Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet
Admiral SIR Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet, K.C.B., D.S.O.*, M.V.O., R.N. (11 June, 1871 – 14 February, 1956), also known as "Tich" Cowan, was an officer of the Royal Navy in the First World War.
Early Life & Career
On 28 January, 1892, Cowan was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, dated 14 July, 1890.[1]
Cowan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 13 November, 1893.[2]
Cowan was appointed in command of the destroyer Boxer on 20 January, 1898.[3]
Cowan was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1901, for services in South Africa.[4]
On the occasion of the King's visit to Ireland he was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 5 May, 1904.[5]
Cowan was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1906.[6]
He was appointed to command the armoured cruiser Cressy in August, 1909.[7]
In July, 1910, he assumed command of the light cruiser Gloucester.[8]
On 1 May, 1912, he was appointed Assistant to the Admiral of Patrols.[9]
He was appointed to command the battleship Zealandia on 7 February, 1914.[10]
Great War
On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[11]
On 7 July, 1917, he was appointed Commodore, First Class Commanding the First Light Cruiser Squadron, from the bridge of H.M.S. Caledon.[12]
On 2 September, 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral.[13]
Post-war Activity
He was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1919.[14]
On 2 November, 1923 he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral.[15]
Cowan was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 August, 1927, vice Clinton-Baker.[16]
He was placed on the Retired List on 6 October, 1931.[17]
Retirement and the Second World War
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26253. p. 544. 2 February, 1892.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26359. p. 2. 2 January, 1893.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 24 January, 1898. Issue 35421, col A, p. 11.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27335. p. 4780. 19 July, 1901.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27675. p. 3000. 10 May, 1904.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27982. p. 31. 1 January, 1907.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 23 April, 1912. Issue 39880, col G, p. 16.
- ↑ The Navy List (December, 1914). p. 398.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
- ↑ "Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918, and Which Have Now Ceased to Exist." The National Archives. ADM 6/461. p. 24.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30892. p. 10661. 10 September, 1918.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31099. p. 106. 1 January, 1919.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32878. p. 7658. 9 November, 1923.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33300. p. 5105. 5 August, 1927.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33761. p. 6464. 9 October, 1931.
Bibliography
- "Admiral Sir W. Cowan" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 15 February, 1956. Issue 53455, col A, pg. 11.
- "Adml. Sir Walter Cowan" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 5 March, 1956. Issue 53471, col C, p. 13.
- Dawson, Lionel George (1949). Sound of the Guns: Being an Account of the Wars and Service of Admiral Sir Walter Cowan. Oxford: Pen-in-Hand.
Papers
- Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum. For a detailed list see Cowan Papers at the National Maritime Museum.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/43.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by William E. Goodenough |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Light Cruiser Squadron 1917 – 1920 |
Succeeded by Sir James A. Fergusson
|
| Preceded by Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, Bart. |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Squadron 1921 – 1923 |
Succeeded by Sir Frederick L. Field
|
| Preceded by Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart. |
Commanding Officer, Coast of Scotland and Admiral Superintendent of Rosyth Dockyard 1925 – 1926 |
Succeeded by Humphrey W. Bowring
|
| Preceded by Sir James A. Fergusson |
Commander-in-Chief on the America and West Indies Station 1926 – 1928 |
Succeeded by Sir Cyril T. M. Fuller
|
| Court Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair |
First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp 1930 – 1931 |
Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand
|
- Knights Commanders of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar
- Members of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order
- People
- People (UK)
- 1871 births
- 1956 deaths
- H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1884
- Assistants to the Admiral of Patrols
- Senior Naval Officers, Baltic
- Rear-Admirals Commanding the Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)
- Commanding Officers, Coast of Scotland and Admirals Superintendent of Rosyth Dockyard
- Commanders-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station
