Kenneth Gilbert Balmain Dewar

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Vice-Admiral Kenneth Gilbert Balmain Dewar, C.B.E., Royal Navy, Retired (21 September, 1879 – 8 September, 1964) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Dewar was appointed to the training ship Britannia on 15 July, 1893.

He was appointed to Victory on 15 July, 1895, and on 15 August was rated Midshipman.

Great War

In June, 1915, Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell, commanding the Channel Fleet, recommended Dewar for promotion.[1] He was superseded in Prince of Wales on 12 October. The following day he was appointed to Vivid for Devonport Gunnery School, and on 31 October he took command of the school.[2] Rear-Admiral John de M. Hutchison, commanding Devonport Naval Barracks, wrote of Dewar:

Sat. Above av. Has made a special study of the operatns of war. Due course. Has carried out his duties to my entire satisfaction. A v. capable offr.[3]

He was appointed in command of the monitor Marshal Ney on 30 July, 1916, before being given command of the monitor Roberts on 28 August.[4]

In May, 1917, he was appointed to President for service in the Operations Division of the Admiralty.[5] As of June he was in charge of Section 15, assisting the Director of the Operations Division, Rear-Admiral George P. W. Hope.[6]

On 1 February, 1918, he was appointed an Assistant Director of Plans with the rank of Acting Captain. He was confirmed in the rank of Captain on 30 June.[7]

He was appointed command of the battlecruiser Tiger on 5 November, 1928,[8] and of Iron Duke from May to August of 1929.[9]

Retirement

On 4 August, 1929, Dewar was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Carpenter, and was placed on the Retired List on 5 August.[10] He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July, 1934.[11]

Of his career, Admiral The Hon. Sir Reginald A. R. P.-E.-E.-Drax told Arthur Marder "it must be remembered that K. Dewar was a disappointed, angry man and much inclined to be hyper-critical."[12]

Footnotes

  1. The National Archives. ADM 196/125. f. 137.
  2. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 59.
  3. The National Archives. ADM 196/90. f. 171.
  4. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 59.
  5. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 59.
  6. The National Archives. AIR 1/279/15/226/127. Cited in Black. p. 200.
  7. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 59.
  8. Dewar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 59.
  9. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 33523. p. 5145. 6 August, 1929.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 34076. p. 5054. 7 August, 1934.
  12. Notes on Marder's draft of chapter 14 of From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow, 11 November 1959, DRAX 6/18, Drax MSS., Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College.

Bibliography

  • "Vice-Admiral K. G. B. Dewar" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 10 September, 1964. Issue 56113, col C, p. 16.
  • Dewar, Kenneth (1939). The Navy From Within. London: Victor Gollancz.
  • Glenton, Robert (1991). The Royal Oak Affair: The Saga of Admiral Collard and Bandmaster Barnacle. London: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-266-8.

Papers

Service Record


Naval Appointments
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