James Collis Bird

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Temporary Lieutenant James Collis Bird, D.S.C. (15 November, 1885 – ) served in the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Navy. He would specialise in paddle minesweeping.

Life & Career

Bird was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 September, 1914. He was first sent to Marseilles for Transport Duties, but on 9 January 1915 he was sent to Dieppe to operate paddle minesweepers. On 21 May he was moved to Dover for more of the same work.[1]

He commanded the paddle sweeper Ravenswood from June to 8 July, 1915.[2]

He commanded the paddle sweeper Brighton Queen from 8 July 1915. He ceased one of these commands on 1 February, 1916. He also commanded Glen Avon from about 5 May 1916.[3]

In 1916 he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for attemping to save life at sea from Lady Moyra[?].[4]

On 19 March 1917 he was reported sick with rubella, to regain fitness on 6 April.[5]

He commanded the paddle sweeper Aiglon from 29 October, 1917.[6]

He commanded the paddle sweeper Cotillion from 7 April, 1919 and served as Senior Officer, "Dance" class Flotilla, vice Broad[?]. He was superseded in this role on 1 July 1919 and was unfit for some time. It was only at this point that his Service Record notes that he was serving with an artificial right eye since 1912.[7]

Bird's temporary commission was terminated on 20 July, 1920.

World War II

More minesweeping work. He would again command Glen Avon from 18 October 1939 in the rank of temporary acting Lt. Cdr..[8]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Hugh Seymour
Captain of H.M.S. Leda
15 Feb, 1917[9][10]c. Oct, 1917
Succeeded by
Robert C. Warden
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Saltash
Sep, 1918[11][12] – 20 Jan, 1919[Inference]
Succeeded by
Jesse Dixon
Preceded by
New Command
Senior Officer, Nineteenth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
Sep, 1918[13][14] – 20 Jan, 1919[Inference]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 55.
  2. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 55.
  3. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 55.
  4. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 55.
  5. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  6. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  7. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  8. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  9. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  10. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395a.
  11. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  12. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 902.
  13. Bird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/281. f. 299.
  14. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 902.