William Walker Skynner
Lieutenant William Walker Skynner (15 December, 1888 – 5 June, 1916) served in the Royal Navy and died in the Great War in the mining of H.M.S. Hampshire.
Life & Career
Born in Welcombe, North Devon, Skynner gained two and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia in May 1905. He was sent to join Leviathan in the Mediterranean.
On 8 February, 1910, Skynner was appointed to the armoured cruiser Achilles.[1]
In February, 1910, Captain Chatfield wrote that Skynner possessed "very poor exec. power & prof. knowledge as [watch-keeper]. Not at present fit for promotion to Lieut." In December, Captain Nicholson offered a similar opinion. However, Skynner was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1911 after receiving an evaluation from Stanhope Hawke that deemed him as "lacking in personality & rather feeble in character."[2]
Skynner was appointed to Fortune on 11 December, 1913, becoming her first lieutenant. He served in her until being appointed in command of the "C" Class destroyer Gipsy on 9 April, 1915. Skynner grounded the destroyer on Christmas Day, 1915 and was superseded in command on 9 January, 1916. On the 17th, he was appointed to the armoured cruiser Hampshire.[3]
Skynner was killed when Hampshire hit a mine on 5 June, 1916. His last evaluation from Captain Saville noted "no special attribute."[4]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Edmond M. Bowly |
Captain of H.M.S. Gipsy 9 Apr, 1915[5][6] – 9 Jan, 1916[7] |
Succeeded by Leslie T. Creery Hill |
Footnotes
- ↑ Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
- ↑ Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
- ↑ Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
- ↑ Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
- ↑ Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394i.
- ↑ Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
