Ian Colquhoun Cowan

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Lieutenant Ian Colquhoun Cowan (28 July, 1889 – 31 May, 1916) served in the Royal Navy as a signal officer, dying in action at Jutland aboard the armoured cruiser Defence.

Life & Career

Cowan served in Hampshire from mid-September 1905 until being appointed to the armoured cruiser Good Hope on 16 July, 1907. In this appointment, he was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on 15 November, 1908. In January 1909 he underwent courses and spent a short spell in Shannon before being sent to the Royal Naval College.[1]

Cowan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 February, 1910.[2] He was noted as being "VGI [very good indeed]", and having a flair for French and mechanical drawing.[3]

Great War

Cowan was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 026 from 12 December, 1914 through mid-February, 1915. Following a six-month signal course at Portsmouth at which he obtained a second-class certificate, Cowan spent three weeks on a temporary appointment in H.M.S. Iron Duke before being appointed to the armoured cruiser Defence on 29 August, 1915 as flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Arbuthnot of the First Cruiser Squadron.[4]

Cowan would die when Defence was destroyed in a hail of fire at the Battle of Jutland.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Francis E. H. G. Hobart
Captain of H.M. T.B. 26
12 Dec, 1914[5][6] – 14 Feb, 1915[7]
Succeeded by
Robert L. Burnett

Footnotes

  1. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/468. f. 468.
  2. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 17.
  3. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/468. f. 468.
  4. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/468. f. 468.
  5. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 400.
  6. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/468. f. 468.
  7. Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/468. f. 468.