Hugh Joseph Woodward

Captain Hugh Joseph Woodward, D.S.O., R.N., (20 January, 1886 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy who provided good service during the Great War but whose judgment was often questioned by his superiors.

Life & Career

Born in Brompton, London, Woodward listed his mother as his guardian when he joined the Royal Navy by entering the September, 1900 intake term at H.M.S. Britannia. He ranked twelfth of sixty-three candidates in competitive testing upon his entry. Emerging in mid-January, 1902, he served Majestic in the Channel for one year before moving to Implacable in ther Mediterranean, where he served until 30 April, 1905..

On 29 September, 1906 Woodward was granted leave to France until his services were required.

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 August, 1907.

On 5 February, 1909 he was admitted to Haslar for a knee ailment. Although he was discharged to duty ten days later, this same or another issue apparently required admission to King Edward VII Hospital on 7 June and then a spell in Osborne Convalescent Home. Then a glandular issue in his neck arose in September. He was finally discharged on 18 October, 1909.

Woodward served in the West River Patrol in China from 23 December 1911 until October 1912, serving in command of T.B. 035 for much of this period.

Great War

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 August, 1916.

Woodward damaged Portia's propeller in an accident with a drifter on 27 November, 1916. Cautioned to be more careful in future, Woodward was permitted leave to France on 26 February, 1917 while Portia underwent refit.

Woodward's destroyer H.M.S. Sable was rammed in the Captain's cabin by squadron mate Salmon in 1917 when the destroyers were proceeding in fog at 20 knots. Woodward shouted to Salmon's captain Dawson that he should "keep your stem in the hole," but the ships separated. Both were able to return to Rosyth. Woodward able to save a signed photograph of Queen Alexandra from his demolished cabin, which he had obtained when serving in the Royal yacht as a Sub-Lieutenant. A Court of Inquiry apparently attached no blame to either commander. The incident is entirely unrecorded in one of Dawson's Service Records.

At the end of 1917, Captain Dutton opined that Woodward lacked sound judgment.

Interbellum

Woodward was appointed in command of the destroyer Tumult on 5 November, 1918.

Awarded a bar to his D.S.O. for his services in action with a submarine in 1919, gazetted 22 January, 1920.

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1919.

In late 1920, Woodward assisted in the evacuation of Crimea, prompting an expression of thanks from the Commander-in-Chief, Russian Naval Forces. However, some other incident in 1921 or 1922 involving his failure to properly process Mess Bills before leaving Portsmouth incurred the displeasure of the Admiralty.

He impressed the Admiralty when he salvaged S.S. Borulos in October 1925. Similarly, in 1926 the Foreign Office thanked him for his help in negotiating with King Ali in the surrender of Jeddah.

Woodward was promoted to the rank of Captain on 20 January, 1931.

World War II

On 30 August, 1939 Woodward was appointed in command of a ship named something like H.M.S. Almania. Woodward was granted the acting rank of Captain on 10 November, 1939.

On 24 October, 1941, Woodward was appointed in command of H.M.S. Racer, vice Maxwell, and as Naval Officer in Charge, Larne. He was superseded on 6 August, 1942.

Woodward was assigned to the Liverpool Convoy Pool on 22 August, 1942 to serve in the rank of Commodore, Second Class, R.N.R..

Upon being reverted to the Retired List on 5 February 1944, Woodward told the Admiralty that he felt he was "willing, & medically fit for sea service, if required."

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Herbert A. Forster	Captain of H.M.T.B. 050 6 Jan, 1909 – Oct, 1909	Succeeded by Cuthbert M. Murphy as Captain of H.M. T.B. 050
Preceded by Cuthbert M. Murphy	Captain of H.M. T.B. 87 Dec, 1909 – 31 Jan, 1911	Succeeded by Stephen Phillimore
Preceded by James F. Houstoun	Captain of H.M. T.B. 1 31 Jan, 1911 – 23 Dec, 1911	Succeeded by Horace Walker
Preceded by Geoffrey Corlett	Captain of H.M.S. Hind 24 Jun, 1915 – 21 Jul, 1915	Succeeded by Desmond Maxwell
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Lavender 21 Jul, 1915 – 16 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Thomas S. L. Dorman
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Portia 6 Oct, 1916 – 11 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by Geoffrey N. Henson
Preceded by Theodore E. J. Bigg	Captain of H.M.S. Sable 13 Jul, 1917 – late 1917	Succeeded by George E. Matthews
Preceded by George A. Scott	Captain of H.M.S. Mons 13 Jan, 1918 – 3 Mar, 1918	Succeeded by George A. Scott
Preceded by Frederick E. K. Strong	Captain of H.M.S. Lightfoot 3 Mar, 1918 – 3 Jun, 1918	Succeeded by Leveson G. B. A. Campbell
Preceded by Ernald G. H. Master	Captain of H.M.S. Nonpareil 10 Jun, 1918 – 10 Aug, 1918	Succeeded by Samuel B. Graves
Preceded by Lawrence D'O. Bignell	Captain of H.M.S. Ophelia 10 Aug, 1918 – 5 Nov, 1918	Succeeded by Oscar Henderson
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Tumult 5 Nov, 1918 – 9 Jul, 1920	Succeeded by Frederick W. F. Fegen
Preceded by Guy P. Bowles	Captain of H.M.S. Clematis 12 Jun, 1924 – Jun, 1926	Succeeded by Claud H. Godwin