Charles Reid Peploe

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Captain Charles Reid Peploe, D.S.C., R.N. (5 February, 1890 – 8 February, 1933) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

His younger brother, Norman Boyd Fleming Peploe also served in the navy.

Life & Career

Born in Edinburgh the son of Major J. R. Peploe of the Highland Light Infantry. I read his date of entry into Britannia as September, 1904, passing out on 15 January, 1906 when he was appointed to King Alfred.

Peploe was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1911.

Peploe was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 36 on 8 December, 1914.[1]

Peploe was appointed to the battlecruiser Lion on 10 February, 1916 and likely was in her at the Battle of Jutland. He was to leave her on 14 May, 1917 and was presently sent to Vernon for a Torpedo Control Course.

Peploe was appointed in command of the destroyer Westcott on 19 March, 1918.[2]

Post-War

When in command of Westcott on 21 June, 1919, his destroyer was one of just two left to watch over the interned German fleet in Scapa Flow, sitting with ready steam in Gutter Sound the great German scuttle operation began. His executive officer recorded the moment of this sad discovery.[3]

The officers were all gathered in the ward room having a gun before lunch when a sub-lieutenant officer of the watch one the quarter deck shouted through the ward room hatch, "There's a German destroyer sinking." Lieutenant-Commander Peploe, the skipper, answered, "Don't talk such tripe." But they all hurried on deck and saw that every German ship had hoisted its flag and that ladders were being got out and boats lowered. A signal was at once sent to the Vice-Admiral who was at sea.

Peploe was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1919.

Peploe was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1925.

Peploe was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1932. Having recently suffered a bout of influenza, Peploe reported that he was to undergo surgery in a private nursing home to have his gall bladder removed on 8 February, 1933. He died that same day and was buried in Haslar Cemetery.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
George F. L. Marx
Captain of H.M. T.B. 36
8 Dec, 1914[4] – 20 Feb, 1916[5]
Succeeded by
John K. McLeod
Preceded by
Geoffrey Mackworth
Captain of H.M.S. Nepean
8 Jul, 1917[6] – 19 Mar, 1918
Succeeded by
Irvine G. Glennie
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Westcott
19 Mar, 1918[7] – 15 Jan, 1921
Succeeded by
Edward N. Mortimer
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Witch
4 Feb, 1924[8] – Aug, 1925
Succeeded by
Ralph Kerr
Preceded by
Frederic C. Bradley
Captain of H.M.S. Winchester
8 Oct, 1925[9]
Succeeded by
Hamilton E. Snepp

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 401.
  2. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 899.
  3. Lieutenant Henry McCall account in S. C. George's Jutland to Junkyard, Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh. 1999, p. 30.
  4. The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 401.
  5. Ship's Log at naval-history.net.
  6. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395w.
  7. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 899.
  8. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 289.
  9. The Navy List. (February, 1926). p. 289.