Ralph Hudleston
Rear-Admiral (retired) Ralph Hudleston (19 March, 1864 – 17 April, 1944) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
His name is sometimes given as "Hudlestone", or even "Huddlestone" but is corrected in his Service Record.
Life & Career
Born in Madras, Hudleston apparently gained no time on passing out of Britannia, but went on to a naval career in which his evaluations were uniformly positive. He overcame short-sightedness early in his naval service.
Hudleston was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1885.[1]
On 4 July, 1888, Hudleston was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 65 for manoeuvres.[2] Before the month was out, he grounded the torpedo boat and a Court of Enquiry determined that he had taken no time to study charts of the harbour.[3]
He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1895.[4]
Hudleston was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1905.[5]
He was appointed command of the second class protected cruiser Arrogant on 10 September, 1907.[6] On 29 January, 1908, a diver was afflicted with "caisson disease", or the bends. Hudleston was blamed for having allowed the diving operations to proceed without first checking documents covering what work was needed. His appointment in command of Arrogant ended in 1909 after a Court of Enquiry into the internal economy and discipline indicated that Hudleston had shown little tact toward his officers, particularly his commander. Hudleston incurred Their Lordships displeasure and was superseded forthwith. He applied for further sea command but was told that no such work was available to him. Hudleston was placed on Retured List for non-service on 17 April, 1912. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral on the Retired List on 30 June, 1916.[7]
Hudleston died of heart ailments and senile decay, aged 80.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 65 4 Jul, 1888[8] |
Succeeded by Alfred D. Douglas-Hamilton |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Orwell 19 Apr, 1900[9] – 1902 |
Succeeded by Francis R. Wrottesley |
| Preceded by Robert H. Travers |
Captain of H.M.S. Tartar 16 Feb, 1904[10] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Actæon 8 Jun, 1905[11] |
Succeeded by Mortimer L'E. Silver |
| Preceded by Edmund R. Pears |
Captain of H.M.S. Arrogant 10 Sep, 1907[12] |
Succeeded by Henry H. Bruce |
Footnotes
- ↑ Hudleston Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/211. f. 248.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Tuesday, 3 July, 1888. Issue 32428, col A, p. 10.
- ↑ Hudleston Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/211. f. 248.
- ↑ Hudleston Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/211. f. 248.
- ↑ Hudleston Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/211. f. 248.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 279.
- ↑ Hudleston Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/211. f. 248.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Tuesday, 3 July, 1888. Issue 32428, col A, p. 10.
- ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1902). p. 287.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1904). p. 383.
- ↑ The Navy List. (June, 1906). p. 272.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 279.
