Difference between revisions of "Alexander Ludovic Duff"
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==Life & Career== | ==Life & Career== | ||
− | Alexander Ludovic Duff was born at Knockleith, Aberdeenshire, 20 February 1862, the fourth son and seventh child of Colonel James Duff, of Knockleith, by his wife, Jane Bracken, daughter of Alan Colquhoun Dunlop, of Edinburgh. He entered the navy in 1875, and served as midshipman in the Mediterranean from 1877 to 1881. He served as sub-lieutenant in the royal yacht ''Victoria and Albert''. He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} with seniority of 3 September, 1884.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25393/pages/3994 no. 25393. p. 3994.] 5 September, 1884.</ref> He was appointed to the turret ship ''Agamemnon'' on the China Station on 16 September.<ref>''Navy List'' (June, 1885). p. 191.</ref> Having qualified as torpedo lieutenant he served for three years in the Imperieuse, flagship of the China station, and afterwards (1891) in the Blake, flagship of the North America station, and the torpedo depot-ship Vulcan. He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 1 January, 1897.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26809/pages/4 no. 26809. p. 4.] 1 January, 1897.</ref> After two years in command of the destroyer Bat on training service at Devonport, he joined the cruiser St. George as executive officer. | + | Alexander Ludovic Duff was born at Knockleith, Aberdeenshire, 20 February 1862, the fourth son and seventh child of Colonel James Duff, of Knockleith, by his wife, Jane Bracken, daughter of Alan Colquhoun Dunlop, of Edinburgh. He entered the navy in 1875, and served as midshipman in the Mediterranean from 1877 to 1881. He served as sub-lieutenant in the royal yacht ''Victoria and Albert''. He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} with seniority of 3 September, 1884.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25393/pages/3994 no. 25393. p. 3994.] 5 September, 1884.</ref> He was appointed to the turret ship ''Agamemnon'' on the China Station on 16 September.<ref>''Navy List'' (June, 1885). p. 191.</ref> Having qualified as torpedo lieutenant he served for three years in the Imperieuse, flagship of the China station, and afterwards (1891) in the [[H.M.S. Blake (1889)|''Blake'']], flagship of the North America station, and the torpedo depot-ship ''Vulcan''. He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 1 January, 1897.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26809/pages/4 no. 26809. p. 4.] 1 January, 1897.</ref> After two years in command of the destroyer [[H.M.S. Bat (1896)|''Bat'']] on training service at Devonport, he joined the cruiser [[H.M.S. St. George (1892)|''St. George'']] as executive officer. |
==Captain== | ==Captain== | ||
− | On 31 December, 1902 he was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}}<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27512/pages/3 no. 27512. p. 3.] 2 January, 1903.</ref> and became flag captain in the battleship Albemarle, flagship of the rear-admiral, first in the Mediterranean and later in the Channel Fleet. | + | On 31 December, 1902 he was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}}<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27512/pages/3 no. 27512. p. 3.] 2 January, 1903.</ref> and became flag captain in the battleship [[H.M.S. Albemarle (1901)|''Albemarle'']], flagship of the rear-admiral, first in the Mediterranean and later in the [[Channel Fleet]]. |
− | In 1905 Duff became naval assistant to the controller of the navy for three years, returning thence to sea service in command of the battleship Temeraire. In 1910 he was appointed commodore of the naval barracks at Portsmouth for a year before becoming director of naval mobilization (entitled director of the mobilization division after the creation of the Naval War Staff in 1912). | + | In 1905 Duff became naval assistant to the controller of the navy for three years, returning thence to sea service in command of the battleship [[H.M.S. Temeraire (1907)|''Temeraire'']]. In 1910 he was appointed commodore of the naval barracks at Portsmouth for a year before becoming director of naval mobilization (entitled director of the mobilization division after the creation of the Naval War Staff in 1912). |
He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 21 September, 1912.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28648/pages/7107 no. 28648. p. 7107.] 27 September, 1912.</ref> | He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 21 September, 1912.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28648/pages/7107 no. 28648. p. 7107.] 27 September, 1912.</ref> | ||
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==First World War== | ==First World War== | ||
===Fourth Battle Squadron=== | ===Fourth Battle Squadron=== | ||
− | In October 1914 he returned to sea service as rear-admiral, fourth battle squadron in the Grand Fleet (flag in the Emperor of India). The commander-in-chief, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, recognizing his great technical abilities, put him in charge, jointly with Rear-Admiral (Sir) Arthur Cavenagh Leveson, of experiments with devices for defending ships from submarine mines and with other inventions; during the | + | In October 1914 he returned to sea service as rear-admiral, fourth battle squadron in the Grand Fleet (flag in the Emperor of India). The commander-in-chief, Admiral Sir [[John Jellicoe]], recognizing his great technical abilities, put him in charge, jointly with Rear-Admiral (Sir) [[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson]], of experiments with devices for defending ships from submarine mines and with other inventions; during the [[Battle of Jutland]] Duff flew his flag in the [[H.M.S. Superb (1907)|''Superb'']]. |
