Difference between revisions of "Francis Thomas Butler Tower"

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{{ViceRN}} {{SIR}} '''Francis Thomas Butler Tower''', K.B.E., C.B., Royal Navy (21 December, 1885 – 19 July, 1964) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
 
{{ViceRN}} {{SIR}} '''Francis Thomas Butler Tower''', K.B.E., C.B., Royal Navy (21 December, 1885 – 19 July, 1964) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
  
Tower was Gunnery Officer of {{UK-Barham}} from 15 April, 1915 to 1918.
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==Life & Career==
 +
Born in London, the son of F. F. Tower, Esq., B.A..
  
In May 1927, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Curacoa|f=t}}.{{MackieRNW}}
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Tower served in the {{UK-Canopus|f=t}} and the {{UK-GoodHope|f=t}} before being promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 April, 1906.
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 +
He was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 April, 1914.  Early in the Great War, he was at {{UK-Excellent|f=p}}, working in the Experimental Works, and was in command of her tender, {{UK-Kite}} from June 1913 to 12 April, 1915.<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/69.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>
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 +
Tower served as Gunnery Officer in {{UK-Barham}} from 15 April, 1915 to 21 November, 1918.  He was then appointed as the gunnery officer in {{UK-Hood}} when she commissioned, being superseded there on 20 August, 1920.<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/69.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>
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 +
On 16 May, 1927 he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Curacoa|f=t}} as Flag Captain.<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/69.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>
  
 
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hood|f=t}} on 30 August, 1933.{{TaylorHood|p. 230}}
 
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hood|f=t}} on 30 August, 1933.{{TaylorHood|p. 230}}
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 +
Tower was placed on the Retired List on 29 June, 1939.  He was reactivated later that very year for a short stint on the Landing Craft Committee.<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/69.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>
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On 8 January, 1945, Tower was appointed to serve in the rank of Rear Admiral as Flag Officer in Command, Southampton, vice [[James Murray Pipon]].<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/69.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>
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 +
He reverted to the Retired List on 30 March, 1946.<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/69.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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==Service Record==
 
==Service Record==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7920035&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/50].
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*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=ADM+196+Francis+Thomas+Butler+Tower&_sd=&_ed=&_hb= Service Records]
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Blake|Geoffrey Blake]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Kite (1871)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Kite'']]'''<br>25 Apr, 1913{{NLJan15|p. 315}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Reginald Foster Pitt Maton|Reginald F. P. Maton]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Blake|Geoffrey Blake]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Kite (1871)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Kite'']]'''<br>25 Apr, 1913{{NLJan15|p. 315}} &ndash; 12 Apr, 1915<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}} Unnumbered folio.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Reginald Foster Pitt Maton|Reginald F. P. Maton]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Joseph Charles Walrond Henley|Joseph C. W. Henley]]'''|'''[[Naval Ordnance Department (Royal Navy)|Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance]]'''<br>18 Aug, 1924<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}}  f. 205.</ref> &ndash; 23 Mar, 1927<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}}  f. 205.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Arthur Buckley|Frederick A. Buckley]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alan Ramsay Dewar|Alan R. Dewar]]'''|'''[[Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy)|Fleet Gunnery Officer, Atlantic Fleet]]'''<br>15 Aug, 1922{{NLJan23|p. 796}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Eric William Westgarth Ling|Eric W. W. Ling]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Burnaby Prickett|Cecil B. Prickett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Curacoa (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Curacoa'']]'''<br>May, 1927{{MackieRNW}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Gordon Cooper Franklin|Harold G. C. Franklin]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Julian Francis Chichester Patterson|Julian F. C. Patterson]]'''|'''[[Naval Ordnance Department (Royal Navy)|Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance]]'''<br>18 Aug, 1924<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}}  f. 205.</ref> &ndash; 23 Mar, 1927<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}}  f. 205.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alan Ramsay Dewar|Alan R. Dewar]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Hugh Binney|Thomas H. Binney]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hood (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hood'']]'''<br>30 Aug, 1933{{TaylorHood|p. 230}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Francis Pridham|A. Francis Pridham]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Douglas Balfour Le Mottée|Douglas B. Le Mottée]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vindictive (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vindictive'']]'''<br>16 May, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 282''a''}} &ndash; 16 May, 1929|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lancelot Ernest Holland|Lancelot E. Holland]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Burnaby Prickett|Cecil B. Prickett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Curacoa (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Curacoa'']]'''<br>16 May, 1927{{NLJul27|p. 229}}<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}} f. ?.</ref> &ndash; 16 May, 1929<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}} f. ?.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Gordon Cooper Franklin|Harold G. C. Franklin]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Stephen St. Leger Moore|Stephen St. L. Moore]]'''|'''[[Chatham Gunnery School|Captain of Chatham Gunnery School]]'''<br>10 Jun, 1929 &ndash; 30 Mar, 1931|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Ninian Dowding|Arthur N. Dowding]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Hugh Binney|Thomas H. Binney]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hood (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hood'']]'''<br>30 Aug, 1933{{NLOct35|p. 247}} &ndash; 1 Feb, 1936<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}} f. ?.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Francis Pridham|A. Francis Pridham]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[St. Aubyn Baldwin Wake|St. Aubyn B. Wake]]'''|'''[[Department of the Director of Naval Equipment|Director of Naval Equipment]]'''<br>10 Dec, 1936<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/67.}} f. ?.</ref> &ndash; 27 Aug, 1939<ref>Tower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/67.}} f. ?.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Wilfred Sussex Dorling|James W. S. Dorling]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Murray Pipon|James M. Pipon]]'''|'''[[Southampton|Flag Officer in Command, Southampton]]'''<br>8 Jan, 1945|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
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{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
  
