Martin John Coucher de Meric
Rear-Admiral Martin John Coucher de Meric (26 November, 1887 – 11 June, 1943) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Weymouth, the son of a Fleet Surgeon E. V. de Meric.
de Meric was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1910.[1]
de Meric was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 98 on 1 May, 1914.[2]
de Meric was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1918.
On 31 December, 1918, de Meric was appointed in command of the destroyer Tormentor.[3]
He was appointed in command of the destroyer Westminster on 1 September, 1920.[4]
de Meric was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 August, 1923.[5]
de Meric was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1929.[6]
On 15 October, 1930, de Meric was loaned to the New Zealand government. The loan was expected to last until May, 1931 but he was appointed back to Portsmouth to attend a partial course on 21 April. A second, two-year loan would commence in March, 1931.He left for home in S.S. Rangitata (?) on 12 May, 1933.[7]
In mid-December, 1934, de Meric was hospitalised with Scarlet Fever.
In 1937, the Governor General, Trinidad thanked the Admiralty for de Meric's role in re-establishing "an atmosphere of confidence and goodwill" following the disturbances.[8]
World War II
On 6 April, 1940, de Meric was admitted to H.M.H.S. Amarapoora with an anxiety neurosis, having arrived in a highly excitable condition, anxious about his work and "unsuitable" living quarters. Not having any organic disease, de Meric was granted sick leave. Inexplicably, he was then appointed in temporary command of the armed merchant cruiser Carnarvon Castle, vice Lewis, on 19 May. Perhaps more judiciously, de Meric was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 25 June, 1940 and placed on the Retired List the following day. He continued to work with the Navy, in shore-based roles in support of the Director of Naval Equipment.[9]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by William G. A. Shuttleworth |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 98 1 May, 1914[10] |
Succeeded by Arthur P. Melsom |
| Preceded by Adrian St. V. Keyes |
Captain of H.M.S. Wolverine 21 Aug, 1916[11] – Sep, 1917[12] |
Succeeded by Frederick L. Cavaye |
| Preceded by Vernon Hammersley-Heenan |
Captain of H.M.S. Orpheus Sep, 1917[13] |
Succeeded by Andrew Johnstone |
| Preceded by Percy J. Helyar |
Captain of H.M.S. Tormentor 31 Dec, 1918[14] |
Succeeded by Maxwell A. C. Ritter |
| Preceded by Cuthbert P. Blake |
Captain of H.M.S. Westminster 1 Sep, 1920[15] |
Succeeded by Colin S. Thomson |
| Preceded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith |
Captain of H.M.S. Diomede Oct, 1930[16] – Apr, 1932[17] |
Succeeded by Fischer B. Watson |
| Preceded by Geoffrey Blake |
Captain of H.M.S. Dunedin Apr, 1932[18] – Aug, 1933[19] |
Succeeded by Fischer B. Watson |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 21.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 401a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 921.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 899.
- ↑ de Meric Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/284. f. 299.
- ↑ de Meric Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/284. f. 299.
- ↑ de Meric Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/284. f. 299.
- ↑ de Meric Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/284. f. 299.
- ↑ de Meric Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/284. f. 299.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 401a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 399j.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). pp. 399g, 396c.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396c.
- ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1920). p. 876.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 899.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