===First Battle Squadron=== | ===First Battle Squadron=== | ||
Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
===Director of the Anti-Submarine Division=== | ===Director of the Anti-Submarine Division=== | ||
− | When in December 1916 Jellicoe left the fleet to become | + | When in December 1916 Jellicoe left the fleet to become First Sea Lord in order to cope with the immense problem of the U-boat war, he took Duff with him to the Admiralty as director of the anti-submarine division which was then formed in the Naval Staff. |
===Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff=== | ===Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff=== | ||
Six months later Duff joined the Board of Admiralty with the title of assistant chief of the Naval Staff and was put in charge of all the divisions dealing with the same problems, being replaced as director of the anti-submarine division itself by Captain (Sir) W. W. Fisher. To his and Fisher's work in accomplishing the eventual defeat of the U-boat, Jellicoe later paid a handsome tribute in his book The Crisis of the Naval War (1920). Duff was nominated an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1918,<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30451/supplements/79 no. 30451. p. 79.] (Supplement) 1 January, 1918.</ref> and was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 15 January.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30488/pages/1092 no. 30488. p. 1092.] 22 January, 1918.</ref> | Six months later Duff joined the Board of Admiralty with the title of assistant chief of the Naval Staff and was put in charge of all the divisions dealing with the same problems, being replaced as director of the anti-submarine division itself by Captain (Sir) W. W. Fisher. To his and Fisher's work in accomplishing the eventual defeat of the U-boat, Jellicoe later paid a handsome tribute in his book The Crisis of the Naval War (1920). Duff was nominated an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1918,<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30451/supplements/79 no. 30451. p. 79.] (Supplement) 1 January, 1918.</ref> and was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 15 January.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30488/pages/1092 no. 30488. p. 1092.] 22 January, 1918.</ref> |
Revision as of 14:14, 1 May 2012
Admiral SIR Alexander Ludovic Duff, G.C.B., G.B.E., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (20 February, 1862 – 22 November, 1933) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Alexander Ludovic Duff was born at Knockleith, Aberdeenshire, 20 February 1862, the fourth son and seventh child of Colonel James Duff, of Knockleith, by his wife, Jane Bracken, daughter of Alan Colquhoun Dunlop, of Edinburgh. He entered the navy in 1875, and served as midshipman in the Mediterranean from 1877 to 1881. He served as sub-lieutenant in the royal yacht Victoria and Albert. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 3 September, 1884.[1] He was appointed to the turret ship Agamemnon on the China Station on 16 September.[2] Having qualified as torpedo lieutenant he served for three years in the Imperieuse, flagship of the China station, and afterwards (1891) in the Blake, flagship of the North America station, and the torpedo depot-ship Vulcan. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1897.[3] After two years in command of the destroyer Bat on training service at Devonport, he joined the cruiser St. George as executive officer.
Captain
On 31 December, 1902 he was promoted to the rank of Captain[4] and became flag captain in the battleship Albemarle, flagship of the rear-admiral, first in the Mediterranean and later in the Channel Fleet.
In 1905 Duff became naval assistant to the controller of the navy for three years, returning thence to sea service in command of the battleship Temeraire. In 1910 he was appointed commodore of the naval barracks at Portsmouth for a year before becoming director of naval mobilization (entitled director of the mobilization division after the creation of the Naval War Staff in 1912).
He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 21 September, 1912.[5]
Flag Rank
On 2 March, 1913, Duff was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice De Salis.[6]
In July, 1914 it was announced that Duff would succeed Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart. as Rear-Admiral in the Second Battle Squadron on 28 October, 1914.[7]
First World War
Fourth Battle Squadron
In October 1914 he returned to sea service as rear-admiral, fourth battle squadron in the Grand Fleet (flag in the Emperor of India). The commander-in-chief, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, recognizing his great technical abilities, put him in charge, jointly with Rear-Admiral (Sir) Arthur Cavenagh Leveson, of experiments with devices for defending ships from submarine mines and with other inventions; during the Battle of Jutland Duff flew his flag in the Superb.
