Francis Wade Caulfeild

Vice-Admiral Francis Wade Caulfeild, C.B.E. (25 January, 1872 – 7 November, 1947) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Caulfeild was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 July, 1892.

Caulfeild was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1903.

Caufeild was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1908.

An appointment in command of the Hyacinth for 29 January, 1912 seems to have been reconsidered.

Caulfeild was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Fox on 7 October 1912. A sub-lieutenant aboard found his methods draconian and corrosive to good order, prompting the departure of the first lieutenant who was entirely unable to work for his captain. More surely indicative, perhaps, of his lack of "touch" was that, despite operating in the hot climes of East African waters, Caufeild "insist[ed] on the officers and men wearing strict uniform, which is cruelty. All the other ships in the Gulf have always worn shorts and vests, not so Caulfield (sic), who has given orders that officers on duty are always to be in uniform, and tunics buttoned up."

In Fox, Caufeild played a leading role in the unsuccessful British/Indian landing and battle at Tanga in German East Africa in early November, 1914.

He was appointed to command the battleship Venerable on 11 February, 1916.

He was appointed to command the battleship Britannia on 19 April, 1917.

Post-war

Caufeild was appointed in command of Temeraire on 13 February, 1919.

He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Berwick as well as a group of ships on 20 August, 1919.

Caulfeild was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 18 February, 1920 and placed on the Retired List the next day in accordance with the Order in Council of 9 March, 1914.

In 1922, Mrs. Caulfeild requested that her husband's name be submitted for an Honour. This request was refused (ouch).

Caulfeild was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 12 August 1925.

Bibliography

• Thompson, Julian (2005). The War at Sea: 1914-1918. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0 283 07354 3. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/43.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Herbert W. James	Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur 24 Jun, 1910 – 15 Aug, 1911	Succeeded by Charles B. Miller
Preceded by Edwin V. Underhill	Captain of H.M.S. Juno 15 Aug, 1911 – 13 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Colin Mackenzie
Preceded by James C. Tancred	Captain of H.M.S. Fox 7 Oct, 1912 – 27 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by William H. D. Boyle
Preceded by Vivian H. G. Bernard	Captain of H.M.S. Venerable 11 Feb, 1916 – 27 Dec, 1916	Succeeded by Charles A. Radcliffe
Preceded by Stuart St. J. Farquhar	Captain of H.M.S. Britannia 19 Apr, 1917 – 9 Nov, 1918	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Edward W. H. Brookfield	Captain of H.M.S. Temeraire 13 Feb, 1919 – 20 Aug, 1919	Succeeded by Leonard A. B. Donaldson
Preceded by Henry K. Kitson	Captain of H.M.S. Cornwall 20 Aug, 1919 – 19 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by Charles E. W. Pyddoke as Captain Superintendent of H.M.S. Cornwall
Preceded by Robert G. D. Dewar	Captain of H.M.S. Berwick 20 Aug, 1919 – 19 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by George P. England
Preceded by George B. Powell	Captain of H.M.S. Devonshire 20 Aug, 1919 – 19 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Christopher R. Payne	Captain of H.M.S. Suffolk 20 Aug, 1919 – 19 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by ?