Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson

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Admiral Douglas R. L. Nicholson, April, 1925.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (4 March, 1867 – 8 February, 1946) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1889.[1]

Nicholson was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Frederick W. Richards, Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, on 29 November, 1890.[2]

On 16 September, 1892, Nicholson was appointed to the Anson as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Edward H. Seymour,[3] the new Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron.

He was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Compton E. Domvile on 8 June, 1897.[4]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 19 August, 1899.[5]

Captain

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1904.[6] He was reappointed as Superintendent of Signal Schools on the same date. On 20 August, 1905, he was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Hyacinth, as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral Edmund S. Poë, the new Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station. At some point Poë's flag was transferred to Hyacinth's sister ship, Hermes. He was superseded in command on 20 August, 1908.[7]

Back in Britain, he was appointed to H.M.S. President to take the War Course at the Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth.[8] He was placed first in order of merit out of six captains with a First Class pass on the course, which ran from 9 February to 28 May, 1909.[9] From 1 September to 19 October he served in the battlecruiser Inflexible as Flag Captain to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward H. Seymour on a voyage to New York City for the Hudson-Fulton celebrations.[10]

On 17 January, 1910, he was appointed to Victory for command of the new battleship St. Vincent, building at Portsmouth dockyard. However, on 31 January he was appointed in command of the battleship Lord Nelson,[11] after her captain, Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, was summarily relieved of command for making intemperate political remarks in a public address.

Nicholson was reappointed to St. Vincent on 31 March, and remained in command until 5 January, 1912. He was appointed to Vivid on 15 May for command of the battleship Conqueror, building at William Beardmore & Company's, Parkhead.[12]

On 16 December, 1913, Nicholson was appointed to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert as Commodore, Second Class in command of H.M. Yachts.[13]

Great War

On 8 August, 1914, Nicholson was appointed in command of the battleship Agincourt of the Fourth Battle Squadron[14]

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 10 January, 1916, vice Dundas of Dundas.[15] He was superseded in command of Agincourt on the same day.[16]

After a bout of haemorrhoids he was appointed Rear-Admiral in the Third Battle Squadron on 13 March, 1917, flying his flag in Zealandia, and, from 26 March, Hibernia.[17] When Roger Keyes was appointed out of the Fourth Battle Squadron to the new position of Director of Plans at the Admiralty, squadron commander Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee requested "White Nick" to succeed Keyes.[18] Nicholson hoisted his flag on 25 September in Colossus.[19] On 11 February, 1918, Sturdee wrote of him, "Has not served long in Squadron but fulfils my expectations when I applied for him. A most loyal second & an addition to the Squadron."[20]

Post-War

Nicholson was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) on 24 March, 1919.[21] After the dispersal of the Grand Fleet on 8 April, he was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron in the Home Fleet.[22] In recognition of his services during the war, on the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) dated 24 April.[23]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 29 January, 1920, vice Miller.[24]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 10 March, 1925, vice Gaunt.[25]

He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 March, 1926.[26]

