Archibald Bellenden Purvis

Captain (retired) Archibald Bellenden Purvis, R.N. (19 November, 1865 – 22 December, 1926) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Reverend F. R. Purvis was born at Calstone Rectory, Wellington, Wiltshire.

Purvis was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1888.

In May 1894, an inspection of the screw sloop H.M.S. Acorn, to which he had recently been appointed, noted that the ship "appears to have been 3 months in commission, instead of 8 days."

Purvis was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1901.

Purvis commanded the old armoured frigate Agincourt in 1903, when a boy died under a 30-ft cutter which was being cleaned on her deck or alongside her. When the cutter rolled over, several boys were caught and one died. A petty officer by the name of Porter injured his leg in extricating several boys. A verdict of "accidental death" was reached in light of the lack of "skylarking" and no real cause to the event being determinable.

On 22 September 1906, Purvis requested that he be relieved of command of Clyde, owing to ill health.

Purvis was retired as unfit on 28 November, 1907.

Purvis was promoted to the rank of Captain (retired) on 31 December, 1916.

He reverted to the Retired List on 21 January, 1919.

Purvis died of influenza and pneumonia at Stoke House at St. Mary's Bourne, Whitchurch.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Torquill Macleod	Captain of H.M. T.B. 31 29 Jul, 1886 – 27 Aug, 1886	Succeeded by Edward M. Hewett
Preceded by James W. Pochin	Captain of H.M.S. Speedwell 9 Jun, 1901 – 5 Jul, 1901[Inference]	Succeeded by William F. Benwell
Preceded by John H. Robertson	Captain of H.M.S. Jason 30 Sep, 1905 – 17 Nov, 1905	Succeeded by Edward A. Thomas
Preceded by Harry H. Smyth	Captain of H.M.S. Dryad 17 Nov, 1905 – 17 Jan, 1906	Succeeded by Henry F. Oliver
Preceded by Edmund B. Van Koughnet as Captain of H.M.S. Wild Swan	Captain of H.M.S. Clyde 17 Jan, 1906 – 6 Nov, 1906	Succeeded by Clement C. Horne