Benjamin Wingate Barrow

Rear-Admiral Benjamin Wingate Barrow, D.S.O., Royal Navy (21 August, 1878 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Barrow was born in Arrah, India.

In December, 1897 he was admitted to Plymouth Hospital for an "uncertain period" with a diagnosis of "Gonoerheal Rhumatism[sic]".

Barrow was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1901.

Barrow was appointed in command of the destroyer Shark in June, 1907. He grounded her at the turn of the year. He was told he had incurred "severe displeasure" and told to be more careful in future as he began a half-year command of H.M.S. Cygnet.

He married Charlotte Constance Brooke on 29 August, 1908 at St. Paul's in Paddington. They would eventually have five children together.

Barrow was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1909.

In August of 1910, he was appointed in command of the Beagle Class destroyer Savage. In May of 1912, Barrow was judged solely to blame for damaging the sights of her starboard 12-pdr gun while coaling.

Barrow was appointed in command of the destroyer Firedrake on 4 January, 1913. On 30 June, 1913, he was Court Martialed for stranding his destroyer. Negligence was proved and he was severely reprimanded. In the credit column, Firedrake was able to produce good results in gunlaying tests later that year. Firedrake was also involved in the Curragh Incident in March 1914.

The Great War

Barrow was appointed in command of the destroyer Maori on 30 July, 1914.

Barrow was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1914. On 4 March, 1915, Maori helped sink U 8 off Dover, assisted by Ghurka. Barrow would eventually be awarded the D.S.O. for his part in this success, but his role in the war was not to last must longer, as on 7 May, 1915, Maori was mined and lost under his command and Barrow became a prisoner of war. Upon his repatriation, he was assigned to work in the Intelligence Division, dated 30 November, 1918.

Post-War

Barrow was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1920.

Barrow was appointed in command of the light cruiser Coventry in July, 1922.

He passed preliminary examinations as an interpreter in French in 1926, though he'd been speaking both French and German at some level since at least 1919.

He was temporarily appointed as Captain Superintendent of Contract Built Ships on 19 February, 1927 to serve there until 1 March, 1929.

Barrow was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 14 October, 1932 and placed on the Retired List the following day.

World War II

Like so many retired officers of his age, Barrow was thrown into convoy work as World War II began, first being appointed as Commodore of Convoy as a Commodore, Second Class, R.N.R. on 24 August, 1939. On 27 November, 1939 he was sent to the Liverpool Convoy Pool. Around April, 1942, he was sent to the Commodore in Charge and Commodore Superintendent, Simonstown vice Budgen.

In mid-July, 1944 he was called back and in October 1944 he reverted to the Retired List.

In 1947, Barrow moved to South Africa. He died at his home Bonaventure in Claremont, Cape Town.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• Family Genealogical Site

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William E. Prowse	Captain of H.M. T.B. 57 11 Jul, 1899 – 4 Sep, 1899	Succeeded by Clive C. H. Maitland-Addison
Preceded by Percy Johnson	Captain of H.M.S. Shark Jun, 1907 – 2 Jan, 1908	Succeeded by Henry F. H. Wakefield
Preceded by Frederick B. Noble	Captain of H.M.S. Cygnet 2 Jan, 1908 – 9 Jun, 1908	Succeeded by Charles C. Dix
Preceded by Charles C. Dix	Captain of H.M.S. Success 9 Jun, 1908 – 15 Jun, 1910	Succeeded by Charles G. Ramsey
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Savage 11 Aug, 1910 – 4 Jan, 1913	Succeeded by Henry Haire-Forster
Preceded by George K. Chetwode	Captain of H.M.S. Firedrake 4 Jan, 1913 – 24 Jun, 1914	Succeeded by Alfred B. Watts
Preceded by Henry de B. Tupper	Captain of H.M.S. Maori 24 Jun, 1914 – 7 May, 1915	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by John S. Morrell	Captain of H.M.S. Hussar 4 Mar, 1919 – 26 Feb, 1921	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Alfred H. Norman	Captain of H.M.S. Coventry 15 Jul, 1922 – 29 Jul, 1924	Succeeded by Richard M. King
Preceded by Thomas J. S. Lyne	Captain of H.M.S. Blenheim 22 Aug, 1924 – 17 Nov, 1925	Succeeded by Christopher J. F. Wood
Preceded by Christopher J. F. Wood	Captain of H.M.S. Ark Royal 17 Nov, 1925 – 23 Aug, 1926	Succeeded by James W. Murray
Preceded by Dashwood F. Moir	Captain Superintendent, Sheerness Dockyard 1 Apr, 1929 – 15 Jul, 1930	Succeeded by Hugh D. Hamilton
Preceded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith	Captain of H.M.S. Harebell 15 Jul, 1930 – 15 Jul, 1932	Succeeded by Kenneth D. W. Macpherson
Preceded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith	Captain of Fishery Protection and Minesweeping Flotilla 15 Jul, 1930 – 15 Jul, 1932	Succeeded by John S. G. Fraser
Preceded by Douglas A. Budgen	Senior Naval Officer, Simonstown 15 Apr, 1942 – 1944	Succeeded by John H. Young