Difference between revisions of "Geoffrey Corlett"

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search
(Update appts)
(abbreviate CatCaptain)
(22 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Geoffrey Corlett''' ( – ) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].
+
{{CaptRN}} (retired) '''Geoffrey Corlett''' (20 January, 1882 – 16 January, 1932) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
<!--
 
 
Corlett was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on
 
 
Corlett was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on
 
 
Corlett was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on
 
-->
 
 
Corlett was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1903.{{NLMar13|p. 17}}
 
Corlett was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1903.{{NLMar13|p. 17}}
  
Line 16: Line 8:
 
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hind|f=t}} on 15 November, 1911.{{NLJan15|p. 331}}
 
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hind|f=t}} on 15 November, 1911.{{NLJan15|p. 331}}
  
Corlett commanded the {{UK-Narborough|f=t}} of the {{UK-DF|13}} at the [[Battle of Jutland]].{{UKJutlandOD|p. 46}}
+
Corlett was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hind|f=c}} on 15 November, 1911 and was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 31 December, 1911.  His tenure in command of ''Hind'' proved unusually extensive, consuming the entirety of his career as a Lieutenant Commander, but it was hardly without incident.  His destroyer collided with S.S. ''Steersman'' while mooring some time in 1912 and Corlett was advised to be more cautious in future.  He was also faulted by a Court of Enquiry with damaging her propeller some time in 1912 or 1913, thereby incurring the displeasure of the Admiralty.  He fouled a buoy on 14 March 1914 and was also blamed, it being thought that he attempted to pass too near the buoy in the prevailing conditions.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Great War==
 +
Shortly after falling ill for about two weeks, Corlett was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1915.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Superseded, finally, in {{UK-Hind}} by [[Desmond Maxwell]] on 7 May, 1916, Corlett was appointed in command of the new {{UK-Narborough|f=c}} of the {{UK-DF|13}}.  He would command her at the [[Battle of Jutland]].{{UKJutlandOD|p. 46}} Corlett was recommended for promotion for his performance in action, having "led his division into action in a most gallant manner and fought a successful action with enemy destroyers in which they were forced to retire."<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Corlett was not a hale physical specimen.  Captain [[James Uchtred Farie|Farie]] noted that Corlett was "not energetic" and Captain [[Hugh Justin Tweedie|Tweedie]] noted that he was "not physically fit for work in destroyers."  Although his service record indicates no unusually dire medical issues, he would indeed die at a young age of symptoms one would associate with frailty.
 +
 
 +
In October, 1917, Corlett was appointed in command of the {{UK-Verdun|f=t}} for a short time and then to {{UK-Ulster}}.  Here, he failed to impress Captain [[Charles Donnison Roper]], "failing to to do utmost to carry out sailing orders."  In consequence, Corlett was to be relieved in command to be given command in a "less important flotilla" than the {{UK-DF|13}}.  This meant he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Badger|f=t}} on 22 February, 1918.  This command would see him through the end of the war.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Post-War==
 +
Corlett was mentioned in despatches for his part in the bombardment of Durazzo, gazetted 17 March, 1919, having recently been awarded the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valor.  He applied for command of an Atlantic Fleet destroyer in July of 1920.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
 +
 
 +
After helping manage destroyers being deactivated after the war, Corlett was appointed in command of an unidentified ship on the China Station  named ''Widgeon'' on 1 April, 1921, having joined her on 13 March.  He served as Senior Naval Officer, Upper Yangtze until November, 1922 and he was superseded in ''Widgeon'' in one month later.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Corlett was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 31 March, 1923.  He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on his forty-fifth birthday on 20 June, 1929.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
  
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Badger|f=t}} on 22 February, 1918.{{NLFeb19|p. 737}}
+
Corlett died at West Down House, Bradworthy from gangrene of a carbuncle of the neck and diabetes.<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
Line 24: Line 32:
 
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Geoffrey+Corlett Service Records]
 
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Geoffrey+Corlett Service Records]
 
* [[Thirteenth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland]]
 
