View source for William Victor Rice

{{CommRN}} '''William Victor Rice''', D.S.O., D.S.C. (7 April, 1887 &ndash; 8 June, 1932) served in the [[Royal Navy]].  He commanded minesweepers despite a pronounced stammer.

==Life & Career==
Rice passed out of {{UK-1Britannia}} in September, 1903 and served first in {{UK-1Cambrian}} and then the {{UK-StGeorge|f=t}}.  It was in this appointment that a Commodore reported on 20 July 1904 that Rice "suffers so badly from stammering when on duty as to greatly handicap him & suggests sending him home for treatment."  Captain [[Frank Finnis|Finnis]] concurred.  He returned to Southampton in S.S. ''Nile''.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

Rice was back in December, 1904, and was appointed to {{UK-EmpressOfIndia}}.  When she paid off on 27 February, 1905, he went to {{UK-Hannibal}} in the Channel.

Captain [[Arthur John Henniker-Hughan, Sixth Baronet|Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan]] of {{UK-Venerable|f=p}} wrote in March, 1906 that Rice "although of great promise, he unfortunately stammers to such a degree that he can't get wds out.  Later in 1906, Rice was recognized for having produced good watercolour sketches of Catarro.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

Before Rice was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 30 June, 1909, a report was called for to precisely pin down how great his speech impediment was.  Rice's captain in {{UK-Hindustan}} recorded in March that he did not regard the issue as being so great as to inferfere with Rice's duties.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

Rice qualified as an Assistant Surveyor, fourth class, in April 1910.  He would make third class in April, 1911 and second class in July, 1913, but would unfortunately be admitted to Haslar Hospital with "Gonorrhea and Epididymitis."  He was serving in {{UK-Fantome}} upon the outbreak of war, but was appointed in command of [[H.M.S. Pekin (YEAR)|''Pekin'']], where he was also expected to navigate for a pair of paddle sweepers.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

Rice was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 30 June, 1917 while in this protracted appointment.  It ended only on 15 March, 1918.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

Following a brief minesweeping course in Portsmouth, Rice was placed in the minesweeper H.M.S. ''Gorleston'' and in charge of a group of twin-screw minesweepers out of Falmouth.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

At the very end of the war, Rice grappled with influenza.  He received an uncommonly strong appraisal from Captain [[Lionel George Preston|Preston]] at the end of 1918: "His ability to command a seagoing unit, nerve and staying power has not been surpassed."<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

On 25 July 1919 (1918?), the {{UK-Gainsborough|f=t}} collided with {{UK-Shrewsbury}} in Granton Roads.  Both captains were found equally to blame.
 
Rice was appointed to the {{UK-Beaufort|f=t}} as executive officer on 1 June, 1921.  He transferred to {{UK-Endeavour}} from February through October 1922, but was appointed in command of {{UK-Beaufort}} on 15 March, 1923.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

In November, 1920, a Court of Enquiry in Melbourne found that the officers in ''Fantome'' were not to blame for recent indiscipline in the crew.

Rice was sent home from {{UK-Fantome}} without relief on account of ill health in March, 1921, leaving Sydney on 12 March and arriving in England on 23 April in S.S. ''Osterley''.

Rice was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1923 and was re-appointed in command of {{UK-Endeavour}}.<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>

Rice died at Malta on 8 June, 1932 and was buried on the island.

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

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
<div name=fredbot:bib></div name=fredbot:bib>
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Gainsborough (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Gainsborough'']]'''<br>26 Apr, 1918{{NLDec18|p. 797}} &ndash; late 1918|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Stewart|John Stewart]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Hinton Knowles|Charles H. Knowles]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Beaufort (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Beaufort'']]'''<br>15 Mar, 1923<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>{{NLApr25|p. 217}} &ndash; 8 Feb, 1927<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Guy Norris Wyatt|Arthur G. N. Wyatt]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Guy Norris Wyatt|Arthur G. N. Wyatt]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ormonde (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ormonde'']]'''<br>8 Feb, 1927{{NavAppts|Wednesday, Jan 26, 1927; pg. 8; Issue 44489}}{{NLFeb29|p. 257}} &ndash; 7 Oct, 1929|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Guy Norris Wyatt|Arthur G. N. Wyatt]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Guy Norris Wyatt|Arthur G. N. Wyatt]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Beaufort (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Beaufort'']]'''<br>7 Oct, 1929<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref> &ndash; 3 Apr, 1931<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Exton Turner|Harold E. Turner]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Augustine Edgell|John A. Edgell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Endeavour (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Endeavour'']]'''<br>3 Apr, 1931<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>{{NLJul31|p. 237}} &ndash; 8 Jun, 1932<ref>Rice Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/34.|}} f. 39.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Meuric Southern|Richard M. Southern]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rice, William Victor}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1887|1932}}
{{CatComm|UK}}
{{CatSurveyingOfficer|UK}}
{{CatDeceasedOnActiveService|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|May, 1902}}
{{CatRN}}