John Francis Herbert Cole

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Commander John Francis Herbert Cole (9 December, 1878 – 9 August, 1915) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was killed in command of H.M.S. Lynx when she struck a mine.

Life & Career

Born in Newton Abbot. Cole gained twelve months' time on passing out of Britannia.

Cole was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 July, 1900.[1]

In June 1903, Cole earned a first-class certificate in torpedoes at Greenwich. After a brief command appointment in the "A" Class destroyer Hasty, Cole joined the junior staff at Vernon before undertaking a string of service appointments as torpedo officer in a variety of ships, including Resolution, Glory and Renown.[2]

In 1910, Cole was in command of the torpedo gunboat Jason and delivered unsatisfactory results in a gunlayers' test. It was felt that he had "[f]ailed to appreciate standard of efficiency required."[3]

While wrapping up a half-year appointment as first and torpedo officer in Prince of Wales, Cole was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1912.[4]

On 12 February, 1913, Commander Cole was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 25.[5]

Cole was appointed in command of the destroyer Albacore in January, 1914.[6]

On 23 May, 1914, Cole was appointed in command of the destroyer Vigilant.[7] He served in her until being appointed to Hecla for Lynx, to take command upon her commissioning.

Cole was killed along with 62 other officers and men when Lynx struck a mine in the North Sea on 9 August, 1915.[8][9]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
A. Dudley P. R. Pound
Captain of H.M. T.B. 58
11 Jul, 1899[10] – 1 Oct, 1899[11]
Succeeded by
Archibald Gilbert
Preceded by
Ernest E. Parker
Captain of H.M.S. Hasty
21 Jul, 1903[12][13] – 18 Aug, 1903[14]
Succeeded by
Ernest E. Parker
Preceded by
Fitzroy H. Hall
Captain of H.M.S. Jason
23 Oct, 1909[15][16] – 2 Jan, 1911[17]
Succeeded by
Gilbert C. Heathcote
Preceded by
Sydney H. Tennyson
Captain of H.M.S. Gossamer
15 Jan, 1912[18][19] – 29 Jul, 1912[20]
Succeeded by
F. C. Guy St. Clair
Preceded by
Richard F. White
Captain of H.M. T.B. 25
12 Feb, 1913[21][22] – Feb, 1914[23]
Succeeded by
Frank Lumb
Preceded by
Lawrence D'O. Bignell
Captain of H.M.S. Albacore
Jan, 1914[24] – May, 1914[25]
Succeeded by
Arthur F. E. Palliser
Preceded by
Henry M. Fothergill
Captain of H.M.S. Vigilant
23 May, 1914[26] – 12 Jan, 1915[27]
Succeeded by
William C. Castle
Preceded by
Reginald St. P. Parry
Captain of H.M.S. Lynx
12 Jan, 1915[28][29] – 9 Aug, 1915[30]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost

Footnotes

  1. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  2. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  3. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  4. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 16.
  5. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 399.
  6. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 275.
  7. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 394.
  8. Kindell. Royal Navy Roll of Honour Part 2. p. 131.
  9. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  10. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  11. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  12. "APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NAVAL MANOEUVRES." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Jul 16, 1903; pg. 8; Issue 37134.
  13. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  14. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  15. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  16. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 334.
  17. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  18. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  19. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 321.
  20. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  21. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  22. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 400.
  23. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  24. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 275.
  25. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  26. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 394.
  27. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  28. Cole Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/461. f. 533.
  29. The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 395q.
  30. Kindell. Royal Navy Roll of Honour Part 2. p. 131.