* [[Thirteenth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland]]
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Corlett}}
+
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Corlett}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[David Charles Herbert Dalrymple|David C. H. Dalrymple]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Moy (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Moy'']]'''<br>19 Oct, 1909{{NLApr10|p. 347}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Reginald Lloyd Edwards|Herbert R. L. Edwards]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 92 (1894)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 92]]'''<br>17 May, 1904<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sydney Lionel Kekewich Lawford|Sydney L. K. Lawford]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hind (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hind'']]'''<br>15 Nov, 1911{{NLOct15|p. 394''p''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frank Alan Rothera|Frank A. Rothera]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Halliday Brown|George H. Brown]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Express (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Express'']]'''<br>17 Mar, 1908<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref> &ndash; 26 Mar, 1908<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Edward Ketelbey Strong|Frederick E. K. Strong]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Narborough (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Narborough'']]'''<br>Apr, 1916{{NLDec16|p. 396''e''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ralph Wilmot Wilkinson|Ralph W. Wilkinson]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frank Forester Rose|Frank F. Rose]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ostrich (1900)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ostrich'']]'''<br>9 Jul, 1908<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref> &ndash; 28 Jul, 1908<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Anthony Aston Plowden|Richard A. A. Plowden]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ulster (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ulster'']]'''<br>17 Oct, 1917{{NLNov17|p. 398''o''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Arthur Pennington Legh|John A. P. Legh]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Henry Holden Holden|George H. H. Holden]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Crane (1896)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Crane'']]'''<br>28 Jul, 1908<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>{{NLOct08|p. 297}} &ndash; 19 Oct, 1909<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Clive Charles Henry Maitland-Addison|Clive C. H. Maitland-Addison]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Kenneth Gordon Ramsey|Kenneth G. Ramsey]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Badger (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Badger'']]'''<br>22 Feb, 1918{{NLFeb19|p. 737}}|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frank Forester Rose|Frank F. Rose]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Moy (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Moy'']]'''<br>19 Oct, 1909<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>{{NLApr10|p. 347}} &ndash; 15 Nov, 1911<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Douglas Faviell|Douglas Faviell]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Morgan John Yeatman|Morgan J. Yeatman]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Broke (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Broke'']]'''<br>1 May, 1919{{NLJun19|p. 746}}|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hind (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hind'']]'''<br>15 Nov, 1911<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>{{NLOct15|p. 394''p''}} &ndash; 7 May, 1916<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Joseph Woodward|Hugh J. Woodward]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Desmond Maxwell|Desmond Maxwell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Narborough (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Narborough'']]'''<br>7 May, 1916<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref> &ndash; Oct, 1917<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmond Mansel Bowly|Edmond M. Bowly]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Verdun (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Verdun'']]'''<br>Oct, 1917<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref> &ndash; 17 Oct, 1917<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Evelyn Claude Ogilvie Thomson|Evelyn C. O. Thomson]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ulster (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ulster'']]'''<br>17 Oct, 1917<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>{{NLNov17|p. 398''o''}} &ndash; 22 Feb, 1918<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Henniker-Heaton|Arthur Henniker-Heaton]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Kenneth Gordon Ramsey|Kenneth G. Ramsey]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Badger (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Badger'']]'''<br>22 Feb, 1918<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>{{NLFeb19|p. 737}} &ndash; 28 Mar, 1919<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Saladin (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Saladin'']]'''<br>28 Mar, 1919<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref> &ndash; 1 May, 1919<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lionel George Foote|Lionel G. Foote]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Gerard Laurence Oliphant|Henry G. L. Oliphant]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Broke (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Broke'']]'''<br>1 May, 1919<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>{{NLJun19|p. 746}} &ndash; 17 Oct, 1919<ref>Corlett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/47.|D7603754}} f. 252.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
Line 43: Line 57:
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corlett, Geoffrey}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corlett, Geoffrey}}
  
{{CatPerson|UK||}}
+
{{CatPerson|UK|1882|1932}}
 +
{{CatCapt|UK}}
 +
{{CatBritannia|July, 1896}}

Revision as of 20:17, 13 August 2017

Captain (retired) Geoffrey Corlett (20 January, 1882 – 16 January, 1932) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Corlett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1903.[1]

Corlett was appointed in command of the destroyer Moy on 19 October, 1909.[2]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Hind on 15 November, 1911.[3]

Corlett was appointed in command of the Acheron Class destroyer Hind on 15 November, 1911 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1911. His tenure in command of Hind proved unusually extensive, consuming the entirety of his career as a Lieutenant Commander, but it was hardly without incident. His destroyer collided with S.S. Steersman while mooring some time in 1912 and Corlett was advised to be more cautious in future. He was also faulted by a Court of Enquiry with damaging her propeller some time in 1912 or 1913, thereby incurring the displeasure of the Admiralty. He fouled a buoy on 14 March 1914 and was also blamed, it being thought that he attempted to pass too near the buoy in the prevailing conditions.[4]