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tower, Francis}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tower, Francis Thomas}}
  
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1885|1964}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1885|1964}}
{{CatBritannia|September, 1900}}
 
 
{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
 
{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
[[Category:Commanding Officers of Chatham Gunnery School]]
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{{CatVice|UK}}
[[Category:Flag Officers in Command, Southampton]]
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{{CatBritannia|September, 1900}}
{{CatViceAdmiral|UK}}
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{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 12:36, 7 April 2022

Vice-Admiral SIR Francis Thomas Butler Tower, K.B.E., C.B., Royal Navy (21 December, 1885 – 19 July, 1964) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in London, the son of F. F. Tower, Esq., B.A..

Tower served in the battleship Canopus and the armoured cruiser Good Hope before being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 April, 1906.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 April, 1914. Early in the Great War, he was at H.M.S. Excellent, working in the Experimental Works, and was in command of her tender, Kite from June 1913 to 12 April, 1915.[1]

Tower served as Gunnery Officer in Barham from 15 April, 1915 to 21 November, 1918. He was then appointed as the gunnery officer in Hood when she commissioned, being superseded there on 20 August, 1920.[2]

On 16 May, 1927 he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Curacoa as Flag Captain.[3]

He was appointed in command of the battlecruiser Hood on 30 August, 1933.[4]

Tower was placed on the Retired List on 29 June, 1939. He was reactivated later that very year for a short stint on the Landing Craft Committee.[5]

On 8 January, 1945, Tower was appointed to serve in the rank of Rear Admiral as Flag Officer in Command, Southampton, vice James Murray Pipon.[6]

He reverted to the Retired List on 30 March, 1946.[7]

Bibliography

  • "Sir Thomas Tower" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 21 July, 1964. Issue 56069, col E, pg. 12.

Service Record

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Geoffrey Blake
Captain of H.M.S. Kite
25 Apr, 1913[8] – 12 Apr, 1915[9]
Succeeded by
Reginald F. P. Maton
Preceded by
Alan R. Dewar
Fleet Gunnery Officer, Atlantic Fleet
15 Aug, 1922[10]
Succeeded by
Eric W. W. Ling
Preceded by
Julian F. C. Patterson
Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance
18 Aug, 1924[11] – 23 Mar, 1927[12]
Succeeded by
Alan R. Dewar
Preceded by
Douglas B. Le Mottée
Captain of H.M.S. Vindictive
16 May, 1927[13] – 16 May, 1929
Succeeded by
Lancelot E. Holland
Preceded by
Cecil B. Prickett
Captain of H.M.S. Curacoa
16 May, 1927[14][15] – 16 May, 1929[16]
Succeeded by
Harold G. C. Franklin
Preceded by
Stephen St. L. Moore
Captain of Chatham Gunnery School
10 Jun, 1929 – 30 Mar, 1931
Succeeded by
Arthur N. Dowding
Preceded by
Thomas H. Binney
Captain of H.M.S. Hood
30 Aug, 1933[17] – 1 Feb, 1936[18]
Succeeded by
A. Francis Pridham
Preceded by
St. Aubyn B. Wake
Director of Naval Equipment
10 Dec, 1936[19] – 27 Aug, 1939[20]
Succeeded by
James W. S. Dorling
Preceded by
James M. Pipon
Flag Officer in Command, Southampton
8 Jan, 1945
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/69. Unnumbered folio.
  2. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/69. Unnumbered folio.
  3. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/69. Unnumbered folio.
  4. Taylor. The Battlecruiser Hood. p. 230.
  5. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/69. Unnumbered folio.
  6. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/69. Unnumbered folio.
  7. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/69. Unnumbered folio.
  8. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 315.
  9. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. Unnumbered folio.
  10. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 796.
  11. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. 205.
  12. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. 205.
  13. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 282a.
  14. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 229.
  15. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. ?.
  16. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. ?.
  17. The Navy List. (October, 1935). p. 247.
  18. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. ?.
  19. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/67. f. ?.
  20. Tower Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/67. f. ?.