View source for Edmund James Prendergast

{{CommRN}} '''Edmund James Prendergast''', O.B.E., R.N. (10 February, 1872 &ndash; 25 January, 1936) served in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
Edmund James Prendergast was born at 22 Grosvenor Gardens, S.W., the son of a Colonel Lenox Prendergast.<ref>[http://genealogy.links.org/links-cgi/readged?/home/ben/camilla-genealogy/current+c-p10119+2-2-0-1-0 Links.org page].</ref>

Upon passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} with two months time gained in December, 1886, Prendergast was to be appointed to the {{UK-1Superb|f=t}} in the Mediterranean, but this was cancelled in favor of the {{UK-1Calliope|f=t}} on the [[China Station]].

On 11 July, 1889, Captain [[Henry Coey Kane|Henry Kane]] deprived {{MidRN}} Prendergast of one month's time for leaving the {{UK-1Calliope|f=}} without leave.  Kane had earlier appraised that the young man was "good tempered obedient smart (fairly)" and "smart + zealous. little taste for study."<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

On 14 December, 1891, the young midshipman was made a {{LieutRN}} while serving in {{UK-1Calypso|f=p}} of the [[Training Squadron (Royal Navy)|Training Squadron]].<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

Prendergast was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1893.  He was sent home on 10 January, 1894, arriving there on 2 February.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

==Torpedo Officer==
On 30 September, 1898, Prendergast was appointed to the {{UK-Vernon|f=t}} to qualify as a torpedo officer, building upon a second-class certificate earned in November 1892.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

He was appointed to the {{UK-1Hero|f=t}} as first and torpedo Lieutenant for the manoeuvres of 1900.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

On 15 January, 1901, he was appointed to {{UK-1Centurion}} on the China Station to serve as her torpedo officer.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

This was followed by an appointment on the staff of the {{UK-Vernon|f=t}} for torpedo duties on 20 September, 1901, then as first officer in the {{UK-Vulcan|f=t}} on 15 January, 1902.  He'd be re-appointed in ''Vulcan'' where Captain [[Herbert Leopold Heath]] noted he was "not strictly temperate" and "drinks more than necessary", Returning to ''Vernon'' only briefly before being placed in command the {{UK-Niger|f=t}} (one of ''Vernon's'' tenders, not, perhaps, a seagoing command) from April, 1905 to mid 1907.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

He married Violet Pratt Barlow on 3 January, 1907.<ref>[http://genealogy.links.org/links-cgi/readged?/home/ben/camilla-genealogy/current+c-pbarlow121+2-2-0-1-0 Links.org page].</ref>

==Coast Guard & Radio Work==
Superseded by [[Frederick Noel Fargus]] in ''Niger'' on 16 July 1907, in Prendergast was appointed to ''President'', additional, for Ventnor COast Guard station on 4 April, 1908, having applied for the Coast Guard in December 1907.  He would remain there until being appointed to Horsea W/T Station ('''T''') on 5 January, 1910.  This assignment was broadened to temporarily include charge of Shore W/T Stations and Signal Stations during the absence of Lieutenant [[John Ambrose Slee|Slee]] on 6 July.  This may have ended on 25 April, 1911 or possibly not until 6 July, 1911 when he was appointed to {{UK-Vernon}}, additional, for W/T.

Prendergast was placed on the Retired List at his own request and advanced to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 10 February, 1912, but even as this happened, his appointment in ''Vernon'' was being renewed.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

==Great War==
Prendergast remained in ''Vernon'' until 20 July, 1917 when he was moved to the Portsmouth Signal School.  He would be invested with the O.B.E. (M) at Buckingham Palace on 27 February, 1920 in recognition of his services in wireless telegraphy duties.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

He reverted to the Retired List on New Year's Day, 1921.  His death would be reported in ''The Times'' on 28 January, 1936.<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>

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

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Gipsy (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Gipsy'']]'''<br>11 Jul, 1899<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harry Lionel Wells|Harry L. Wells]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Huth Walters|Richard H. Walters]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Niger (1892)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Niger'']]'''<br>26 Apr, 1905{{NLMar07|p. 349}} &ndash; 16 Jul, 1907<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602561}} f. 247.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Noel Fargus|Frederick N. Fargus]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prendergast, Edmund}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1872|1936}}
{{CatComm|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1885}}
{{CatTorpedoOfficer|UK}}
{{CatRN}}