Duncan Hermann Carmichael
Lieutenant-Commander Duncan Hermann Carmichael, R.N., Retired (21 July, 1876 – 9 June, 1916) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Camberwell, London and raised by his mother, Carmichael gained five months' time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1892. Curiously, he entered with the July, 1890 term but is not listed as having taken the entrance examinations the prior month.[1]
Carmichael was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1898 and re-appointed to the second class battleship Camperdown, in which he had already spent a little over a year in the Mediterranean. After this, he served in Impregnable and finally in Mutine as first lieutenant, appointed 28 November 1901. After Mutine paid off on 20 May 1905, Carmichael was to embark on a series of T.B.D. commands which would span four years.
Carmichael was appointed in command of the destroyer Gala on 28 June, 1905.[2]
In October, 1905, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Usk.[3]
At some point, Usk collided with Vulture, resulting in Carmichael being told to be more careful.
On 1 November, 1906, Carmichael was appointed in command of the destroyer Lee.[4] Carmichael was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1906 and he was reappointed in command of Lee on 17 September, 1909.[5] She was wrecked under his command, resulting in him being reprimanded and dismissed the ship by a Court Martial. This appears to have soured the Admiralty on his value as a destroyer commander, as he was appointed to the battleship Albion as first lieutenant on 15 January, 1910.
In Albion, Carmichael would be reported for misconduct for ordering that his wine account along with those of other officers be kept irregularly, and for allowing the issuance of bottle of spirits contrary to orders. The Vice-Admiral of the Third and Fourth Divisions of Home Fleet expressed his severe displeasure, an expression in which the Admiralty concurred. Carmichael was superseded as a consequence, on 24 January, 1912 and he was placed on the Retired List at his own request the following day, on half pay, "not to rise to commander". Judge D'Arcy had noted that Carmichael was "too fond of alcohol."
Carmichael was, however, brought back into service for the war, being appointed Marshal at Crystal Palace on 9 September, 1914. In September, 1915 he was found medically unfit and relieved of his appointment.
He was granted permission to proceed to South Africa to be employed in the German East Africa Expeditionary Force on 19 November, 1915. He died in Praetoria Hospital on 9 June, 1916.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Gala 28 Jun, 1905[6] – 10 Oct, 1905 |
Succeeded by Wilmot S. Nicholson |
| Preceded by Wilmot S. Nicholson |
Captain of H.M.S. Usk 10 Oct, 1905[7] – 7 Apr, 1906 |
Succeeded by Duncan H. Carmichael |
| Preceded by Alan C. Bruce |
Captain of H.M.S. Dove 7 Apr, 1906[8] – 28 May, 1906 |
Succeeded by Claude P. Champion de Crespigny |
| Preceded by Duncan H. Carmichael |
Captain of H.M.S. Usk 28 May, 1906 – 1 Nov, 1906 |
Succeeded by Alan C. Bruce |
| Preceded by George H. H. Holden |
Captain of H.M.S. Lee 1 Nov, 1906[9] – 5 Oct, 1909[10] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
Footnotes
- ↑ "Cadetships In The Royal Navy." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Jul 01, 1890; pg. 8; Issue 33052.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, 29 June, 1905. Issue 37746, col A, p. 11.
- ↑ The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 388.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 340.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, 28 September, 1909. Issue 39,076, col D, p. 12.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 29 June, 1905. Issue 37746, col A, p. 11.
- ↑ The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 388.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Apr 10, 1906; pg. 11; Issue 37990.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 340.
- ↑ Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. pp. 21, 22.
