Cyril Everard Tower

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Admiral Cyril Everard Tower, D.S.O., Royal Navy, Retired (3 December, 1861 – 20 January, 1929) was an officer of the Royal Navy. His son, [Cyril Francis Tower]], would also serve and attain the rank of Commander.

Early Life & Career

Cyril Everard Tower was born on 3 December, 1861, the third son of Canon Charles Tower, rector of Chilmark, Wiltshire. He was educated at Lancing College, before joining the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in July, 1874.

Tower was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1884.[1]

On 7 July 1887, he was loaned to command the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 62 for manoeuvres.[2]

Tower was promoted to the rank of Commander on 22 June, 1897.[3]

He was lent to be captain of the old ironclad battleship Northumberland in April 1898,[4] leaving her on 11 March, 1901 for command of the torpedo gunboat Harrier.[5]

Captain

Tower was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1904.[6]

He was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Eclipse on 11 July, 1905.[7]

On 23 June 1906, he was placed in command of the armoured cruiser Donegal.[8]

He was appointed as captain of the battleship London on 1 February 1908, thereby becoming Tower of London.[9]

Tower was appointed in command of the battleship Illustrious on 2 June, 1908. He was to incur the displeasure of Their Lordships for grounding her "due to faulty navigation" in 1908. Compounding this, a Court of Inquiry would find him at fault in a collision in 1909 with Amethyst.[10]

He left Illustrious when he was appointed in command of the battleship Swiftsure on 8 February, 1910.[11]

Tower was appointed Captain of the Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master, Portsmouth on 1 February, 1912.[12] On 2 June, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Grant-Dalton,[13] and, in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 28 June.[14] He was relieved by Captain Edward H. Moubray on 29 June, 1916.[15]

On 1 January, 1918, he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.[16] He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 2 November, 1919,[17] and to Admiral on 1 August, 1924.[18]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral C. E. Tower" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 22 January, 1929. Issue 45107, col C, p. 14.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M. T.B. 47
before 13 May, 1887[19]
Succeeded by
Louis W. P. Chetwynd
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M. T.B. 62
7 Jul, 1887[20]
Succeeded by
Brian H. F. Barttelot
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M. T.B. 90
c. mid 1896[21]
Succeeded by
Claude L. Cumberlege
Preceded by
Philip Walter
Captain of H.M.S. Harrier
11 Mar, 1901[22][23] – 4 Apr, 1904[24]
Succeeded by
Carlton V. de M. Cowper
Preceded by
Francis C. B. Addington
Captain of H.M.S. Eclipse
23 Feb, 1905[25][26] – 29 Jan, 1906[27]
Succeeded by
Clement Greatorex
Preceded by
Charles H. H. Moore
Captain of H.M.S. Donegal
23 Jun, 1906[28] – 1 Feb, 1908[29]
Succeeded by
The Hon. George A. Hardinge
Preceded by
William O. Story
Captain of H.M.S. London
1 Feb, 1908[30] – 2 Jun, 1908[31]
Succeeded by
Hugh H. D. Tothill
Preceded by
Hugh H. D. Tothill
Captain of H.M.S. Illustrious
2 Jun, 1908[32][33] – 8 Feb, 1910[34]
Succeeded by
Rowland Nugent
Preceded by
Cecil F. Thursby
Captain of H.M.S. Swiftsure
8 Feb, 1910[35][36] – 19 Jan, 1912
Succeeded by
Robert S. P. Hornby
Preceded by
William B. Fawckner
Captain of Portsmouth Dockyard
1 Feb, 1912[37] – 29 Jun, 1916[38]
Succeeded by
Edward H. Moubray

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 25372. p. 3009. 1 July, 1884.
  2. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 26865. p. 3443. 22 June, 1897.
  4. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 42.
  5. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 27691. p. 4181. 1 July, 1904.
  7. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, 13 July, 1905. Issue 37758, col D, p. 10.
  8. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  9. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  10. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  11. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  12. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 392.
  13. The London Gazette: no. 29197. p. 5873. 18 June, 1915.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 29210. p. 6269. 29 June, 1915.
  15. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 555.
  16. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30451. p. 86. 1 January, 1918.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 31632. p. 13545. 7 November, 1919.
  18. The London Gazette: no. 32963. p. 5954. 8 August, 1924.
  19. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, May 14, 1887; pg. 11; Issue 32072.
  20. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  21. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 19 Aug. 1896, p. 7.
  22. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  23. The Navy List. (January, 1904). p. 323.
  24. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  25. The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 305.
  26. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  27. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  28. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  29. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  30. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  31. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  32. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 329.
  33. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  34. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  35. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  36. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 380.
  37. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.
  38. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 32.