Difference between revisions of "Sydney Stewart Hall"

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Update appts)
Line 52: Line 52:
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Charles Ulick Vernon Wentworth|Frederick C. U. V. Wentworth]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 81 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 81]]'''<br>16 Jul, 1901<ref>"The Naval Manœuvres".  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 11 July, 1901.  Issue '''36504''', col C, p. 8.</ref> &ndash; Aug, 1901<ref>Hall Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43/236}}</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Joseph Charles Davies|Joseph C. Davies]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Charles Ulick Vernon Wentworth|Frederick C. U. V. Wentworth]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 81 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 81]]'''<br>16 Jul, 1901<ref>"The Naval Manœuvres".  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 11 July, 1901.  Issue '''36504''', col C, p. 8.</ref> &ndash; Aug, 1901<ref>Hall Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43/236}}</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Joseph Charles Davies|Joseph C. Davies]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edgar Lees|Edgar Lees]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hazard (1894)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hazard'']]'''<br>28 Jul, 1904<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; May, 1905<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Warren Johnson|Robert W. Johnson]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edgar Lees|Edgar Lees]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hazard (1894)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hazard'']]'''<br>28 Jul, 1904<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; May, 1905<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Warren Johnson|Robert W. Johnson]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Forth (1886)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Forth'']]'''<br>May, 1905<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; 12 Nov, 1906<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Maurice Swynfen FitzMaurice|Maurice S. FitzMaurice]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edgar Lees|Edgar Lees]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Forth (1886)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Forth'']]'''<br>May, 1905<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; 12 Nov, 1906<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Maurice Swynfen FitzMaurice|Maurice S. FitzMaurice]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Oliver|Henry F. Oliver]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Mercury (1878)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Mercury'']]'''<br>12 Nov, 1906{{NLJan07|p. 345}}<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; 14 Nov, 1910<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Oliver|Henry F. Oliver]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Mercury (1878)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Mercury'']]'''<br>12 Nov, 1906{{NLJan07|p. 345}}<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; 14 Nov, 1910<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edgar Lees|Edgar Lees]]'''|'''[[Inspecting Captain of Submarines|Inspecting Captain of Submarines]]'''<br>12 Nov, 1906<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; 14 Nov, 1910<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|Roger J. B. Keyes]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edgar Lees|Edgar Lees]]'''|'''[[Inspecting Captain of Submarines|Inspecting Captain of Submarines]]'''<br>12 Nov, 1906<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 258.</ref> &ndash; 14 Nov, 1910<ref>Hall Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 258.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|Roger J. B. Keyes]]'''}}

Revision as of 21:09, 8 April 2016

Admiral Sydney S. Hall as a Commodore, Second Class, 1917.
Portrait: Francis Dodd. © IWM (Art.IWM ART 1742).

Admiral Sydney Stewart Hall, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (16 June, 1872 – 10 January, 1955) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

He was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 14 August, 1891. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 14 August, 1892.[1]

In July 1901, he was appointed to command T.B. 81 and was placed in command of the Portsmouth Flotilla for the annual manoeuvres.[2] His appointment was disastrous, as he stranded T.B. 81 at Alderney on a submerged breakwater on 1 August, damaging her so badly that she sank and had to be salvaged.[3] The subsequent Court of Inquiry found that the sinking had been "caused by great carelessness on [Hall's] part". Their Lordships expressed their "extreme displease" at his actions, and he was cautioned to be more careful in future.[4][5]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 1 January, 1903.[6]

On 12 November, 1906, he was appointed in command of the submarine depot ship Mercury and as Inspecting Commander of Submarines.[7]

Hall was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1907.[8]

On 14 November, 1910, he was superseded in Mercury and as Inspecting Captain of Submarines.[9]

On 4 February 1911, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Diana. This posting brought some form of grief, as on 30 December, 1911, Lord Fisher wrote to Churchill, "… you must get home Captain S. S. Hall of the Diana as soon as you can! Dear old A. K. Wilson got rid of him as he was a d—d sight too pertinacious!"[10] In fact, the reasons were apparently more prosaic. Hall had requested permission to retire in August 1910, which was refused, the First Sea Lord writing that "I do not think that an officer who had held such an important position as inspecting captain of submarines such be allowed to retire and thus take his knowledge out of the Service." The assessment written of Hall by his superior, Admiral George Neville, was positive as well: "Has carried out his duties as I.C.S. in a thoroughly efficient manner."[11] Nevertheless, he certainly did not enjoy his time in command of Diana, complaining to Fisher later that:

It is surprising the hostility one meets if one dares to do anything new. it was said openly at C in C's table that 'Diana' was to be shaken up. (owing to mere rumour) After a 3 days inspection more rigid than anyone else had seen, he admitted that rumour had been false, my inspection report could not be bettered, but it did not kill the rumour. I was still a pirate: while they cleaned brightwork my petty officers sailed boats without rudders."[12]

On 1 December, 1913 he was appointed Joint Secretary of the Oil Fuel Commission, vice Dumas.[13]

Hall was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 1 January, 1914.[14]

He was appointed to command the armoured cruiser Roxburgh in July, 1914, serving in her until the end of October.

