James Bramble

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Paymaster Rear-Admiral James Bramble, C.B. (25 July, 1850 – 25 May, 1930) was an Accountant Branch officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

James Bramble entered the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk on 12 June, 1867. He was rated Clerk on 11 June, 1868. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Paymaster on 25 July, 1871.

On 28 September, 1874, Bramble was appointed to the Audacious as Secretary's Clerk to the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, Vice-Admiral Alfred P. Ryder. He ceased as such on 22 November. After full pay leave he was appointed to the frigate Endymion, Coast Guard ship on the Humber. On 3 September, 1878, Admiral Edward G. Fanshawe, the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, asked for Bramble as an additional Secretary's Clerk, which appointment he received on 28 September. He remained in this position for nearly nine years, serving under Fanshawe (1878 – 1880), Ryder again (1880 – 1882), Sir Geoffrey T. Phipps Hornby (1882 – 1885), and Sir George O. Willes (1885 – 1888). By the end of his time he was senior Secretary's Clerk in the Admiral's office.[1]

On 4 May, 1887, he was appointed Secretary to the Admiral Superintendent at Malta, Rear-Admiral R. Gordon Douglas, and was promoted to the rank of Paymaster on 4 November, 1887. He ceased duty at Malta in February, 1889. He was temporarily appointed to the Asia in lieu of an Assistant Paymaster, and on 23 July was appointed Secretary to Rear-Admiral Richard E. Tracey, commanding A Fleet for the annual manœuvres. When Tracey was appointed Rear-Admiral in the Channel Squadron on 13 September Bramble went with him as Secretary. When Tracey's year was up Bramble remained as Secretary to Rear-Admiral Loftus F. Jones. When Jones was superseded on 15 September, 1892, Bramble went on half pay, until on 12 January, 1892, he again became Secretary to an Admiral Superintendent at Malta, this time under Tracey. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Paymaster on 4 November, 1893. He arrived home on 25 February, 1894. On 18 June he was appointed to Alexandra as Secretary to the Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves, Edward H. Seymour, for a period of not more than four years, "to be held during pleasure". He was promoted to the rank of Fleet Paymaster on 4 November, 1895. Having stayed on under Seymour's successor, Compton E. Domvile, in 1898 requested that his tenure be extended by another two years. His request was refused by the Admiralty, although the Board recognised his good service.

On 6 October, 1898, he returned to general service and was appointed to the Repulse in the Channel Squadron, remaining in her until 4 July, 1901. The following day he was appointed to the Illustrious on the Mediterranean Station. On 18 March, 1902, he was appointed to the Bulwark, flagship of the fleet. Domvile, now Admiral Sir Compton Domvile, became Commander-in-Chief in May. In October, 1903, he was specially recommended by Domvile "for services in connection with victualling Fleets under his command". The question of promotion to Paymaster-in-Chief was apparently "deferred".

He was promoted to the rank of Paymaster-in-Chief on 15 1907. He was superseded at Portsmouth on 24 October, 1908, and placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 25 October.

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List, Corrected to the 20th December, 1886. p. 245.