Theodore Evelyn Johnstone Bigg

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Captain Theodore Evelyn Johnstone Bigg, R.N. (5 September, 1878 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He would prove a capable destroyer commander during the Great War.

Life & Career

Bigg gained nine months time upon passing out of Britannia in December, 1894. He was appointed to join the second class battleship Camperdown in the Mediterranean on 15 January, 1895. He'd also serve in Collingwood that first year and wind up back in Camperdown until early 1898.[1]

After a few months in Raleigh, Bigg was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 64 on 11 July, 1899 for manoeuvres.[2]

Bigg was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1901.[3]

In June, 1904, he completed at 10 day navigation course in Talbot. Captain Bayly noted that Bigg "would do well if placed in command of a T.B.D.." This advice would prove resonant, as Bigg enjoyed a considerable number of destroyer commands. A similar endorsement was inspired by his command of the "C" Class destroyer Brazen which started in mid-1907, as in December where someone noted "has done well in Brazen. Recd for command of a better destroyer." It would appear that perhaps the River Class destroyer Exe was determined to be that better destroyer, as his next appointment was in her, on 15 June, 1908. He'd command a further five torpedo craft before being promoted.[4]

Bigg was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913 while in command of T.B. 27. He was appointed in command of the "C" Class destroyer Cheerful on 27 January, 1914 and would be in her through the first year of the war.[5]

Great War

Bigg left Cheerful for a brief stint in command of Beagle on 22 September, 1915, followed by a series of additional destroyer commands. Some confusion exists about the span of a second command of Badger, but he seems to have missed the Battle of Jutland.

Bigg was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1918, and appointed in command of the scout cruiser Bellona on 15 November, 1918.[6] Sadly for him, his ship was under refit during the surrender of the High Sea Fleet.

Post-War

Bigg was placed on the Retired List upon his relief as Captain (D) of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on 16 August, 1922.[7]

World War II

Bigg was made the Naval Representative on the Joint Recruiting Board of the University of Liverpool, including the University College of North Wales, Bangor on 2 September, 1939, but was reverted to the Retired List on 4 November.[8]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Bernard St. G. Collard
Captain of H.M. T.B. 64
11 Jul, 1899[9] – 1899
Succeeded by
Robert M. Groves
Preceded by
George B. Hartford
Captain of H.M. T.B. 74
c. Jun, 1905[10]c. Aug, 1905[Inference]
Succeeded by
Arthur M. Longmore
Preceded by
Arthur T. Blackwood
Captain of H.M.S. Zephyr
3 May, 1906[11] – 3 Aug, 1906[12]
Succeeded by
Richard Daly
Preceded by
Leonard A. B. Donaldson
Captain of H.M.S. Rocket
3 Aug, 1906[13][14] – 26 Apr, 1907[15]
Succeeded by
Reginald Henniker-Heaton
Preceded by
John R. Corner
Captain of H.M.S. Brazen
28 May, 1907[16][17] – 15 Jun, 1908[18]
Succeeded by
Hugh D. Colville
Preceded by
Percy W. Pontifex
Captain of H.M.S. Exe
15 Jun, 1908[19][20] – 10 Sep, 1909[21]
Succeeded by
James U. Farie
Preceded by
Stanley V. Ellis
Captain of H.M.S. Ness
10 Sep, 1909[22][23] – 4 Oct, 1910[24]
Succeeded by
Gerald C. Wynter
Preceded by
William D. Irvin
Captain of H.M.S. Usk
7 Nov, 1910[25][26] – 1 May, 1911[27]
Succeeded by
Bertie W. Bluett
Preceded by
Francis B. Haygarth
Captain of H.M. T.B. 8
16 May, 1911[28][29] – 12 Feb, 1913[30]
Succeeded by
Roger L'E. M. Rede
Preceded by
Raymond J. Harris-St. John
Captain of H.M. T.B. 27
12 Feb, 1913[31][32] – 27 Jan, 1914[33]
Succeeded by
John P. Burton
Preceded by
Robert Makin
Captain of H.M.S. Cheerful
27 Jan, 1914[34][35] – 22 Sep, 1915[36]
Succeeded by
Henry I. M. L. Scott
Preceded by
Harry R. Godfrey
Captain of H.M.S. Beagle
22 Sep, 1915[37][38] – 14 Oct, 1915[39][40]
Succeeded by
Claude Seymour
Preceded by
Claude Seymour
Captain of H.M.S. Colne
14 Oct, 1915[41][42] – 13 Jan, 1916[43]
Succeeded by
Lewes G. Gardner
Preceded by
Claude Seymour
Captain of H.M.S. Beagle
13 Jan, 1916[44] – 11 Apr, 1916[45][46]
Succeeded by
Henry M. Coombs
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Nereus
11 Apr, 1916[47]c. late Apr, 1916[48][Inference]
Succeeded by
Charles A. Fremantle
Preceded by
Charles A. Fremantle
Captain of H.M.S. Badger
? – 7 Nov, 1916[49]
Succeeded by
Alan M. Yeats-Brown
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Sable
11 Dec, 1916[50] – 12 Jul, 1917[51]
Succeeded by
Hugh J. Woodward
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Valhalla
12 Jul, 1917[52][53] – 16 Jul, 1918[54]
Succeeded by
Dashwood F. Moir
Preceded by
Ernest W. Denison
Captain of H.M.S. Bellona
15 Nov, 1918[55][56] – 1 Mar, 1920[57]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Arthur M. Lecky
Captain of H.M.S. Malcolm
25 Jun, 1921[58] – 16 Aug, 1922[59]
Succeeded by
Cyril St. C. Cameron
Preceded by
Kerrison Kiddle
Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla
25 Jun, 1921[60] – 16 Aug, 1922[61]
Succeeded by
Cyril St. C. Cameron

Footnotes

  1. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  2. "The Naval Mobilization". The Times. Monday, 10 July, 1899. Issue 35877, col C, p. 10.
  3. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 7.
  4. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  5. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  6. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 739.
  7. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  8. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  9. "The Naval Mobilization". The Times. Monday, 10 July, 1899. Issue 35877, col C, p. 10.
  10. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  11. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  12. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  13. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  14. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 368.
  15. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  16. The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 286.
  17. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  18. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  19. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  20. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 312.
  21. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  22. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  23. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 348.
  24. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  25. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  26. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 388.
  27. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  28. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  29. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 400.
  30. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  31. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  32. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 400.
  33. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  34. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  35. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392s.
  36. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  37. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  38. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 400.
  39. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  40. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  41. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  42. The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 400.
  43. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  44. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  45. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  46. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  47. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  48. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  49. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  50. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  51. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  52. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  53. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398p.
  54. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  55. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  56. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 739.
  57. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  58. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  59. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  60. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.
  61. Bigg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/9. f. 10.