Charles Edmund Kingsmill

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Admiral SIR Charles Edmund Kingsmill, Kt., Royal Navy, Retired (7 July, 1855 – 15 July, 1935) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Kingsmill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant from the Victoria and Albert with seniority of 5 September, 1877.[1]

Kingsmill was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1891.[2]

Captain

Kingsmill was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1898.[3] On 27 February, 1900, he was was appointed to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, on half pay for study. He was appointed to H.M.S. Victory, additional, on 12 June for a Signal Course. He was appointed in command of H.M.S. Gibraltar for the annual manœuvres from 10 July to 22 August. On 10 September he was appointed in command of the third-class cruiser Mildura on the Australian Station.[4] In January, 1903, Vice-Admiral Sir Lewis A. Beaumont, the Commander-in-Chief on the station, wrote of Kingsmill: "A conscientious painstaking officer who will command well but never brilliantly."[5] Beaumont's successor, Vice-Admiral Arthur D. Fanshawe, described Kingsmill in December, 1903, as: "A steady dependable officer, good judgment [sic] & physical qualities[.] Very good."[6]

Relieved in command of Mildura on 23 December, 1903,[7] he was appointed to H.M.S. Scylla for the voyage home. He was granted permission to take his full paid leave in Canada,[8] which he took from 17 February, 1904, to 2 April. He then went on half pay, punctuated by an appointment to a Signal and Fleet Tactics Course on 6 June. From 18 July to 3 September he had temporary command of the battleship Resolution for "Fleet Tactics." On 24 September he was appointed to President for the War Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.[9]

Kingsmill was appointed to the Majestic on 9 January, 1905. Vice-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford wrote of him in March, 1905: "Zealous[,] good officer[,] sound physique[,] good judgement[,] wants practice handling ship and Fleet."[10] On 14 March, 1906, he was appointed in command of H.M.S. Dominion.[11] Vice-Admiral Sir William H. May noted in March, 1907: "A capable officer[,] through the misfortune of putting his ship on shore I have not seen anything of him since July 06."[12] He was appointed in command of H.M.S. Repulse on 8 May and superseded on 25 May, 1908.[13]

On 12 May, 1908, Kingsmill was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Milne.[14] That month he was allowed to accept the appointment as Commander of the Canadian Marine Service, and permitted to remain on the Active List for six months before deciding whether to retain the position.[15] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 12 September.[16]

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 17 May, 1913.[17] On 3 April, 1917, he was advanced to the rank of Admiral.[18]

Footnotes

  1. London Gazette: no. 24501. p. 5151. 7 September, 1877.
  2. London Gazette: no. 26188. p. 4070. 31 July, 1891.
  3. London Gazette: no. 27040. p. 84. 6 January, 1899.
  4. ADM 196/38. f. 752.
  5. ADM 196/87. f. 58.
  6. ADM 196/87. f. 58.
  7. ADM 196/19. f. 354.
  8. ADM 196/38. f. 755.
  9. ADM 196/38. f. 755.
  10. ADM 196/87. f. 58.
  11. ADM 196/38. f. 755.
  12. ADM 196/87. f. 58.
  13. ADM 196/38. f. 755.
  14. London Gazette: no. 28138. p. 3669. 19 May, 1908.
  15. ADM 196/38. f. 755.
  16. London Gazette: no. 28178. p. 6760. 18 September, 1908.
  17. London Gazette: no. 28722. p. 3753. 27 May, 1913.
  18. London Gazette: no. 30012. p. 3404. 10 April, 1917.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Charles Kingsmill" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 16 July, 1935. Issue 47117, col B, pg. 18.

Service Records


Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Office
Director of the Naval Service of Canada
1908 – 1920
Succeeded by
Walter Hose