Gervase Boswell Middleton

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

World War II

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

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

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

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.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• Obituary in The Times, 13 June, 1961, P. 14 55106 E.
• Tribute from Hugh Clausen in The Times, 14 June, 1961, P. 14 55107 E.

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