Difference between revisions of "Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville"

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{{ViceRN}} '''Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville''', C.B., D.S.O. (10 July, 1873 – 16 November, 1950) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
 
{{ViceRN}} '''Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville''', C.B., D.S.O. (10 July, 1873 – 16 November, 1950) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
  
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==Life==
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==Life & Career==
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In October 1914, he assumed command of the {{UK-Europa|f=t}}.{{MackieRNW}}
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Somerville was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Somerville of County Cork and gained eight months' seniority on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} in July, 1888.  His first naval appointment was to {{UK-1Monarch}} of the [[Channel Squadron]], dated 1 September 1888.  On 4 December, he was appointed to {{UK-1Swiftsure}} in the Pacific, taking his passage out in {{UK-1Champion|f=p}}. Once in the Pacific, he also served aboard {{UK-1Warspite}} from June, 1890 and in {{UK-1Champion}} from March to May, 1892.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/361.|D7576559}} f. 361.</ref>
  
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He was appointed in command of the monitor [[H.M.S. Earl of Peterborough (1915)|''Earl of Peterborough'']].
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Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1894.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/361.|D7576559}} f. 361.</ref>
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Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1905.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/361.|D7576559}} f. 361.</ref>
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Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1914.  On 2 July, he was appointed to {{UK-Cressy}} for temporary command of {{UK-Sapphire}}.  In late October 1914, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Europa|f=t}}, and assumed command of her on 19 November.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/361.|D7576559}} f. 361.</ref>
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Somerville was ordered home on 4 June, 1915 and was to the monitor [[H.M.S. Earl of Peterborough (1915)|''Earl of Peterborough'']] on the 28th, to assume command upon her commissioning.  He left Mudros on 15 June in S.S. ''Altunia'' (?)  Part of his extensive time in command of the monitor also required him to serve as Boom Commander in Salonika, where Rear-Admiral Nicholson records that he performed his duties with zeal and tact.
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Somerville was slightly wounded on 4 February, 1916.  On 14 March, he was gazetted for being mentioned in despatches for service in Gallipoli.
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On 24 May, 1917, Somerville bombarded an aerodrome at Prosecco and impressed the Admiralty with his ship handling.  On 19 November, 1917, the Italian government's Minister of Convoy expressed through the British naval attaché his appreciation for Somerville's work.
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Somerville was awarded a D.S.O. for his work in the Adriatic in the first half of 1918.
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==Post-War==
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In January 1922, Somerville was made Coast Guard Captain on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches and placed in command of the Coast Guard's Queenstown Area.  He stepped down on 31 March, 1923, having been selected for retirement.
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Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 3 September, 1924 and was placed on the Retired List at his own request the following day.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/361.|D7576559}} f. 361.</ref>
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Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 1 August, 1929.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/361.|D7576559}} f. 361.</ref>
  
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==And Then==
 
 
Somerville died at Malmaison, Castle Townshend, County Cork, on 16 November, 1950 after a short illness at the age of seventy-seven.  His funeral took place on 18 November.
 
Somerville died at Malmaison, Castle Townshend, County Cork, on 16 November, 1950 after a short illness at the age of seventy-seven.  His funeral took place on 18 November.
  
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==Service Records==
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==See Also==
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* {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}
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* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+196+Gaultier+Somerville Service Records]
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{{refend}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerville, Hugh}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerville, Hugh}}
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{{CatPerson|UK|1873|1950}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1873|1950}}
 
{{CatViceAdmiral|UK}}
 
{{CatViceAdmiral|UK}}
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{{CatBritannia|July, 1886}}

Revision as of 13:12, 23 January 2017

Vice-Admiral Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville, C.B., D.S.O. (10 July, 1873 – 16 November, 1950) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Somerville was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Somerville of County Cork and gained eight months' seniority on passing out of Britannia in July, 1888. His first naval appointment was to Monarch of the Channel Squadron, dated 1 September 1888. On 4 December, he was appointed to Swiftsure in the Pacific, taking his passage out in H.M.S. Champion. Once in the Pacific, he also served aboard Warspite from June, 1890 and in Champion from March to May, 1892.[1]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1894.[2]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1905.[3]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1914. On 2 July, he was appointed to Cressy for temporary command of Sapphire. In late October 1914, he was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Europa, and assumed command of her on 19 November.[4]

Somerville was ordered home on 4 June, 1915 and was to the monitor Earl of Peterborough on the 28th, to assume command upon her commissioning. He left Mudros on 15 June in S.S. Altunia (?) Part of his extensive time in command of the monitor also required him to serve as Boom Commander in Salonika, where Rear-Admiral Nicholson records that he performed his duties with zeal and tact.

Somerville was slightly wounded on 4 February, 1916. On 14 March, he was gazetted for being mentioned in despatches for service in Gallipoli.

On 24 May, 1917, Somerville bombarded an aerodrome at Prosecco and impressed the Admiralty with his ship handling. On 19 November, 1917, the Italian government's Minister of Convoy expressed through the British naval attaché his appreciation for Somerville's work.

Somerville was awarded a D.S.O. for his work in the Adriatic in the first half of 1918.

Post-War

In January 1922, Somerville was made Coast Guard Captain on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches and placed in command of the Coast Guard's Queenstown Area. He stepped down on 31 March, 1923, having been selected for retirement.

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 3 September, 1924 and was placed on the Retired List at his own request the following day.[5]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 August, 1929.[6]

Somerville died at Malmaison, Castle Townshend, County Cork, on 16 November, 1950 after a short illness at the age of seventy-seven. His funeral took place on 18 November.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
George C. Quayle 		Captain of H.M.S. Redbreast
28 May, 1904[7] 		Succeeded by
Walter Hose
Preceded by
Francis C. Brown 		Captain of H.M.S. Sapphire
2 Jul, 1914[8] – 29 Oct, 1914[9][10] 		Succeeded by
Peter W. E. Hill
Preceded by
Gerald W. Vivian 		Captain of H.M.S. Europa
29 Oct, 1914[11] 		Succeeded by
Maurice S. FitzMaurice
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Earl of Peterborough
28 Jun, 1915[12] – 1919[Citation needed] 		Succeeded by
?
 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/361. f. 361.
  2. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/361. f. 361.
  3. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/361. f. 361.
  4. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/361. f. 361.
  5. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/361. f. 361.
  6. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/361. f. 361.
  7. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 366.
  8. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1914). p. 379.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 397v.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 394.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 394.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 782.

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