Albert Addison

Sir Albert Percy Addison
Born 8 November 1875
Died 13 November 1952(1952-11-13) (aged 77)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Years of service 1889 – 1929
1939 – 1946
Rank Admiral
Commands held HM Australian Fleet
HMS Dartmouth
HMS E52
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Mentioned in Despatches

Admiral Sir Albert Percy Addison KBE, CB, CMG (8 November 1875 – 13 November 1952) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy. He was the Rear Admiral Commanding His Majesty's Australian Fleet between 30 April 1922 and 30 April 1924.[1] During World War I he was recognised by the British Admiralty as an authority on submarines, and his knowledge of that class of ship was used extensively.[2]

Contents

Biography

Joining the Royal Navy on 15 July 1889 as a naval cadet, he was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 14 March 1895,[3] lieutenant on 22 June 1897,[4] he served upon HMS Mercury, later promoted to commander on 31 December 1907 and later to captain on 30 June 1913.[5]

He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George while commanding HMS Dartmouth, during the pursuit of and engagement with Austrian cruisers in the Strait of Otranto which had attacked the Allied drifter lineon 14 May 1917. HMS Dartmouth was torpedoed on 15 May 1917 by the German submarine UC-25 after the engagement and he brought HMS Dartmouth safely into port.[6]

Later while commanding submarine HMS E52, he led the action which sunk UC-63 commanded by Oberleutenant Karsten von Heydebrec on 1 November 1917 at Goodwin Sands, Dover Straits.[7] For his war service during World War I he was also appointed Chevalier of the Order of the Légion d'honneur and war 1 GM (France).

He became Rear Admiral Commanding His Majesty's Australian Fleet between 30 April 1922 and 30 April 1924.[1] He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 2 November 1923 and after his appointment Commanding His Majesty's Australian Fleet, he commanded the Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Squadron. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath on 3 June 1924,[8] and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 3 June 1931.[9] He became the Director of Dockyards to the Admiralty from 1928 till 1937.

After retiring on 1 March 1929, he was recalled in September 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, whereafter he retired in April 1946. He died on 13 November 1952.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) - Friday 10 February 1922. p6.
  2. ^ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) - Tuesday 22 April 1924. p10.
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 26757. p. 3978. 10 July 1896. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  4. ^ London Gazette: no. 26865. p. 3443. 22 June 1897. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  5. ^ London Gazette: no. 28733. p. 4640. 1 July 1913. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  6. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30258. p. 8985. 28 August 1917. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  7. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC-63". U-Boat War in World War I. Uboat.net. http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UC+63. Retrieved 29 August 2009. 
  8. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32941. p. 4408. 30 May 1924. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  9. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33722. p. 3629. 2 June 1931. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  10. ^ Obituary, The Times, Saturday, Nov 15, 1952; pg. 8; Issue 52470; col E

References

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Rear Admiral John Dumaresq		 Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet
1922 – 1924		 Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Thomas Wardle