Terence Ackley Fitzmaurice Longford

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Commander (retired) Terence Ackley Fitzmaurice Longford (5 April, 1887 – 3 January, 1951) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Longford was the son of a barrister and gained one and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia. His first appointment was two years spent in the Venerable in the Mediterranean. Early in 1904, her Captain, George E. Patey noted that Longford possessed skills in drawing and in the French and Japanese language. However, by November, Patey thought Longford "very slow."[1]

Having been judged to be taking a greater interest in his duties by H.M.S. New Zealand's Captain Sturdee in October 1908, Longford was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1909.[2]

On 3 February, 1911 Longford was appointed to Beagle as first lieutenant. On 19 February he was admitted to Portland Hospital with influenza. In November, Beagle's crew exhibited misconduct of some form. Longford was informed that his conduct in the matter did not "show the amount of tact & discretion in dealing with his men which is expected from an officer in his responsible position", and he was cautioned as to his future conduct.[3]

Longford was appointed as Lieutenant & Commander of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 7 on 17 September, 1913.[4]

On 21 January, 1914, Longford was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 17.[5]

Longford was superseded in command of T.B. 17 on 4 March, 1916. On 19 April 1916, he was appointed in command of the Laforey Class destroyer Legion.[6]

On 28 November, 1916, Longford was appointed in command of the destroyer Starfish.[7]

Longford was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1917.[8]

Post-War

On 31 May, 1919, Longford was admitted to Chatham Naval Hospital with appendicitis while still in command of Starfish. On 14 July, he was superseded in command and given command of Wolfhound five days later. In November, 1919 he grounded Wolfhound and the Admiralty expressed its displeasure. In subsequent events, Longford appeared to criticise his junior officers in a manner deemed without cause and it was decided to relieve him of command and not to give him command of a flotilla. He was presently sent to Portsmouth and then placed in charge of a group of T.B.Ds. in reserve. On 21 June, 1920, this work was ended by an appointment in command of the destroyer Sabrina. This work lasted but two months. In October, he was appointed to join Benbow. In March, he was sent home.[9]

The remainder of the 1920s were filled with appointments commonly given to destroyer commanders.

Longford was promoted to the rank of Commander on 3 November, 1929.[10]

World War II

In April, 1940 he was made Commander (D) on staff of Flag Officer in Charge, Milford Haven.

On 9 October, 1940, Longford was reported physically unfit to take up appointments, owing to chronic bronchitis, a history of ulcers and a nervous system which seemed easily upset. He was to be restricted to shore duty. On 15 April, 1941 Longford was made Royal Naval Officer, Fowey vice Perryman. Though he continued to be frail, his work by the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth for good work while R.N.O. Fowey and "the efficiency with which he conducted naval affairs."[11]

Longford died of bronchial pneumonia in 1951.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Frank P. O'Reilly
Captain of H.M. T.B. 7
17 Sep, 1913[12][13] – Feb, 1914[14]
Succeeded by
Brian C. Gourley
Preceded by
Cuthbert P. Blake
Captain of H.M. T.B. 17
21 Jan, 1914[15] – 14 Mar, 1916[16]
Succeeded by
Charles F. Bush
Preceded by
Thomas G. Carter
Captain of H.M.S. Legion
19 Apr, 1916[17][18] – 28 Nov, 1916[19]
Succeeded by
Joseph Bernard Newill
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Starfish
28 Nov, 1916[20][21] – 14 Jul, 1919[22]
Succeeded by
Ralph Kerr
Preceded by
Evelyn C. O. Thomson
Captain of H.M.S. Wolfhound
17 Jul, 1919[23][24] – 16 Dec, 1919[25]
Succeeded by
Arthur M. C. Stileman
Preceded by
Frederick Furnivall
Captain of H.M.S. Sabrina
21 Jun, 1920[26] – 24 Aug, 1920[27]
Succeeded by
Frederick M. Simon
Preceded by
Geoffrey H. Barnish
Captain of H.M.S. Garry
27 May, 1921[28] – 11 Jun, 1921[29]
Succeeded by
Walter O. H. Lambert
Preceded by
Thomas A. Benskin
Captain of H.M.S. Colne
30 Dec, 1921[30] – 2 Jan, 1924[31]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Francis A. Trepess
Captain of H.M.S. Vanoc
Nov, 1927[32] – 21 May, 1929[33]
Succeeded by
James C. Colvill

Footnotes

  1. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  2. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  3. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  4. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 401.
  5. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 401.
  6. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  7. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 911.
  8. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  9. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  10. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  11. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  12. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  13. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 401.
  14. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  15. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 400.
  16. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  17. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  18. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395uu.
  19. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  20. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  21. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 911.
  22. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  23. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  24. The Navy List. (December, 1919). p. 901.
  25. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  26. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  27. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  28. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  29. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  30. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  31. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.
  32. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 278.
  33. Longford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/15. f. 15.