Arthur Waistell

Sir Arthur Waistell
Born 30 March 1873(1873-03-30)
Died 26 October 1953(1953-10-26)
Buried at Winchester, Hampshire
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Rank Admiral
Commands held China Station
Portsmouth Command
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Arthur Kipling Waistell KCB (30 March 1873 – 26 October 1953) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.

Naval career

Waistell joined the Royal Navy in 1892.[1] He went on to command the destroyer HMS Stag in the Mediterranean Fleet in 1906.[2]

He served in World War I as Commander of the 9th Submarine Flotilla.[3]

After the War he was Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff from 1923[4] and went on to be Commander of the 1st Cruiser Squadron from 1924.[5] He was appointed Commander in Chief, China Station in 1928[6] and Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in 1931; he retired in 1934.[7]

In retirement Waistell lived in Winchester where he was especially involved with the affairs of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, for some time being a member of its Court of Governors.[8] His wife died in 1948 and so, being an invalid, he moved to the Isle of Wight where a sister was able to look after him.[8]

He died on 26 October 1953; during the morning of Friday 30 October his funeral service took place at Yarmouth Parish Church, Isle of Wight. Immediately following this service his coffin was borne to the motor torpedo boat Pathfinder and then, in Yarmouth Roads, transferred to the destroyer Finisterre. His remains were taken to Southampton and later that day he was buried beside his wife in Magdalen Hill Cemetery, Winchester.[8]

References

  1. ^ London Gazette: no. 26492. p. 1369. 6 March 1894. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
  2. ^ The Royal Navy June 1906
  3. ^ Disposition of Royal Navy submarines, 1916
  4. ^ Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904 - 1975
  5. ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1925
  6. ^ Obituary: Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay January 1945
  7. ^ HMS Nelson Canberra Times, 15 January 1934
  8. ^ a b c Isle of Wight County Press, 31 October 1953
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt
Commander-in-Chief, China Station
1928–1931
Succeeded by
Sir Howard Kelly
Preceded by
Sir Roger Keyes
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
1931–1934
Succeeded by
Sir John Kelly