Richard Martin Welby
Captain Richard Martin Welby (9 August, 1886 – 24 April, 1930) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He would serve throughout the Great War but commit suicide in 1930 while in command of a light cruiser.
Contents
Life & Career
Welby was born in Nottingham, the son of Reverend A. A. Welby. After gaining two months' time on passing out of Britannia in September 1902, Welby received his first appointment to Andromeda. He stayed only briefly before moving to Bacchante, in which hs spent two years.[1]
Welby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1908.[2]
Welby was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 67 on 8 December, 1908.[3]
Welby was appointed in command of the minelaying submarine Grampus on 6 January, 1916.
Chief Engine Room Artificer John T. Peel of Grampus drowned on 8 March, 1916. Welby received the displeasure of the Admiralty, as the ship's life buoys had no lights fitted and no instructions had been issued on when they should be released.[4][5]
Welby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1916.[6]
Welby was appointed in command of the destroyer Rifleman by the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean on 6 February, 1918. He'd remain in her through the end of the war.
Post-War
Welby picked up responsibility for a group of T.B.Ds. in late March 1919 until he was was appointed out of Rifleman and into Salmon on 30 April, 1919.
Welby commanded Serene for eight months before being appointed in command of the destroyer Vega on 27 May, 1920. Welby was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1921 and re-appointed in command of Vega. For him, the twenties would be a series of destroyer commands and technical courses, with a stint as executive officer in the light cruiser Coventry, vice Coombs in 1925-27. One high point appears to be an inspection report for Serapis c. 1923 in which she was declared "most efficient destroyer of the 8th Flotilla."[7]
Welby was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1928.[8]
In October, 1929 when he was fresh off a Senior Officers' Technical Course, Welby was appointed in command of the light cruiser Champion. He would be found dead in her on 24 April, 1930. A Coroner's Inquest determined that he had committed suicide while of unsound mind.[9]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Thomas C. C. Bolster |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 19 8 Sep, 1914[10] |
Succeeded by Arthur M. C. Stileman |
| Preceded by Roy Bacchus |
Captain of H.M.S. Grampus 6 Jan, 1916[11] |
Succeeded by Harry A. Pelham |
| Preceded by Alexander L. Fletcher |
Captain of H.M.S. Rifleman 23 Jan, 1918[12] |
Succeeded by Hugh B. Wrey |
| Preceded by David V. F. Erskine |
Captain of H.M.S. Vega 27 May, 1920[13] |
Succeeded by Geoffrey S. Holden |
| Preceded by Vernon S. Butler |
Captain of H.M.S. Serapis Nov, 1922[14] – 1923 |
Succeeded by David B. Nicol |
| Preceded by Eric R. Bent |
Captain of H.M.S. Champion 18 Oct, 1929[15][16] |
Succeeded by Geoffrey R. S. Watkins |
Footnotes
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 399.
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ Kindell. Royal Navy Roll of Honour Part 2. p. 184.
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ Welby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/220. f. 284.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 400.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 394s.
- ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1919). p. 896.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 880.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 810.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Day of month taken from predecessor. Bent Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 260.
