Walter Stuart Smithies
Lieutenant-Commander (retired) Walter Stuart Smithies, (16 January, 1889 – ) served in the Royal Navy.
His Service Records do not appear to fully capture his entire career.
Life & Career
Smithies was confirmed in the rank of Mate on 28 June, 1917.[1]
While a Yeoman of Signals, Smithies was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal for saving life from drowning in 1917. He served in Landrail from 16 February, 1918 and then in Dartmouth from 6 December, 1918 as the Great War was winding down.[2]
On 15 April, 1919, he volunteered for minesweeping service in North Russia, but was instead sent to join the battleship Superb in June. In December 1919, Captain Radcliffe of H.M.S. Superb evaluated as having "inferior ability". Others would echo this appraisal in varied forms, though Captain Briggs of Resolution eventually saw enough improvement to recommend his promotion.[3]
Smithies was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 3 January, 1921. He retired on 5 December, 1922.[4]
Smithies was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 3 January, 1929.[5]
World War II
Smithies was appointed to Pembroke for command of the guard vessel H.M.S. Lormont (formerly M.V. Woodcock) from 6 September, 1939 to 29 August, 1940. She would be lost in a collision on 7 December, 1940.[6]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Claude L. Bate |
Captain of H.M.S. Sussex early 1941[7] – 7 Jul, 1942[8] |
Succeeded by William Y. La R. Beverley |
Footnotes
- ↑ Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
- ↑ Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
- ↑ Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
- ↑ Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
- ↑ Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
- ↑ Smithies Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/275. f. 275.
- ↑ Uboat.net page on the ship.
- ↑ Uboat.net page on the ship.