First Battle Squadron
On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[8]
Director of the Anti-Submarine Division
When in December 1916 Jellicoe left the fleet to become First Sea Lord in order to cope with the immense problem of the U-boat war, he took Duff with him to the Admiralty as director of the anti-submarine division which was then formed in the Naval Staff.
Six months later Duff joined the Board of Admiralty with the title of assistant chief of the Naval Staff and was put in charge of all the divisions dealing with the same problems, being replaced as director of the anti-submarine division itself by Captain (Sir) W. W. Fisher. To his and Fisher's work in accomplishing the eventual defeat of the U-boat, Jellicoe later paid a handsome tribute in his book The Crisis of the Naval War (1920). Duff was nominated an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1918,[9] and was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 15 January.[10]
Commander-in-Chief on the China Station
On leaving the Admiralty in 1919 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the China station and during his three years tenure of that command he convened a conference with the commanders-in-chief of adjoining stations which recommended the establishment of the naval base at Singapore. On 1 July, 1921, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral, vice Troubridge.[11]
Retirement
On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) on 3 June, 1924.[12] He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 July, 1925.[13]
Duff was twice married: first, in 1886 to Janet Douglas (died 1908), third daughter of Garden William Duff, of Hatton Castle, Aberdeenshire, and had two daughters; secondly, in 1924 to Marjorie, daughter of Charles Hill-Whitson, of Parkhill, Perthshire; there was no issue of this marriage. He died in London on 22 November 1933.
Footnotes
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 25393. p. 3994. 5 September, 1884.
- ↑ Navy List (June, 1885). p. 191.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26809. p. 4. 1 January, 1897.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 3. 2 January, 1903.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28648. p. 7107. 27 September, 1912.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28697. p. 1757. 7 March, 1913.
- ↑ "Second Sea Lord" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 23 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col G, pg. 10.
- ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 30451. p. 79. (Supplement) 1 January, 1918.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 30488. p. 1092. 22 January, 1918.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 32384. p. 5487. 8 July, 1921.
- ↑ Edinburgh Gazette: no. 14029. p. 766. 6 June, 1924.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 33068. p. 4866. 21 July, 1925.
Bibliography
- "Admiral Sir A. L. Duff" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 23 November, 1933. Issue 46609, col A, pg. 19.
Papers
- Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum. For a comprehensive list, see Duff Papers at the National Maritime Museum.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/20.
Naval Appointments | ||
Preceded by Christopher G. F. M. Cradock |
Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth 1910 – 1911 |
Succeeded by John B. Eustace |
Preceded by New Position |
Director of the Mobilisation Division 1912 – 1914 |
Succeeded by Hugh F. P. Sinclair |
Preceded by New Position |
Rear-Admiral in the Fourth Battle Squadron 1914 - 1916 |
Succeeded by Ernest F. A. Gaunt |
Preceded by Ernest F. A. Gaunt |
Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron 1916 - 1916 |
Succeeded by William C. M. Nicholson |
Preceded by New Position |
Director of the Anti-Submarine Division 1916 - 1917 |
Succeeded by William W. Fisher |
Preceded by New Position |
Assistant Chief of Naval Staff 1917 - 1919 |
Succeeded by James A. Fergusson |
Preceded by Sir Frederick C. T. Tudor |
Commander-in-Chief on the China Station 1919 - 1922 |
Succeeded by Sir Arthur C. Leveson |
- Pages with broken file links
- 1862 births
- 1933 deaths
- Personalities
- H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of July, 1875
- Royal Navy Torpedo Officers
- Captains of H.M.S. Bat (1896)
- Captains of H.M.S. Albemarle (1901)
- Naval Assistants to the Controller
- Captains of H.M.S. Temeraire (1907)
- Commodores, Portsmouth Naval Barracks
- Naval Aides-de-Camp to King George V
- Directors of the Mobilisation Division (Royal Navy)
- Rear-Admirals in the Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)
- Rear-Admirals in the First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)
- Directors of the Anti-Submarine Division (Royal Navy)
- Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff
- Commanders-in-Chief on the China Station
- Royal Navy Admirals
- Royal Navy Flag Officers