Great War

Shortly after falling ill for about two weeks, Corlett was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1915.[5]

Superseded, finally, in Hind by Desmond Maxwell on 7 May, 1916, Corlett was appointed in command of the new "M" Class destroyer Narborough of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla. He would command her at the Battle of Jutland.[6] Corlett was recommended for promotion for his performance in action, having "led his division into action in a most gallant manner and fought a successful action with enemy destroyers in which they were forced to retire."[7]

Corlett was not a hale physical specimen. Captain Farie noted that Corlett was "not energetic" and Captain Tweedie noted that he was "not physically fit for work in destroyers." Although his service record indicates no unusually dire medical issues, he would indeed die at a young age of symptoms one would associate with frailty.

In October, 1917, Corlett was appointed in command of the destroyer Verdun for a short time and then to Ulster. Here, he failed to impress Captain Charles Donnison Roper, "failing to to do utmost to carry out sailing orders." In consequence, Corlett was to be relieved in command to be given command in a "less important flotilla" than the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla. This meant he was appointed in command of the destroyer Badger on 22 February, 1918. This command would see him through the end of the war.[8]

Post-War

Corlett was mentioned in despatches for his part in the bombardment of Durazzo, gazetted 17 March, 1919, having recently been awarded the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valor. He applied for command of an Atlantic Fleet destroyer in July of 1920.[9]

After helping manage destroyers being deactivated after the war, Corlett was appointed in command of an unidentified ship on the China Station named Widgeon on 1 April, 1921, having joined her on 13 March. He served as Senior Naval Officer, Upper Yangtze until November, 1922 and he was superseded in Widgeon in one month later.[10]

Corlett was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 31 March, 1923. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on his forty-fifth birthday on 20 June, 1929.[11]

Corlett died at West Down House, Bradworthy from gangrene of a carbuncle of the neck and diabetes.[12]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M. T.B. 92
17 May, 1904[13]
Succeeded by
Sydney L. K. Lawford
Preceded by
George H. Brown
Captain of H.M.S. Express
17 Mar, 1908[14] – 26 Mar, 1908[15]
Succeeded by
Frederick E. K. Strong
Preceded by
Frank F. Rose
Captain of H.M.S. Ostrich
9 Jul, 1908[16] – 28 Jul, 1908[17]
Succeeded by
Richard A. A. Plowden
Preceded by
George H. H. Holden
Captain of H.M.S. Crane
28 Jul, 1908[18][19] – 19 Oct, 1909[20]
Succeeded by
Clive C. H. Maitland-Addison
Preceded by
Frank F. Rose
Captain of H.M.S. Moy
19 Oct, 1909[21][22] – 15 Nov, 1911[23]
Succeeded by
Douglas Faviell
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Hind
15 Nov, 1911[24][25] – 7 May, 1916[26]
Succeeded by
Hugh J. Woodward
Preceded by
Desmond Maxwell
Captain of H.M.S. Narborough
7 May, 1916[27] – Oct, 1917[28]
Succeeded by
Edmond M. Bowly
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Verdun
Oct, 1917[29] – 17 Oct, 1917[30]
Succeeded by
Evelyn C. O. Thomson
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Ulster
17 Oct, 1917[31][32] – 22 Feb, 1918[33]
Succeeded by
Arthur Henniker-Heaton
Preceded by
Kenneth G. Ramsey
Captain of H.M.S. Badger
22 Feb, 1918[34][35] – 28 Mar, 1919[36]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Saladin
28 Mar, 1919[37] – 1 May, 1919[38]
Succeeded by
Lionel G. Foote
Preceded by
Henry G. L. Oliphant
Captain of H.M.S. Broke
1 May, 1919[39][40] – 17 Oct, 1919[41]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 17.
  2. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 347.
  3. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 331.
  4. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  5. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  6. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  7. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  8. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  9. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  10. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  11. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  12. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  13. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  14. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  15. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  16. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  17. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  18. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  19. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 297.
  20. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  21. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  22. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 347.
  23. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  24. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  25. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394p.
  26. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  27. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  28. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  29. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  30. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  31. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  32. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398o.
  33. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  34. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  35. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 737.
  36. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  37. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  38. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  39. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.
  40. The Navy List. (June, 1919). p. 746.
  41. Corlett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/47. f. 252.