View source for Reginald Ramsbotham

{{CaptRN}} '''Reginald Ramsbotham''', O.B.E., R.N. (1 May, 1891 &ndash; 1969) served in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
This article is based largely on the summary of Ramsbotham's papers at the Imperial War Museum.

Ramsbotham was promoted to the rank of {{MidRN}} on 15 May, 1908{{NLJul08|p. 62}} and was appointed to the {{UK-Albemarle|f=t}} on the same day,{{NLJul08|p. 275}} serving in her into 1909.  Later in 1909, he served in the {{UK-KingEdwardVII|f=t}}.

In 1909 and 1910 he served in {{UK-Sapphire}} and {{UK-1Bellona}}.  In 1910-11 he served in {{UK-Vanguard}}.

Ramsbotham was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 June, 1913.{{NLDec14|p. 139}}

He was appointed to the {{UK-Queen|f=t}} on 29 July, 1914, serving in her until 22 November 1914{{NLDec14|p. 375''c''}} when he was appointed to the {{UK-Mentor|f=t}} for navigating duties.{{NLJan15|p. 356}}  This would establish the pattern of his wartime service, in which he served as navigating officer in a number of mostly small ships.  He was appointed to the old torpedo gunboat {{UK-Hazard}}, which was operating as a depot ship in support of a submarine flotilla, as navigator on 31 January, 1915.{{NLOct15|p. 394''m''}}

Ramsbotham was appointed to the {{UK-Kempenfelt|f=t}} for navigation on 13 July, 1916, remaining there until at least October, 1917.{{NLNov17|p. 394''v''}}  He later served in {{UK-1Shakespeare}}, {{UK-Valkyrie}} and {{UK-Montrose}}.<ref>"Naval Military, And Air Force."  ''The Times'' (London, England), Monday, Feb 24, 1930; pg. 19; Issue 45445.</ref>

After the war, he served as Navigating Officer of the {{UK-Stuart|f=tp}} as she assisted in the evacuation of White Russian troops and refugees from Black Sea ports in 1919 and 1920.

Ramsbotham was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 June, 1921.<ref>Ramsbotham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/17.|}} f. 16.</ref>

He served in the {{UK-Diomede|f=t}} on the [[China Station]] between 1922 and 1925 and in the aircraft carrier {{UK-Eagle}} on the [[Mediterranean Station]] in 1926, in June of which year he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.

Ramsbotham served for two years as executive officer in {{UK-Hermes}} on the [[China Station]] in 1927 through about October 1929<ref>"Naval, Military, And Air Force."  ''The Times'' (London, England), Friday, Oct 04, 1929; pg. 9; Issue 45325.</ref>

Ramsbotham was among the many notable naval officers who attended a [[Royal Navy Club]] dinner on 28 March, 1930 at the Hotel Victoria.  Vice Admiral [[Frank Larken]] was presiding, and the Earl of Liverpool was the honoured guest.  Jellicoe and Dreyer were also in attendance.<ref>"Royal Navy Club."  ''The Times'' (London, England), Saturday, Mar 29, 1930; pg. 14; Issue 45474.</ref>

He commanded the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] {{UK-Laburnum|f=t}} in the Pacific from 28 August 1931 through 1938.  His memoirs contain much colour regarding venereal disease and homosexual behaviour on these two ships during this period.

Ramsbotham served as King's Harbour Master and Captain of the Dockyard, Sheerness from 1935 through 1938 before becoming Inspector of Coastguard for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from 1938 until 1951. 

He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 April, 1938.<ref>Ramsbotham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/17.|}} f. 16.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Reginald+Ramsbotham Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Ramsbotham}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/7867bea9-ad92-41b1-b9ea-afdf69fc05af Papers at the Imperial War Museum]
{{refend}}

==Bibliography==
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Ernest Hotham|Charles E. Hotham]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Laburnum (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Laburnum'']]'''<br>28 Aug, 1931{{NLJan33|p. 250}} &ndash; Oct, 1933<ref>Ramsbotham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/17.|}} f. 16.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alexander Henry Maxwell-Hyslop|Alexander H. Maxwell-Hyslop]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Henry Champness|Charles H. Champness]]'''|'''[[Sheerness Royal Dockyard|King's Harbour Master, Sheerness]]'''<br>2 Mar, 1935<ref>Ramsbotham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/17.|}} f. 16.</ref> &ndash; 5 Mar, 1938<ref>Ramsbotham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/17.|}} f. 16.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Roderick Larken Moore|Roderick L. Moore]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramsbotham, Reginald}}

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