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John B. Sparks
Captain of H.M.S. Spiteful
11 Jan, 1901[27] – 14 Feb, 1902[28]
Succeeded by
Algernon W. Abbott
Preceded by
Morgan Singer
Captain of H.M.S. Flying Fish
11 Jan, 1901[29][30]
Succeeded by
Hugh P. Buckle
Preceded by
Geoffrey T. Bowles
Captain of H.M.S. Dove
14 Feb, 1902[31] – 10 Jun, 1902[32]
Succeeded by
Archibald C. Goolden
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Success
10 Jun, 1902[33] – 20 Dec, 1902[34]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Hubert G. Brand
Preceded by
Erasmus D. St. A. Ommanney
Captain of H.M.S. Calliope
20 Dec, 1902[35] – 1 Jan, 1904[36]
Succeeded by
Robert E. R. Benson
Preceded by
Allan F. Everett
Captain of Portsmouth Signal School
1 Jan, 1904[37][38] – 31 Dec, 1904[39]
Succeeded by
Henry G. G. Sandeman
Preceded by
Allan F. Everett
Superintendent of Signal Schools
1 Jan, 1904[40] – 20 Aug, 1905[41]
Succeeded by
Henry G. G. Sandeman
Preceded by
The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood
Captain of H.M.S. Hyacinth
20 Aug, 1905[42] – Dec, 1905[43]
Succeeded by
Price V. Lewes
Preceded by
P. Vaughan Lewes
Captain of H.M.S. Hermes
1906[44][45] – 20 Aug, 1908[46]
Succeeded by
Philip W. Dumas
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. St. Vincent
17 Jan, 1910[47] – 31 Jan, 1910[48]
Succeeded by
Douglas R. L. Nicholson
Preceded by
Sackville H. Carden
Captain of H.M.S. Lord Nelson
31 Jan, 1910[49] – 31 Mar, 1910[50]
Succeeded by
Alfred E. A. Grant
Preceded by
Douglas R. L. Nicholson
Captain of H.M.S. St. Vincent
31 Mar, 1910[51][52] – 5 Jan, 1912[53]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Conqueror
15 May, 1912[54][55] – 16 Dec, 1913[56]
Succeeded by
Norman C. Palmer
Preceded by
Norman C. Palmer
Captain of H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert
16 Dec, 1913[57] – 7 Aug, 1914[58]
Succeeded by
Henry F. D. Jelf
Preceded by
Norman C. Palmer
Commodore, Second Class Commanding, H.M. Yachts
16 Dec, 1913[59] – 7 Aug, 1914[60]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, H.M. Yachts
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Agincourt
7 Aug, 1914[61] – 10 Jan, 1916[62]
Succeeded by
Henry M. Doughty
Preceded by
Cecil F. Dampier
Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Third Battle Squadron
13 Mar, 1917[63] – 21 Sep, 1917[64]
Succeeded by
Position Abolished
Preceded by
Roger J. B. Keyes
Rear-Admiral in the Fourth Battle Squadron
25 Sep, 1917[65] – 3 Dec, 1918[66]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Sir Montague E. Browning
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron
3 Dec, 1918[67] – 1 Feb, 1919[68]
Succeeded by
Sir Montague E. Browning
Preceded by
New Command
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Devonport Reserve
1 Feb, 1919[69] – 18 Mar, 1919[70]
Succeeded by
James A. Fergusson
Preceded by
Sir William E. Goodenough
Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Second Battle Squadron
1 Apr, 1919[71] – 7 Apr, 1919[72]
Succeeded by
Lewis Clinton-Baker
Preceded by
Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron
8 Apr, 1919[73][74] – 31 Oct, 1919[75]
Succeeded by
Hugh D. R. Watson
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron
Preceded by
Vivian H. G. Bernard
as Senior Naval Officer, Portland
Rear-Admiral, Reserve Fleet, Portland, etc
1 Nov, 1919[76] – 1 Apr, 1920[77]
Succeeded by
James R. P. Hawksley
as Captain in Charge, Portland
Preceded by
?
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Portland Reserve
1 Nov, 1919[78] – 1 Apr, 1920[79]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
E. Hyde Parker
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet
3 Oct, 1922[80] – 3 Oct, 1923[81]
Succeeded by
Sir William E. Goodenough

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 25917. p. 1865. 2 April, 1889.
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 8 November, 1890. Issue 33164, col C, p. 8.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 10 September, 1892. Issue 33740, col D, p. 6.
  4. "The Naval Review at Spithead" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 9 June, 1897. Issue 35225, col D, p. 10.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27110. p. 5250. 22 August, 1899.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 27691. p. 4182. 1 July, 1904.
  7. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  8. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  9. The National Archives. ADM 203/99. f. 35.
  10. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  11. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  12. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  13. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  14. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  15. The London Gazette: no. 29439. p. 626. 14 January, 1916.
  16. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  17. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  18. Keyes Papers. I. p. 408.
  19. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  20. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 56.
  21. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31248. p. 3859. 24 March, 1919.
  22. "End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 3 April, 1919. Issue 42065, col D, p. 13.
  23. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31379. p. 7050. 3 June, 1919.
  24. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189. 24 February, 1920.
  25. The London Gazette: no. 33031. p. 1954. 20 March, 1925.
  26. The London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.
  27. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  28. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  29. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 28 December, 1900. Issue 36337, col D, p. 5.
  30. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  31. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  32. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  33. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  34. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  35. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  36. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  37. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 5 Dec. 1903, p. 9.
  38. Kent. Signal!. p 361.
  39. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  40. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  41. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  42. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 56.
  43. Inference drawn, in part, from Lewes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 300.
  44. Lewes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 300.
  45. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 56.
  46. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 56.
  47. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  48. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  49. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  50. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  51. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  52. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 371.
  53. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  54. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  55. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 295.
  56. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  57. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  58. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  59. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. p. 457.
  60. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  61. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  62. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  63. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 4.
  64. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 4.
  65. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  66. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  67. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  68. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 457.
  69. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  70. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  71. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  72. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  73. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 4.
  74. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  75. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  76. The Navy List. (March, 1920). p. 695-6.
  77. "Captain in Charge, Portland" The Times (London, England), Saturday, Mar 06, 1920; pg. 6; Issue 42352.
  78. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  79. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  80. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.
  81. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 290.