Keith Richard Farquharson

Commander Keith Richard Farquharson, D.S.C., R.N., Retired (21 April, 1888 – 3 July, 1946) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Ceylon, the son of a reverend, Farquharson gained one and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia. In mid-May 1904 he was sent to join Cornwallis in the Mediterranean, in which he would spend over three years.

On 22 May, 1908, Farquharson was diagnosed with German Measles and admitted to Haslar Hospital for eight days. He spent part of that summer in T.B. 7 for the annual manoeuvres.

In September, 1908 Farquharson was scolded for "rowdyism and consumption of spirits.". He was sent to sea "forthwith" in Cochrane and was considered to have failed his pilotage exam in consequence. A special report was required in December, and there was reportedly "no cause for complaint." In March of 1910, the month's seniority he had lost in the event was restored in light of his ensuing good conduct. He was appointed to the armoured cruiser Lancaster in the Mediterranean at the end of May, 1910.

Farquharson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1910 and was re-appointed in Lancaster, in lieu of a sublieutenant. In November, 1912, he left the cruiser and began a four month appointment in the destroyer Beaver.

On 14 April, 1913, he was appointed to the Acasta Class destroyer Sparrowhawk as first officer. He remained in her until being superseded on 30 January, 1915 after being sent to a hospital ship seriously ill with pneumonia two days previously. He was sent to Plymouth Hospital to recuperate and was again fit on 3 April. Two days later, he was placed in command of the Cricket Class first-class torpedo boat T.B. 15.

On 1 September 1916, he was appointed to Scorpion, to assume command upon her commissioning. He was captain for just one month before being appointed in command of Rattlesnake, which he promptly grounded on 27 October.

On 25 April, 1917, he was relieved in command of Rattlesnake after having collided with Pincher. Despite this embarrassment, he was awarded a D.S.C. for his services with the Downs Boarding Flotilla, gazetted 23 May 1917. Farquharson was put in command of the sweeping sloop Jonquil, where he would remain through the end of the war, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1918.

Post-War

In mid-1919, Farquharson was appointed in temporary command of the sweeping sloop Zinnia.

On 17 November, 1919, he was appointed in charge of a group of sloops at Devonport.

After being invalided with tropical maladies the year before, Farquharson was placed on Retired List at his own request on 8 February, 1926 and promoted to the rank of Commander on 21 April, 1928.

World War II

Farquharson was appointed as Senior Officer (O), Orkneys and Shetland in August-September, 1939, but his service record appears truncated at that point.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Edward N. Mortimer	Captain of H.M. T.B. 15 5 Apr, 1915 – 1 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Mark P. C. Kerr
Preceded by Andrew B. Cunningham	Captain of H.M.S. Scorpion 2 Sep, 1916 – 2 Oct, 1916	Succeeded by Andrew B. Cunningham
Preceded by Andrew B. Cunningham	Captain of H.M.S. Rattlesnake 2 Oct, 1916 – 25 Apr, 1917	Succeeded by Richard C. A. Littleton
Preceded by Ralph M. Hall	Captain of H.M.S. Jonquil 25 Apr, 1917 – 26 Jun, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Graham F. W. Wilson	Captain of H.M.S. Zinnia 26 Jun, 1919 – 17 Nov, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Cuthbert H. Heath-Caldwell	Captain of H.M.S. Thistle 7 Jan, 1924 – Mar, 1925	Succeeded by John R. P. Thompson