Harry Percy Kendall Oram

Captain Harry Percy Kendall Oram (23 October, 1894 – November, 1988) was an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of a military officer, Oram entered the Royal Navy after first serving in the R.N.R.. He was granted the probationary rank of Midshipman, R.N.R. on 18 August, 1911. He served in H.M.S. Orion from October, 1913 through 7 December, 1915. He was then appointed to the "B" Class destroyer Earnest, in which he remained until 6 April, 1916.

Oram served in the destroyer Obdurate from 4 May 1916 to 22 November, 1916. He was in her when she fought at the Battle of Jutland as part of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla. At the end of 1916, he received instruction in submarines, and on 19 March 1917 he was appointed to the submarine V 4.

Oram was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in August, 1917, and remained in V 4 until being appointed to the large fleet submarine K 6 on 5 January, 1918.

Oram was appointed in command of the submarine H 31 on 20 November, 1920.

Oram was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 August, 1925.

On 24 January, 1926 Oram was appointed in command of Group "M" submarines in reserve at Portland. Initially, there were three boats in this group: L 14, L 17 and L 18.

Oram was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1930.

Oram was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1936.

Oram was extremely fortunate to be one of just four (of over 100) men aboard the submarine Thetis to escape when she flooded and sank during diving trials outside of Liverpool. He escaped using a Davis escape apparatus.

World War II

Oram commanded the light cruiser Cairo and the heavy cruiser Hawkins during the war. He grounded Cairo on 24 January, 1940 and was informed that he was considered "very seriously to blame" for the mishap, and he incurred the Admiralty's "severe displeasure".

He retired on 5 July, 1945.

See Also

• Thirteenth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John B. Glencross	Captain of H.M.S. K 14 Apr, 1920	Succeeded by William Ibbett
Preceded by Samuel M. G. Gravener	Captain of H.M.S. K 16 Apr, 1920	Succeeded by William Ibbett
Preceded by John D. A. Musters	Captain of H.M.S. H 31 ? – 28 Sep, 1921	Succeeded by Charles C. Flemming
Preceded by Colin C. L. Mackenzie	Captain of H.M.S. H 48 25 Aug, 1922 – 15 Sep, 1922	Succeeded by Charles O'Callaghan
Preceded by Patrick S. J. Ponsonby	Captain of H.M.S. H 27 15 Sep, 1922 – 15 Sep, 1923	Succeeded by Henry B. Crane
Preceded by Henry N. Lake	Captain of H.M.S. L 18 24 Jan, 1926	Succeeded by Vivian R. S. Bowlby
Preceded by Henry N. Lake	Captain of H.M.S. L 14 24 Jan, 1926	Succeeded by Tom B. O'Kell
Preceded by Henry N. Lake	Captain of H.M.S. L 17 24 Jan, 1926 – 5 May, 1930	Succeeded by Alexander S. Hutchinson
Preceded by Gerald E. Colpoys	Captain of H.M.S. L 16 1 Jan, 1927 – 15 Jun, 1928	Succeeded by Thomas Yeoman
Preceded by Bernard W. Galpin	Captain of H.M.S. L 11 30 Jul, 1928 – 5 May, 1930	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Arthur S. Lindsell	Captain of H.M.S. L 12 30 Jul, 1928	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Regulus 1 Nov, 1930 – 13 Apr, 1931	Succeeded by Lancelot M. Shadwell
Preceded by Gerald E. Colpoys	Captain of H.M.S. Bruce 8 Feb, 1934 – 1936	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Ian A. P. Macintyre	Captain of H.M.S. Lucia 31 Aug, 1936	Succeeded by Philip M. Stephens
Preceded by Geoffrey R. S. Watkins	Captain (S), Second Submarine Flotilla 31 Aug, 1936 – 14 Feb, 1938	Succeeded by William Derek Stephens
Preceded by Ronald W. Blacklock	Commander (S), Fifth Submarine Flotilla 15 Feb, 1938 – 28 Aug, 1939	Succeeded by Cyril G. B. Coltart as Captain (S), Fifth Submarine Flotilla
Preceded by Frank D. Morris	Captain of H.M.S. Cairo 23 Aug, 1939 – 1 Feb, 1940	Succeeded by Patrick V. McLaughlin
Preceded by Eustace Rotherham	Captain of H.M.S. Hawkins 6 May, 1940 – 2 Feb, 1942	Succeeded by Peter K. Wallace