Fawcet Wray

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Vice-Admiral Fawcet Wray, D.S.O., Royal Navy, Retired (25 September, 1873 – 4 March, 1932) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Frederic Dreyer attributes the invention of the first Range Clock to Wray, as well as a Dumaresq-like rate solver.[1]

In May of 1904, he was serving as Lieutenant (G) in Cæsar.[2]

Wray was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1904.[3]

Wray was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1911.[4]

Great War

Wray was flag captain to Ernest Troubridge at the outset of the war, and argued that the battlecruiser Goeben and Breslau should not be engaged.

After the Court-Martial, the Second Sea Lord, Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, minuted, "I am of opinion that nothing more should now be done in the matter, except that Captain Wray should also remain unemployed, as it is decidedly dangerous to have an officer of his opinions in a responsible position."[5]

He was appointed command of the second class protected cruiser Talbot on 26 January, 1915.[6]

For his service in command of Talbot at Gallipoli Wray was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) on 14 March, 1916.[7]

In January of 1918, he was appointed in command of Cæsar, serving in that capacity until November.[8]

Retirement

Wray was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 2 May, 1922, vice Segrave, and was placed on the Retired List on 3 May.[9] He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 2 July, 1927.[10]

Wray died on the Streitalpe near Kitzbühel in the Austrian Tyrol while skiing on 4 March, 1932.

Bibliography

  • "Deaths" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 8 March, 1932. Issue 46076, col C, p. 1.
  • "Vice-Admiral F. Wray" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 7 March, 1932. Issue 46075, col B, p. 17.

Service Records


Naval Appointments
Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Foresight
13 Mar, 1908[11] – ?
Succeeded by
Herbert N. Garnett
Preceded by
Henry H. Bruce
Captain of H.M.S. Defence
6 Jan, 1913[12] – ?
Succeeded by
Eustace La T. Leatham
Preceded by
Herbert R. Norbury
Captain of H.M.S. Talbot
26 Jan, 1915[13] – ?
Succeeded by
Robert C. K. Lambert
Preceded by
William G. E. Ruck-Keene
Captain of H.M.S. Drake
31 May, 1916[14] – ?
Succeeded by
Stephen H. Radcliffe
Preceded by
Cunningham R. de C. Foot
Captain of H.M.S. Cæsar
15 Jan, 1918[15] – ?
Succeeded by
Edward R. Jones
Preceded by
William F. Blunt
Captain of H.M.S. Berwick
26 Feb, 1918[16] – ?
Succeeded by
Cunningham R. de C. Foot


Footnotes

  1. Dreyer. "The Sea Heritage", p. 32.
  2. Joint Report of the Mediterranean and Channel Committees on Methods of Controlling Gun Fire in Action at The National Archives. ADM 1/7758, p. 10.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 27750. p. 25. 3 January, 1905.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 28567. p. 3. 1 January, 1911.
  5. Quoted in Lumby. Policy and Operations in the Mediterranean. p. 401.
  6. The Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398n.
  7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29507. p. 2869. 14 March, 1916.
  8. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  9. The London Gazette: no. 32695. p. 3626. 9 May, 1922.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 33294. p. 4565. 15 July, 1927.
  11. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 317.
  12. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 300b.
  13. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 398n.
  14. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398s.
  15. Wray Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 400.
  16. Wray Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 400.

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