Gervase Boswell Middleton

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Admiral (retired) Gervase Boswell Middleton, C.B., C.B.E. (22 December, 1893 – 12 June, 1961) served in the Royal Navy during both world wars.

Life & Career

The son of civil and mechanical engineer Reginald E. Middleton, Esq. passed out of the Training Establishment on 15 May 1911 and received his first appointment to the battlecruiser Inflexible which would run through 24 January, 1914.[1]

At the beginning of the Great War, Middleton was a Midshipman in the battleship Zealandia. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 May, 1915.[2]

Middleton was appointed to the battleship Queen Elizabeth from 9 October 1915 to 10 September, 1917.[3]

Middleton was sent to H.M.S. Vernon for the Long Course in Torpedoes in September 1917. He was awarded the Ogilvy Medal for the year 1918 after claiming first place in the examination to qualify for Torpedo Lieutenant. On 18 April (or July?) 1918, Middleton was appointed as torpedo officer in the battleship Resolution.[4]

Middleton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 May, 1923 and spent two years on the China Station as Fleet Torpedo Officer, stationed in the cruiser Hawkins.[5]

Middleton was appointed as H.M.S. Nelson's first torpedo officer upon her commissioning in 1927.[6]

Middleton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1928 and underwent the Senior Officer's Technical Course later that year. He served under the Director of Torpedoes and Mining from March 1929 to December 1930 before spending a year at a Staff Course in Greenwich. Next, he spent time serving as executive officer in the heavy cruiser Cornwall, vice Berryman.[7]

Middleton was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1935.[8]

In 1938, Middleton was appointed in command of the light cruiser Aurora, where he was Flag Captain to Admiral Tom Philips.[9]

World War II

Middleton was appointed in command of the battleship Revenge in January, 1943.[10]

Middleton was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 2 January, 1945.[11]

Middleton was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 2 September, 1948.[12]

From 1946 to 1950, Middleton was appointed Admiral Superintendent of H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. He was placed on the Retired List on 1 December, 1950 and was promoted to the rank of Admiral (retired) on 15 March, 1952.[13]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Cecil R. McCrum
Fleet Torpedo Officer, China Station
30 Apr, 1923[14] – Jun, 1925[15]
Succeeded by
Edward C. Bindloss
Preceded by
John F. B. Carslake
Deputy Director of Torpedoes and Mining
10 Feb, 1936[16] – 3 Jan, 1938
Succeeded by
Norman V. Grace
Preceded by
W. Frederic Wake-Walker
Director of Torpedoes and Mining
3 Jan, 1938[17] – 19 Apr, 1938[18]
Succeeded by
John U. P. Fitzgerald
Preceded by
Henry D. Pridham-Wippell
Captain of H.M.S. Aurora
20 Apr, 1938[19] – 22 Jan, 1940
Succeeded by
Louis H. K. Hamilton
Preceded by
Henry C. Phillips
Director of Torpedoes and Mining
18 Apr, 1942 – 16 Feb, 1943
Succeeded by
Antony F. De Salis
Preceded by
St. J. Cronyn
Captain of H.M.S. Revenge
6 Mar, 1943[20] – 23 Aug, 1943[21]
Succeeded by
St. J. Cronyn
Preceded by
George V. M. Dolphin
Captain of H.M.S. Ramillies
23 Aug, 1943[22] – 25 Jan, 1945[23]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Robert A. W. J. Southwell
Preceded by
John G. Crace
Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard
15 Jul, 1946[24] – 5 Sep, 1950[25]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  2. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  3. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  4. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  5. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  6. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  7. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  8. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  9. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  10. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  11. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  12. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  13. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  14. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  15. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  16. "Captain Carslake's Retirement." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Feb 08, 1936; pg. 17; Issue 47293.
  17. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  18. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  19. The Navy List. (May, 1939). p. 259.
  20. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  21. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  22. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  23. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  24. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.
  25. Middleton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/11. f. 11.