Difference between revisions of "Harold Christian"
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| − | [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''Harold Christian''', Royal Navy (28 September, 1867 – | + | [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] (retired) '''Harold Christian''', Royal Navy (28 September, 1867 – 15 November, 1917) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]]. |
==Life & Career== | ==Life & Career== | ||
| − | Christian was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 January, 1891.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26121/pages/4 no. 26121. p. 4.] 2 January, 1891.</ref> | + | Born in Cheltenham, Christian gained seven months' time on passing out of {{UK-Britannia}}. He was complimented by Captain Rawson for being "good at plans" while in {{UK-1Alexandra}} in 1884-1885. |
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| + | Christian was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 January, 1891.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26121/pages/4 no. 26121. p. 4.] 2 January, 1891.</ref> Christian was awarded a first class certificate as a gunnery lieutenant in July 1895. | ||
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On 31 December, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.{{NLMar13|p. 15}} | On 31 December, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.{{NLMar13|p. 15}} | ||
| − | On 20 January, 1904, Christian was appointed Commander of | + | On 20 January, 1904, Christian was appointed Commander of {{UK-Excellent|f=p}},<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Saturday, 30 January, 1904. Issue '''37304''', col D, p. 12.</ref> an appointment which, said [[William Milbourne James|William M. James]], was "to our utter astonishment, and the astonishment of the whole fleet …"{{JamesSky|p. 52}} |
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| + | In March 1906, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Admiral [[Archibald Lucius Douglas|Douglas]] wrote that Christian was "an officer of very bad manner & address amounting to rudeness. Has[sic] a poor opinion of him & thinks[sic] his leaving Whale Island and advantage to the service." Christian went off to join {{UK-Perseus}} in the East Indies, where he was also not well liked by the Commander-in-Chief.<ref>Christian Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42/403.|D7602328}} f. 482.</ref> | ||
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| + | After a year in command of {{UK-Sappho}}, one in command of {{UK-Nile}} and twenty-eight months in command of {{UK-Hannibal}}, Christian was earning much improved, if unexceptional evaluations. He was retired at his own request with the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 22 October, 1913.<ref>Christian Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42/403.|D7602328}} f. 482.</ref> | ||
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| + | Though Don Kindell's admirable ''Royal Navy Role of Honour'' mentions an "air crash",{{KindellROH2|p. 426}} Christian's service record indicates that he was struck by a motor car on 12 November, 1917 and was admitted to Charing Cross Hospital where he died on 15 November.<ref>Christian Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42/403.|D7602328}} f. 482.</ref> | ||
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| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | {{refbegin}} | ||
| + | {{refend}} | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
{{refbegin}} | {{refbegin}} | ||
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* {{JamesSky}} | * {{JamesSky}} | ||
{{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, Harold}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, Harold}} | ||
| − | {{CatPerson|UK|1867|}} | + | {{CatPerson|UK|1867|1917}} |
{{CatBritannia|January, 1881}} | {{CatBritannia|January, 1881}} | ||
{{CatCaptain|UK}} | {{CatCaptain|UK}} | ||
| + | {{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}} | ||
Revision as of 12:56, 13 June 2017
Captain (retired) Harold Christian, Royal Navy (28 September, 1867 – 15 November, 1917) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Cheltenham, Christian gained seven months' time on passing out of Britannia. He was complimented by Captain Rawson for being "good at plans" while in Alexandra in 1884-1885.
Christian was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 January, 1891.[1] Christian was awarded a first class certificate as a gunnery lieutenant in July 1895.
On 31 December, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of Commander.[2]
On 20 January, 1904, Christian was appointed Commander of H.M.S. Excellent,[3] an appointment which, said William M. James, was "to our utter astonishment, and the astonishment of the whole fleet …"[4]
In March 1906, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Admiral Douglas wrote that Christian was "an officer of very bad manner & address amounting to rudeness. Has[sic] a poor opinion of him & thinks[sic] his leaving Whale Island and advantage to the service." Christian went off to join Perseus in the East Indies, where he was also not well liked by the Commander-in-Chief.[5]
After a year in command of Sappho, one in command of Nile and twenty-eight months in command of Hannibal, Christian was earning much improved, if unexceptional evaluations. He was retired at his own request with the rank of Captain on 22 October, 1913.[6]
Though Don Kindell's admirable Royal Navy Role of Honour mentions an "air crash",[7] Christian's service record indicates that he was struck by a motor car on 12 November, 1917 and was admitted to Charing Cross Hospital where he died on 15 November.[8]
See Also
Bibliography
- James, Admiral Sir William (1951). The Sky was Always Blue. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd..
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Marcus R. Hill |
Captain of H.M.S. Perseus 15 Mar, 1906[9] |
Succeeded by Frederic G. Bird |
| Preceded by Michael H. Hodges |
Captain of H.M.S. Sappho 8 Aug, 1908[10] |
Succeeded by Hugh F. W. Wyldbore-Smith |
| Preceded by Pasfield V. Oliver |
Captain of H.M.S. Nile 3 May, 1910[11] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Arthur Hayes-Sadler |
Captain of H.M.S. Hannibal 6 Jun, 1911[12] – Nov, 1913[13][Inference] |
Succeeded by Charles F. Corbett |
| Preceded by Robert E. Vaughan |
Captain of H.M.S. Brilliant 13 Sep, 1914[14] |
Succeeded by Colin K. MacLean |
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26121. p. 4. 2 January, 1891.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 15.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 30 January, 1904. Issue 37304, col D, p. 12.
- ↑ James. The Sky was Always Blue. p. 52.
- ↑ Christian Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/403. f. 482.
- ↑ Christian Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/403. f. 482.
- ↑ Kindell. Royal Navy Roll of Honour Part 2. p. 426.
- ↑ Christian Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/403. f. 482.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 356.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 372.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1913). p. 322.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1913). p. 322.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 392m.
