View source for Basil Edward Reinold

{{CaptRN}} (retired) '''Basil Edward Reinold''', D.S.O. (28 August, 1882 &ndash; 10 February, 1971) was an especially gift torpedo officer in the [[Royal Navy]].  In the years before the war, he served as torpedo officer in a variety of cruisers and dreadnoughts, but he became increasingly involved in the [[British Adoption of Radio Communication|Royal Navy's wireless telegraphy effort]].  

His cousin [[Harold Owen Reinold]], five years older, also served in the Navy during the [[Great War]] and later reached flag rank.

==Life & Career==
Born the son of a civil engineer working in Bombay, India, Reinold underwent examinations for several days commencing on 20 July, 1897 and gained entrance to {{UK-1Britannia}}'s term of August, 1897, his 1551 marks placing him second among the sixty-three candidates accepted as naval cadets.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence." ''The Times'' (London, England), Friday, Aug 13, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 35281.</ref>

He gained eight months time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} and received his first appointment, to the [[Channel Squadron]]'s {{UK-Diadem|f=t}} on 15 January, 1899.  It would last one year's time exactly.  In January, 1902, Captain [[Percy Moreton Scott, First Baronet|Percy Scott]] of {{UK-Terrible|f=t}}, Reinold's second ship, evaluated his young {{SubRN}} as "a brilliant officer all round."  Reinold's early examination scores support this assessment.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

Reinold was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 April, 1903.  On 20 July, he was appointed to the {{UK-Banshee|f=t}}, borne on the books of {{UK-1Orion}}.  On 1 March, 1904, he was appointed to the {{UK-Irresistible}}.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

On 15 March 1905, Reinold was sent to {{UK-Vernon|f=pt}} to qualify in torpedoes. He accomplished this by July, receiving a first class certificate with a commendable 193 of 200 marks in the examination.  The following month, he acted as an Interpreter during a French fleet visit.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

On 25 April, 1906 he was granted two months time to convalesce from appendicitis.  He was found fit again on 18 August and he was re-appointed to {{UK-Vernon|f=p}}, to be considered available for a sea appointment.  This came on 1 October, 1906 when he was appointed to {{UK-Centurion}} as her Lieutenant (T).  On 30 April, 1907, he moved over to the {{UK-Essex|f=t}} as her torpedo officer.  After four months, he returned to ''Vernon'' for a torpedo course.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

Reinold was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 April, 1911 while at ''Vernon'' being instructed in Wireless Telegraphy.  He left when he was appointed to {{UK-Hercules}} as her torpedo officer on 10 April, 1912.  At the end of July, 1912 Reinold was appointed to {{UK-Hercules}}, additional, for W/T duties in the {{UK-BS|1}}.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

While in ''Vernon'' or {{UK-Hercules}} or {{UK-Collingwood}}, Reinold developed a system to permit a rangefinder, gyrocompass receiver and Forbes speed indicator to further automate the process of using a [[James Calculator]] to determine [[Torpedo Deflection]].{{ARTS1912|p. 27}}

On 10 July 1913, Reinold was made Acting Flag Commander by Vice-Admiral commanding {{UK-BS|1}}, filling a temporary vacancy. 

On 22 June, 1914, Reinold moved his squadron wireless work into {{UK-Marlborough}} and was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1914, being evaluated by a Vice-Admiral as "exceptional" and an "extremely brilliant offr.  expert (T) offr.  zealous.  most suitable for War Staff.  should be specially promoted young."  Accordingly, his time in ''Marlborough'' was brief, as on 8 July Reinold was sent to the Director of Naval Ordnance's Department, and on 1 August he was made Assistant to the D.N.O..  Thus, as the war began, Reinold had been placed in command of a desk, but he would prove most capable in such a role.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

==Great War==
On 4 September, 1914, Reinold's role at the D.N.O. changed to one of "Special Service at the Admiralty (W/S)".  His efforts were lauded.  By mid-1915 Rear-Admiral [[Sydney Robert Fremantle|Fremantle]] said that Reinold "showed zeal & ability of a high order in W/T duties" and in helping with the establishment of shore stations.  On 12 April, 1916, he was appointed as Staff Officer, Second Grade, [[Signal Section (Royal Navy)|Signal Section of the War Staff]].

In September 1916, Reinold sat on an Admiralty committee to consider questions of the training, duties and status of Royal Naval Air Service observers.

