William Walker Skynner

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Lieutenant William Walker Skynner (15 December, 1888 – 5 June, 1916) served in the Royal Navy and died in the Great War in the mining of H.M.S. Hampshire.

Life & Career

Born in Welcombe, North Devon, Skynner gained two and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia in May 1905. He was sent to join Leviathan in the Mediterranean.

On 8 February, 1910, Skynner was appointed to the armoured cruiser Achilles.[1]

In February, 1910, Captain Chatfield wrote that Skynner possessed "very poor exec. power & prof. knowledge as [watch-keeper]. Not at present fit for promotion to Lieut." In December, Captain Nicholson offered a similar opinion. However, Skynner was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1911 after receiving an evaluation from Stanhope Hawke that deemed him as "lacking in personality & rather feeble in character."[2]

Skynner was appointed to Fortune on 11 December, 1913, becoming her first lieutenant. He served in her until being appointed in command of the "C" Class destroyer Gipsy on 9 April, 1915. Skynner grounded the destroyer on Christmas Day, 1915 and was superseded in command on 9 January, 1916. On the 17th, he was appointed to the armoured cruiser Hampshire.[3]

Skynner was killed when Hampshire hit a mine on 5 June, 1916. His last evaluation from Captain Saville noted "no special attribute."[4]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Edmond M. Bowly
Captain of H.M.S. Gipsy
9 Apr, 1915[5][6] – 9 Jan, 1916[7]
Succeeded by
Leslie T. Creery Hill

Footnotes

  1. Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
  2. Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
  3. Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
  4. Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
  5. Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.
  6. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394i.
  7. Skynner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/73. f. ?.