Difference between revisions of "Eric Percy Coventry Back"

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[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''Eric Percy Coventry Back''', Royal Navy (5 August, 1870 – 30 December, 1915) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].
 
[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''Eric Percy Coventry Back''', Royal Navy (5 August, 1870 – 30 December, 1915) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].
  
Back was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 26 June, 1902.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27448/supplements/4198 (Supplement) no. 27448.  p. 4198.]  26 June, 1902.</ref>
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==Life & Career==
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Back was born in Torquay, South Devon, the son of a Reverend S. Back of Maxstoke Vicarage. in Coleshill, Warwickshire.<ref>Back Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>
  
==Footnotes==
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He was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 14 February, 1890.{{Gaz|26224|5986|17 November, 1891}}
{{reflist}}
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Back was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 30 June, 1892.{{Gaz|26309|4187|22 July, 1892}}
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Back was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 26 June, 1902.{{GazSup|27448|4198|26 June, 1902}}
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On 1 February, 1905, he was appointed to be executive officer in {{UK-PrinceGeorge}}.  On 1 April, she collided with the German cruiser {{DE-FriedrichCarl}} near Gibraltar and Back was informed that he had shown a lack of judgment and had contravened Admiralty orders in opening sluice valves without orders and without first ascertaining the scope of damage.  On 4 March, 1907, ''Prince George'' was paid off.  In September, Back took a Signals Course.
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On 30 June, 1908, Back was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}}.{{GazSup|28151|4644|26 June, 1908}}
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He was appointed in command of the cruiser {{UK-KingAlfred}} on 7 June, 1910, and became captain of {{UK-Sutlej}} on 13 June when the flag was transferred to ''King Alfred''.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 30 May, 1910.  Issue '''39285''', col C, p. 8.<br>Doughty Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  f. 141.</ref>
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Back served as captain of {{UK-Leviathan}} from 8 February 1911, remaining with her for two years.  He married Violet Hammill in St. Faith's on 18 February, 1911.  After ''Leviathan'' paid off on 13 February, 1913, Back apparently failed to return her charts in a suitable condition; Their Lordships informed him that his explanation for this deficiency was "insufficient".  On 20 March, Back was appointed to ''Impregnable'' to be Flag Captain to Admiral [[George Le Clerc Egerton|Egerton]] on the [[Plymouth Station]].<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>
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==Great War==
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Back was superseded as Flag Captain on the Plymouth Station by Captain [[Charles Frederick Thorp]] on 5 June, 1915 and appointed in command of the {{UK-Natal|f=t}}.  This would prove to be his last appointment, as he died in her when she exploded on 30 December, just over six months later.<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>
  
==Bibliography==
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==Service Records==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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*{{ADM196|89|D8115557}}
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*{{ADM196|43|D7602475}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
==Service Record==
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{refbegin}}
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{{TabNaval}}
*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7917996&queryType=1&resultcount=1 ADM 196/43.]
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Lewis Clinton-Baker|Lewis Clinton-Baker]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. King Alfred (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''King Alfred'']]'''<br>7 Jun, 1910<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref> &ndash; 13 Jun, 1910<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Montagu Doughty|Henry M. Doughty]]'''}}
{{refend}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Montagu Doughty|Henry M. Doughty]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Sutlej (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Sutlej'']]'''<br>13 Jun, 1910<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref><ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 30 May, 1910.  Issue '''39285''', col C, p. 8.<br>Doughty Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  f. 141.</ref> &ndash; 8 Feb, 1911<ref>Back Service Record{{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert du Cane Luard|Herbert du C. Luard]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Lindesay Cay|Arthur L. Cay]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Leviathan (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Leviathan'']]'''<br>8 Feb, 1911<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>{{NLApr11|p. 339}} &ndash; 13 Feb, 1913<ref>Back Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Octavius Harold Daniel|Octavius H. Daniel]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Lindesay Cay|Arthur L. Cay]]'''|'''[[Plymouth Station|Flag Captain, Plymouth Station]]'''<br>20 Mar, 1913{{NLDec14|p. 335}}<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref> &ndash; 5 Jun, 1915<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Frederick Thorp|Charles F. Thorp]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Frederick Ernest Green|John F. E. Green]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Natal (1905)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Natal'']]'''<br>5 Jun, 1915{{NLOct15|p. 396''d''}}<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref> &ndash; 30 Dec, 1915<ref>Back Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602475}} f. 142.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''Vessel Lost'''}}
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{{TabEnd}}
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</div name=fredbot:appts> 
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==Footnotes==
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{{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Back, Eric}}
  
