Anselan John Buchanan Stirling

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Admiral Anselan John Buchanan Stirling, C.B., R.N. (27 June, 1875 – 7 April, 1936) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was known as "Birn" to his relatives and as "Snatcher" to naval colleagues.[1]

Life & Career

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1897. On 27 May, 1898 he was appointed to Barfleur on the China Station during the time of the Boxer Rebellion. He suffered serious wounds at Tiensin, for which he would eventually be granted 40 pounds per year for life by writ of an Order in Council of 15 July, 1904.[2] In August, 1900, Stirling was in a hospital in Wei-hai-wei, recovering from wounds sustained in China during the Boxer Rebellion at the same time as were then-Captain John Jellicoe and then-Commander David Beatty.[3]

He commanded four 30 knotters in 1903 through 1904, leaving this work to undertake short courses in gunnery and torpedoes at Excellent and Vernon. If he completed those, they took him all of six days, as he was appointed to command Vulture on 28 October, 1904.[4]

Leaving Vulture on 23 January, 1905, he was appointed to the training ship Caldonia for one year as first lieutenant. Upon paying her off on 19 January, 1906, he was sent back to a string of three destroyer commands, the last being a long-standing appointment in Welland commencing on 28 May, 1906.[5]

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1909[6] and re-appointed temporarily in Welland, being superseded on 18 September, 1909.[7]

Great War

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1915.[8]

He was Captain (D) of Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland, commanding the flotilla from the bridge of flotilla leader Faulknor.[9]

Post-war

Stirling was scolded by a Court of Enquiry in 1922 for damage caused by Argus to motor launch M.L. 519 and lighter X134. It was deemed that he dispensed with the services of a pilot who had been sent to him.[10]

Stirling was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 8 July, 1926,[11] but ceased in this appointment on 9 August when he was promoted to Rear-Admiral.[12]

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 2 April, 1931 and placed on the Retired List the next day.[13]

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 January, 1936.[14]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Vice-Admiral Stirling" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 8 April, 1936. Issue 47344, col D, pg. 16.

Service Record

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Arthur K. Macrorie
Captain of H.M.S. Shark
14 Apr, 1903[15] – 19 Nov, 1903[16]
Succeeded by
Lionel J. G. Anderson
Preceded by
Hugh J. Orr
Captain of H.M.S. Violet
19 Nov, 1903[17] – 26 Nov, 1903[18]
Succeeded by
Reginald G. Copleston
Preceded by
Osmond J. Prentis
Captain of H.M.S. Dove
27 Nov, 1903[19] – 3 Sep, 1904[20]
Succeeded by
Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by
Clement L. Long
Captain of H.M.S. Teazer
1 Oct, 1904[21] – 22 Oct, 1904[22]
Succeeded by
Edward O. Gladstone
Preceded by
John B. Waterlow
Captain of H.M.S. Vulture
28 Oct, 1904[23] – 23 Jan, 1905[24]
Succeeded by
Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by
Albert M. H. Phillips
Captain of H.M.S. Fawn
20 Feb, 1906[25] – 10 Apr, 1906[26]
Succeeded by
Herbert M. Denny
Preceded by
Herbert M. Denny
Captain of H.M.S. Wizard
10 Apr, 1906[27] – 28 May, 1906[28]
Succeeded by
Montague G. Philpott
Preceded by
William F. Blunt
Captain of H.M.S. Welland
28 May, 1906[29] – 18 Sep, 1909[30]
Succeeded by
Claude Seymour
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Shark
1 Oct, 1912[31][32] – 6 Oct, 1914[33]
Succeeded by
Harold V. Dundas
Preceded by
Charles J. Wintour
Captain of H.M.S. Swift
6 Oct, 1914[34] – 24 Nov, 1914[35]
Succeeded by
H. Ralph Crooke
Preceded by
Herbert Meade
Captain of H.M.S. Faulknor
24 Nov, 1914[36] – Nov, 1916[37][38]
Succeeded by
Henry G. L. Oliphant
Preceded by
Rowland H. Bather
Captain (D), Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla
20 Apr, 1916[39] – 12 Oct, 1918[40]
Succeeded by
William Spencer Leveson-Gower
Preceded by
Henry G. L. Oliphant
Captain of H.M.S. Saumarez
Nov, 1916[41] – 12 Oct, 1918[42]
Succeeded by
The Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower
Preceded by
Humphrey H. Smith
Captain of H.M.S. Argus
31 Jul, 1920[43][44] – 15 Aug, 1922[45]
Succeeded by
Francis G. G. Chilton
Preceded by
Arthur K. Macrorie
Captain of H.M.S. Columbine
1 Nov, 1922[46] – 15 Oct, 1924[47]
Succeeded by
Andrew B. Cunningham
Preceded by
Arthur K. Macrorie
Captain in Charge, Port Edgar
1 Nov, 1922[48] – 15 Oct, 1924[49]
Succeeded by
Andrew B. Cunningham
Preceded by
Henry E. Grace
Commodore in Charge at Hong Kong
15 Oct, 1924[50][51] – Dec, 1926[52]
Succeeded by
John L. Pearson
Preceded by
Charles P. Beaty-Pownall
Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard
7 Dec, 1927[53]
Succeeded by
Charles W. Round-Turner

 

Footnotes

  1. "S. E. E.", writing in The Times of London, Saturday, April 11, 1936, p. 14.
  2. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  3. "S. E. E.", writing in The Times of London, Saturday, April 11, 1936, p. 14.
  4. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  5. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 28263. p. 4857. 25 June, 1909.
  7. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  8. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  9. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 45.
  10. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 33182. p. 4634. 13 July, 1926.
  12. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  13. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  14. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  15. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  16. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  17. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  18. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  19. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  20. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  21. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  22. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  23. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  24. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  25. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  26. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  27. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  28. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  29. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  30. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  31. The Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 380a.
  32. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  33. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  34. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  35. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  36. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  37. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 397v.
  38. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  39. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  40. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  41. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 397v.
  42. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  43. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 727.
  44. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  45. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  46. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  47. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  48. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  49. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  50. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  51. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 273.
  52. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  53. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.