Herbert MacIver Edwards

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search

Rear-Admiral Herbert MacIver Edwards, R.N., Retired (25 February, 1875 – 18 October, 1955) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Edwards was promoted to Commander on 4 March, 1907.[1]

Edwards was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1914.[2]

Great War

On 4 August 1914, Edwards was appointed in command of the armed merchant cruiser Otranto. He was in command when she ventured to the South Atlantic and into the Pacific alongside Rear-Admiral Cradock's West Indies Squadron tasked with bringing Admiral von Spee's German East Asia Squadron to bay. At the catastrophic Battle of Coronel, Otranto was ordered to stand clear and then to save herself when it was clear that her large size and meager armament would only cause her to add to the enemy's "bag". Edwards remained in Otranto until around September 1916.

In November, 1916, he was appointed to President for service in the Operations Division of the Naval Staff. He was appointed to the light cruiser Glasgow in June, 1918, and Second-in-Command of the Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron from 1 October.[3]

Post-War

Edwards paid off Glasgow on 15 April, 1919, and on 1 September was appointed to President as Chief Staff Officer to the President of the Allied Naval Armistice Commission, Vice-Admiral Sir Edward F. B. Charlton.[4]

By 1933, Edwards was allegedly employed as a "pleasure cruise host" by a steamship line.[5]

In 1941, he offered his services but was informed there were no vacancies at present.[6]

Bibliography

  • "Rear-Adml H. McI. Edwards" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 24 October, 1955. Issue 53359, col B, p. 12.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Allan F. Everett
Captain of Portsmouth Signal School
22 Apr, 1908[7] – 10 Jan, 1911[8]
Succeeded by
Edward M. Phillpotts
Preceded by
Henry G. G. Sandeman
Superintendent of Signal Schools
22 Apr, 1908[9] – 10 Jan, 1911[10]
Succeeded by
Edward M. Phillpotts
Preceded by
Charles Tibbits
Captain of H.M.S. Ariadne
8 Jan, 1914[11] – 1 Aug, 1914[12]
Succeeded by
George B. W. Young
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Otranto
4 Aug, 1914[13][14]c. Sep, 1916[15]
Succeeded by
Ernest G. W. Davidson
Preceded by
Aubrey C. H. Smith
Captain of H.M.S. Glasgow
17 Jun, 1918[16][17] – 1 Sep, 1919[18]
Succeeded by
Herbert W. W. Hope
Preceded by
?
Second in Command, Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron
1 Oct, 1918[19] – 15 Apr, 1919[20]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Charles F. Henderson
Captain of H.M.S. Penguin
24 Jul, 1920[21]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 24.
  2. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  3. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  4. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  5. Dawson. Flotillas. p. 25.
  6. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  7. Kent. Signal!. p 361.
  8. Kent. Signal!. p 361.
  9. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  10. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  11. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  12. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  13. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  14. The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 401s.
  15. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  16. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  17. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 801.
  18. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  19. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  20. Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 120.
  21. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 902.