Robert Stevenson Dalton Cuming
Admiral Robert Dalton Stevenson Cuming, C.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy, Retired (10 September, 1852 – 22 February, 1940) was an officer of the Royal Navy. His last name was originally spelled as "Cumming".
Life & Career
Cumming was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 27 October, 1877.[1]
Cumming was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1890.[2] On 3 January, 1891, he was appointed Commander (Executive Officer) of the turret ship Dreadnought on the Mediterranean Station. Having paid off Dreadnought on 5 September, 1894, on 22 September he was appointed in command of the Caledonia, training ship for boys at Queensferry.[3] In April he had been recommended for command of a training ship, "So zealous and hard working" had he been.[4] A report of an inspection in 1896 stated in part, "[The] whole tone of ship shows careful & painstaking attention to details with most successful results."[5]
Captain
Cumming was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1897.[6] On 21 February he was granted permission to accept command of the King of Siam's yacht on the latter's visit to Europe, for which he was granted permission to accept but not wear a decoration from the King of Siam, but not accept a decoration from the King of Denmark.[7]
On 6 March, 1899, he took a half pay Signals Course, and on 8 June was appointed in command of the Endymion on the China Station, and on 28 September took command of the Hermione from Captain George A. Callaghan. Hermione paid off on 15 August, 1901, and on 1 February, 1902, Cuming was appointed in command of the Galatea in the Channel Squadron. In August, the ship put in a dismal inspection, with the "dirtyness" of the ship's company attracting comment. In general, they evinced a "want of drill."[8]
In February 1903, he undertook a brief period command of the second class protected cruiser Dido.
He was appointed to the President for command of the Scotland Coastguard District on 21 May, 1903. He was awarded a Good Service Pension on 7 August, 1905, and was superseded in command of the Coastguard District on 21 May, 1906.[9]
Retirement
Cumming was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral dated 26 January, 1907.[10] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 10 April.[11] He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 18 September, 1911.[12]
Cumming changed his surname to Cuming by deed poll dated 5 August, 1913.[13]
Cuming was promoted to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 5 March, 1915.[14] On 24 April he was granted a temporary Commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve.[15] As such, Cuming undertook command of the armed yacht Aries on 27 April, 1915 and transferred to armed yacht Atalanta on 24 June, 1915. He was granted leave to visit London from Gibraltar between 12 June to 4 July, 1916 while Atalanta was under refit. On 24 January, 1917, he was appointed to Thetis as Commodore, Second Class in charge of Auxiliary Patrol Area XVII based on Lough Larne. He was relieved in this command on 1 March, 1918.[16]
A photo portrait of him taken in 1918 reveals an old man with little apparent vitality.
Cuming was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) on 11 June, 1919.[17]
Bibliography
- "Admiral R. S. D. Cuming" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 23 February, 1940. Issue 48547, col F, p. 11.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/87.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
Naval Appointments | ||
Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Caledonia, Boys' Training Ship 22 Sep, 1894[18] |
Succeeded by Robert H. S. Stokes |
Preceded by William Wilson |
Captain of H.M.S. Endymion 8 Jun, 1899[19] – Jul, 1899[20] |
Succeeded by George A. Callaghan |
Preceded by George A. Callaghan |
Captain of H.M.S. Hermione 28 Sep, 1899[21] |
Succeeded by Arthur Y. Moggridge |
Preceded by Horatio N. Dudding |
Captain of H.M.S. Galatea 1 Feb, 1902[22] – 11 Feb, 1903[23] |
Succeeded by ? |
Preceded by Philip F. Tillard |
Captain of H.M.S. Dido 11 Feb, 1903[24] – 21 May, 1903[25] |
Succeeded by Richard H. Peirse |
Preceded by New Command |
Captain-in-Charge of the Scottish Coast Guard District 21 May, 1903[26] – 21 May, 1906[27] |
Succeeded by Charles H. Robertson as Rear-Admiral-in-Charge of the Scottish Coast Guard District |
Preceded by Alfred W. Paget |
Senior Officer in Charge, Auxiliary Patrol Area XVII 24 Jan, 1917[28] – 1 Mar, 1918[29] |
Succeeded by Charles D. Carpendale |
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24517. p. 5920. 30 October, 1877.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26121. p. 4. 2 January, 1891.
- ↑ ADM 196/38. f. 278.
- ↑ ADM 196/87. f. 26.
- ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 278.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26809. p. 3. 1 January, 1897.
- ↑ ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ ADM 196/87/26. f. 26.
- ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27991. p. 740. 1 February, 1907.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28013. p. 2576. 16 April, 1907.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28533. p. 6949. 22 September, 1911.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28748. p. 6042. 22 August, 1913.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29094. p. 2365. 9 March, 1915.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29145. p. 4061. 27 April, 1915.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31398. p. 7508. 11 June, 1919.
- ↑ Cuming service record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/323.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 26.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.
- ↑ Cuming Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 280.