[[Category:1870 births|Back]]
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{{CatPerson|UK|1870|1915}}
[[Category:1915 deaths|Back]]
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{{CatBritannia|January, 1884}}
[[Category:Personalities|Back]]
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{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1884|Back]]
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{{CatCapt|UK}}
[[Category:Commanding Officers of H.M.S. Natal (1905)|Back]]
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{{CatKilledOnActiveService|UK}}
[[Category:Royal Navy Captains|Back]]
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{{CatRN}}
[[Category:Royal Navy Officers Killed on Active Service|Back]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:11, 7 April 2022

Captain Eric Percy Coventry Back, Royal Navy (5 August, 1870 – 30 December, 1915) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Back was born in Torquay, South Devon, the son of a Reverend S. Back of Maxstoke Vicarage. in Coleshill, Warwickshire.[1]

He was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 14 February, 1890.[2]

Back was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1892.[3]

Back was promoted to the rank of Commander on 26 June, 1902.[4]

On 1 February, 1905, he was appointed to be executive officer in Prince George. On 1 April, she collided with the German cruiser Friedrich Carl near Gibraltar and Back was informed that he had shown a lack of judgment and had contravened Admiralty orders in opening sluice valves without orders and without first ascertaining the scope of damage. On 4 March, 1907, Prince George was paid off. In September, Back took a Signals Course.

On 30 June, 1908, Back was promoted to the rank of Captain.[5]

He was appointed in command of the cruiser King Alfred on 7 June, 1910, and became captain of Sutlej on 13 June when the flag was transferred to King Alfred.[6]

Back served as captain of Leviathan from 8 February 1911, remaining with her for two years. He married Violet Hammill in St. Faith's on 18 February, 1911. After Leviathan paid off on 13 February, 1913, Back apparently failed to return her charts in a suitable condition; Their Lordships informed him that his explanation for this deficiency was "insufficient". On 20 March, Back was appointed to Impregnable to be Flag Captain to Admiral Egerton on the Plymouth Station.[7]

Great War

Back was superseded as Flag Captain on the Plymouth Station by Captain Charles Frederick Thorp on 5 June, 1915 and appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Natal. This would prove to be his last appointment, as he died in her when she exploded on 30 December, just over six months later.[8]

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Lewis Clinton-Baker
Captain of H.M.S. King Alfred
7 Jun, 1910[9] – 13 Jun, 1910[10]
Succeeded by
Henry M. Doughty
Preceded by
Henry M. Doughty
Captain of H.M.S. Sutlej
13 Jun, 1910[11][12] – 8 Feb, 1911[13]
Succeeded by
Herbert du C. Luard
Preceded by
Arthur L. Cay
Captain of H.M.S. Leviathan
8 Feb, 1911[14][15] – 13 Feb, 1913[16]
Succeeded by
Octavius H. Daniel
Preceded by
Arthur L. Cay
Flag Captain, Plymouth Station
20 Mar, 1913[17][18] – 5 Jun, 1915[19]
Succeeded by
Charles F. Thorp
Preceded by
John F. E. Green
Captain of H.M.S. Natal
5 Jun, 1915[20][21] – 30 Dec, 1915[22]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost

 

Footnotes

  1. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 26224. p. 5986. 17 November, 1891.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 26309. p. 4187. 22 July, 1892.
  4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27448. p. 4198. 26 June, 1902.
  5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28151. p. 4644. 26 June, 1908.
  6. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 30 May, 1910. Issue 39285, col C, p. 8.
    Doughty Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 141.
  7. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  8. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  9. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  10. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  11. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  12. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 30 May, 1910. Issue 39285, col C, p. 8.
    Doughty Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 141.
  13. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  14. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  15. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 339.
  16. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  17. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 335.
  18. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  19. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  20. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396d.
  21. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.
  22. Back Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 142.