Bernard Elliot Prichard

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Lieutenant-Commander Bernard Elliot Prichard (3 March, 1878 – ) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Toleni Transkei[?], Prichard listed his mother as his guardian upon joining the Navy. Shortly passing out of Britannia in July 1893, he received an appointment to the battleship Royal Sovereign on the Channel Squadron. In October 1894, he moved out to begin a two year stint in first class protected cruiser St. George, operating at the Cape of Good Hope Station.[1]

Prichard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1900.[2]

Prichard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1908.[3]

As the war began, Prichard was appointed in command of the torpedo gunboat Dryad. He was superseded in this appointment after an 18 February 1915 telegram from Portsmouth conveyed that Prichard requested to be relieved as the responsibilities of command were more than his nerves could stand. Despite this, he requested command of a monitorand was refused on 11 March. He was sent to Royal Arthur, additional, to work in the Port War Signals Station. After just a month, he was sent to Lerwick to work with net drifters. Although he was there from just August to December, 1915, Prichard made allegations of some sort against H. G. Alston, Senior Naval Officer, Lerwick involving, it appears, some indiscrete handling of confidential books and information. A Court of Enquiry ensued, and the accusations were deemed to be unfounded. Prichard was placed on permanent half pay and received severe displeasure from the Admiralty.[4]

Prichard commanded the armed yacht Catania and her attached motor launches from June 1917 to May 1918. As soon as the war ended, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 20 November, 1918 and was not to receive a step in rank upon reaching age 40.[5]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
George G. Codrington
Captain of H.M.S. Leopard
8 Aug, 1905[6] – 6 Oct, 1905
Succeeded by
Walter L. Allen
Preceded by
Basil G. Washington
Captain of H.M.S. Bramble
29 Mar, 1912[7] – 13 Mar, 1914
Succeeded by
Vivian R. Brandon
Preceded by
Edward L. Booty
Captain of H.M.S. Dryad
29 Jul, 1914[8] – 21 Feb, 1915
Succeeded by
Norman M. C. Thurstan

Footnotes

  1. Prichard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/362. f. 407.
  2. Prichard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/362. f. 407.
  3. Prichard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/362. f. 407.
  4. Prichard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/362. f. 407.
  5. Prichard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/362. f. 407.
  6. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 9 Aug. 1905, p. 8.
  7. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 287.
  8. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 307.