Lawrence D'Oyly Bignell
Captain (retired) Lawrence D'Oyly Bignell, R.N. (29 October, 1883 – 19 July, 1947) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Bignell gained four months time on passing out of Britannia. He received his first appointment to Centurion on 15 May, 1899.
On 31 March, 1903, Bignell suffered Their Lordships' severe displeasure "for assisting Act Sub Lieuts de Satgé & Rawlings in deserting from Greenwich College." Given the brief description of this misdeed, the punishment seems light, indeed. After failing to obtain even 40% of marks in a course on Hydraulics, he misplaced a confidential book. Things did not seem to improve for him before he was granted a watchkeeping certificate in March, 1905.[1]
Bignell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1905.[2]
In November, 1910 he failed to qualify as a signals Lieutenant.
Bignell was appointed in command of the destroyer Flying Fish on 14 August, 1913.[3]
Bignell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 September, 1913.[4]
He was appointed in command of the destroyer Greyhound on 17 January, 1914.[5]
Great War
Bignell was appointed in command of the destroyer Zulu on 6 September, 1914.[6]
He commissioned the new destroyer Talisman in January, 1916 but was invalided on the 19th to Chatham Hospital for anemia. This condition proved somewhat protracted, as he was not declared fit until 7 April, on which date he was appointed in command of the decoy ship Q1. He was fit only briefly when on 20 June he was admitted to Haulbowline hospital for one week due to an abscess on his right foot. He was sent to H.M.S. Vivid on 4 December, 1916, one day after his Q ship was torpedoed and sunk by U 63 in the Mediterranean. On 15 February, 1917, he was appointed in command of the Medea Class destroyer Melampus. Medical complaints would render him unfit for sea service and he spent the first half of 1918 ashore.[7]
On 27 August, 1918, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Orford.[8]
Post-war
Bignell was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1920.[9]
On 1 December, 1920, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Warwick.[10]
After being relieved in command of the "S" Class submarine Seawolf and moved to half pay, on 12 September 1925, Bignell was scolded for "very high consumption of spirits by himself and other officers" of the Seawolf during his period in command.
Bignell was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 1 May, 1930.[11]
World War II
Bignell was mobilised on 26 September, 1938, and appointed to Drake, additional for duty with Naval Officer in Charge, Cardiff but this lasted all but one week. In 1939 he was informed that his services could not be used at present.
He was reverted to the Retired List as medically unfit on 2 April, 1942. He would die in 1947 of heart ailments.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Michael K. H. Kennedy |
Captain of H.M.S. Flying Fish 14 Aug, 1913[12] |
Succeeded by Philip W. S. King |
| Preceded by Cyril P. Franklin |
Captain of H.M.S. Greyhound 17 Jan, 1914[13] – 1914 |
Succeeded by William C. Castle |
| Preceded by M. Brock Birkett |
Captain of H.M.S. Zulu 6 Sep, 1914[14] |
Succeeded by John Brooke |
| Preceded by James F. Dewar |
Captain of H.M.S. Nereide Oct, 1915[15] |
Succeeded by William D. Irvin |
| Preceded by George O. Hewett |
Captain of H.M.S. Melampus 15 Feb, 1917[16] – 1917 |
Succeeded by Charles E. H. White |
| Preceded by John P. Landon |
Captain of H.M.S. Orford 27 Aug, 1918[17] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Richard L. Hamer |
Captain of H.M.S. Rowena 12 Mar, 1919[18] |
Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt |
| Preceded by Arthur M. Lecky |
Captain of H.M.S. Warwick 1 Dec, 1920[19] |
Succeeded by Arthur M. Lecky |
| Preceded by Victor L. A. Campbell |
Captain of H.M.S. Versatile 14 Sep, 1922[20] |
Succeeded by John Fawcett |
Footnotes
- ↑ Bignell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/117. f. 521.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 7.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 315.
- ↑ Bignell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/117. f. 521.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 322.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 398.
- ↑ Bignell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/117. f. 521.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 855.
- ↑ Bignell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/117. f. 521.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 898.
- ↑ Bignell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/117. f. 521.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1913). p. 315.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 322.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 398.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396e.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395p.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 855.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1919). p. 898.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 898.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 831.