Great War

Hall became the Royal Navy's top submarine officer as Commodore (S) on 8 February, 1915,[15] participating in the first meeting of the Submarine Development Committee on 8 September, where the design and purpose of six broad types of submarine were considered: Coastal, Patrol, Fleet, Cruiser, Minelayer and Monitor.[16] Though he was at the Admiralty, he was nominally also captain of the Dolphin from 8 February, 1915.[17]

Hall was appointed Commodore, First Class on 1 January, 1918.[18]

Post-War

Hall was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 18 July, 1919, vice Cayley.[19] He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 16 September.[20]

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 1 January, 1925,[21] and to Admiral on 27 February, 1929.[22]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral S. S. Hall" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 11 January, 1955. Issue 53136, col D, p. 10.

Service Records


Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Frederick C. U. V. Wentworth 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 81
16 Jul, 1901[23] – Aug, 1901[24] 		Succeeded by
Joseph C. Davies
Preceded by
Edgar Lees 		Captain of H.M.S. Hazard
28 Jul, 1904[25] – May, 1905[26] 		Succeeded by
Robert W. Johnson
Preceded by
Edgar Lees 		Captain of H.M.S. Forth
May, 1905[27] – 12 Nov, 1906[28] 		Succeeded by
Maurice S. FitzMaurice
Preceded by
Henry F. Oliver 		Captain of H.M.S. Mercury
12 Nov, 1906[29][30] – 14 Nov, 1910[31] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Edgar Lees 		Inspecting Captain of Submarines
12 Nov, 1906[32] – 14 Nov, 1910[33] 		Succeeded by
Roger J. B. Keyes
Preceded by
Thomas W. Kemp 		Captain of H.M.S. Diana
4 Feb, 1911[34] – 4 Feb, 1913[35] 		Succeeded by
Maurice Woollcombe
Preceded by
Tristan Dannreuther 		Captain of H.M.S. Canopus
Jul, 1914[36] 		Succeeded by
Heathcoat S. Grant
Preceded by
Philip W. Dumas 		Captain of H.M.S. Roxburgh
25 Jul, 1914[37] – 31 Oct, 1914[38] 		Succeeded by
Bertram M. Chambers
Preceded by
Vernon H. S. Haggard 		Captain of H.M.S. Dolphin
8 Feb, 1915[39][40] – 25 Aug, 1919[41] 		Succeeded by
Max K. Horton

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26356. p. 7551. 23 December, 1892.
  2. ↑ "The Naval Manœuvres". The Times. Thursday, 11 July, 1901. Issue 36504, col C, p. 8.
  3. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 3 August, 1901. Issue 36524, col B-D, p. 10.
  4. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/236
  5. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/89/26
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
  7. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 345.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28096. p. 34. 3 January, 1908.
  9. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  10. ↑ Winston S. Churchill. Companion Volume II Part 2. p. 1365.
  11. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/89/26
  12. ↑ Hall to Fisher, 17 February 1914, FISR 1/14, Fisher MSS, Churchill Archive Centre, Churchill College.
  13. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  14. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette: no. 12630. p. 7. 2 January, 1914.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 3.
  16. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 21. p. 10.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 777.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30451. p. 86. 1 January, 1918.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31486. p. 9863. 1 August, 1919.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31581. p. 12141. 3 October, 1919.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33010. p. 219. 9 January, 1925.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33474. p. 1575. 5 March, 1929.
  23. ↑ "The Naval Manœuvres". The Times. Thursday, 11 July, 1901. Issue 36504, col C, p. 8.
  24. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/236
  25. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  26. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  27. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  28. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  29. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 345.
  30. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  31. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  32. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  33. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  34. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  35. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  36. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  37. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  38. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  39. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 777.
  40. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  41. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.

Template:CatAdmiral

Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Sydney_Stewart_Hall&oldid=195112"