, 1916 – 12 Aug, 1916	Succeeded by Herbert M. Hughes
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Orpheus 12 Aug, 1916 – Oct, 1917	Succeeded by Martin J. C. de Meric
Preceded by Martin J. C. de Meric	Captain of H.M.S. Vehement Oct, 1917 – 2 Aug, 1918	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Frank C. Peet	Captain of H.M.S. Vittoria 11 Oct, 1918 – 1 Sep, 1919	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by John C. H. Lindsay	Captain of H.M.S. Chester 5 Nov, 1919 – 5 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by Arthur W. Lowis
Preceded by James R. C. Cavendish	Captain of H.M.S. Witherington 5 Feb, 1920 – 12 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by Edward McC. W. Lawrie
Preceded by Edward McC. W. Lawrie	Captain of H.M.S. Wrestler 12 Feb, 1920 – 2 Jan, 1922	Succeeded by Kenneth H. Grant
Preceded by Joseph H. L. Yorke	Captain of H.M.S. Trinidad 2 Jan, 1922 – Sep, 1923	Succeeded by Martin J. C. de Meric
Preceded by Austen G. Lilley	Captain of H.M.S. Venturous Sep, 1923 – 6 Dec, 1924	Succeeded by David J. R. Simson
Preceded by Robert J. Gardner	Captain of H.M.S. Viscount 15 Jun, 1939 – 17 Jun, 1939	Succeeded by Michael S. Townsend
Preceded by James A. McCoy	Captain of H.M.S. Watchman 17 Jun, 1939 – 5 Feb, 1940	Succeeded by Edward C. L. Day
Preceded by Roland F. B. Swinley	Captain of H.M.S. Douglas 5 Feb, 1940 – 20 Apr, 1940	Succeeded by John G. Crossley