Edmund James Prendergast

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Commander Edmund James Prendergast, O.B.E., R.N. (10 February, 1872 – 25 January, 1936) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Edmund James Prendergast was born at 22 Grosvenor Gardens, S.W., the son of a Colonel Lenox Prendergast.[1]

Upon passing out of Britannia with two months time gained in December, 1886, Prendergast was to be appointed to the central battery ironclad Superb in the Mediterranean, but this was cancelled in favor of the third class protected cruiser Calliope on the China Station.

On 11 July, 1889, Captain Henry Kane deprived Midshipman Prendergast of one month's time for leaving the Calliope without leave. Kane had earlier appraised that the young man was "good tempered obedient smart (fairly)" and "smart + zealous. little taste for study."[2]

On 14 December, 1891, the young midshipman was made a Lieutenant while serving in H.M.S. Calypso of the Training Squadron.[3]

Prendergast was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1893. He was sent home on 10 January, 1894, arriving there on 2 February.[4]

Torpedo Officer

On 30 September, 1898, Prendergast was appointed to the torpedo training school Vernon to qualify as a torpedo officer, building upon a second-class certificate earned in November 1892.[5]

He was appointed to the second class battleship Hero as first and torpedo Lieutenant for the manoeuvres of 1900.[6]

On 15 January, 1901, he was appointed to Centurion on the China Station to serve as her torpedo officer.[7]

This was followed by an appointment on the staff of the torpedo training school Vernon for torpedo duties on 20 September, 1901, then as first officer in the depot ship Vulcan on 15 January, 1902. He'd be re-appointed in Vulcan where Captain Herbert Leopold Heath noted he was "not strictly temperate" and "drinks more than necessary", Returning to Vernon only briefly before being placed in command the torpedo gunboat Niger (one of Vernon's tenders, not, perhaps, a seagoing command) from April, 1905 to mid 1907.[8]

He married Violet Pratt Barlow on 3 January, 1907.[9]

Coast Guard & Radio Work

Superseded by Frederick Noel Fargus in Niger on 16 July 1907, in Prendergast was appointed to President, additional, for Ventnor COast Guard station on 4 April, 1908, having applied for the Coast Guard in December 1907. He would remain there until being appointed to Horsea W/T Station (T) on 5 January, 1910. This assignment was broadened to temporarily include charge of Shore W/T Stations and Signal Stations during the absence of Lieutenant Slee on 6 July. This may have ended on 25 April, 1911 or possibly not until 6 July, 1911 when he was appointed to Vernon, additional, for W/T.

Prendergast was placed on the Retired List at his own request and advanced to the rank of Commander on 10 February, 1912, but even as this happened, his appointment in Vernon was being renewed.[10]

Great War

Prendergast remained in Vernon until 20 July, 1917 when he was moved to the Portsmouth Signal School. He would be invested with the O.B.E. (M) at Buckingham Palace on 27 February, 1920 in recognition of his services in wireless telegraphy duties.[11]

He reverted to the Retired List on New Year's Day, 1921. His death would be reported in The Times on 28 January, 1936.[12]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Gipsy
11 Jul, 1899[13]
Succeeded by
Harry L. Wells
Preceded by
Richard H. Walters
Captain of H.M.S. Niger
26 Apr, 1905[14] – 16 Jul, 1907[15]
Succeeded by
Frederick N. Fargus

Footnotes

  1. Links.org page.
  2. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  3. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  4. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  5. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  6. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  7. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  8. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  9. Links.org page.
  10. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  11. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  12. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  13. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
  14. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 349.
  15. Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.