On 14 February, 1917, Captain [[Christopher Russell Payne|C. R. Payne]], head of the Signal Section of the War Staff at the Admiralty recorded that Reinold had "dealt with all W.T questions & shown marked ability & has complete grasp of all details : zeal & quickness in dealing with intricate questions [illeg] sound mind have been of the greatest assistance to the organization, and tact with which he dealt with the officers of the section he was in charge [illeg] impressed me considerably."<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

On 20 February, 1917, Reinold was appointed in command of the {{UK-Ariel|f=c}}.  On 22 April {{UK-Ariel}} collided with {{UK-Lennox}}, and Reinold received the Admiralty's displeasure for having left the bridge in the hands of an inexperienced officer on watch.  He moved to command {{UK-Hind}} when she and ''Ariel'' changed bases in July, 1917.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

Reinold was commended for "the good look-out and prompt action" taken on 3 October, 1918 which was judged to have saved a convoy from u-boat attack and he was mentioned in despatches for his services in destroyers in the first half of 1918, gazetted on 11 December, 1918.  A D.S.O. was awarded for his efforts in patrol and convoy operations between 1 July and 11 November, 1918.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

Reinold was appointed in command of the {{UK-Plucky|f=t}} on 28 December, 1918.{{NLFeb19|p. 868}}

==Post-War==
On 11 March, 1919, Reinold was granted six months unpaid leave to attend to private affairs.  He left command of {{UK-Skate}} that month.  He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 26 July, 1919, to be promoted to Captain on his forty-fifth birthday.  Reinold was duly promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 28 August, 1927.  There is no indication that he served the Navy after 1919.<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>

After leaving the navy, Reinold purchased and operated a laundry for some time.  In 1954, he was living in Wrotham in Kent.  In their later years the couple ran a small wool shop in Shoreham their grand-daughter remembers visiting as a child and they finally lived in Bromley.  Basil Reinold died 10 February, 1971.<ref>Emails from his granddaughter to Tone, Margaret Parker (née Reinold)  November 17 & 23, 2016.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Basil+Edward+Reinold Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Edward_Reinold}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Philip Agnew Bateman-Champain|Philip A. Bateman-Champain]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Foam (1896)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Foam'']]'''<br>7 Mar, 1902<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; 4 Jun, 1902<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stanley Venn Ellis|Stanley V. Ellis]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Squadron W/T Officer, First Battle Squadron]]'''<br>31 Jul, 1912{{NLJan14|p. 295}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cedric Swinton Holland|Cedric S. Holland]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Douglas Dick|James D. Dick]]'''|'''[[Naval Ordnance Department (Royal Navy)|Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance]]'''<br>1 Aug, 1914<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; 4 Sep, 1914<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Reginald Norbury|Herbert R. Norbury]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Louis Sanders|Arthur L. Sanders]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 99 (1901)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 99]]'''<br>14 Feb, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; 20 Feb, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ernest Albert John Webb Carter|Ernest A. J. W. Carter]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Maurice Blackman|Charles M. Blackman]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ariel (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ariel'']]'''<br>20 Feb, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; Jul, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frank Alan Rothera|Frank A. Rothera]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frank Alan Rothera|Frank A. Rothera]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hind (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hind'']]'''<br>Jul, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>{{NLNov17|p. 394''k''}} &ndash; 27 Dec, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Frederick Bush|Charles F. Bush]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Ross Maxwell Johnson|Frederick R. M. Johnson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Lochinvar (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Lochinvar'']]'''<br>27 Dec, 1917<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>{{NLJan19|p. 834}} &ndash; 28 Dec, 1918<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Patrick Wylie Rose Weir|Patrick W. R. Weir]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Plucky (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Plucky'']]'''<br>28 Dec, 1918<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>{{NLFeb19|p. 868}} &ndash; 29 Jan, 1919<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Joseph Hugh Langdon Yorke|Joseph H. L. Yorke]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Joseph Hugh Langdon Yorke|Joseph H. L. Yorke]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Skate (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Skate'']]'''<br>29 Jan, 1919<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; Mar, 1919<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Anthony Lovett-Cameron|Archibald A. Lovett-Cameron]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen|Edward S. F. Fegen]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Paladin (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Paladin'']]'''<br>20 Mar, 1919<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; 5 Nov, 1919<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Berwick Curtis|Berwick Curtis]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Abdiel (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Abdiel'']]'''<br>11 Dec, 1919<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref> &ndash; 16 Feb, 1920<ref>Reinold Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/7.|D7603911}} f. 410.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Trevor Prichard|Hugh T. Prichard]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reinold, Basil}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1882|1971}}
{{CatTorpedoOfficer|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|September, 1897}}
{{CatRN}}