Richard Stoddart Benson
Captain Richard Stoddart Benson, D.S.O. (8 September, 1892 – 21 January, 1940) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Benson emerged from the Training Establishment in 1910 and served for a year in the battlecruiser Indomitable.
He was appointed to the battleship Superb on 7 January, 1914. At some point that year, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for saving life at sea. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in this posting on 15 July, 1914. He remained in Superb through the Battle of Jutland. Having applied for training in gunnery as well as in submarines, the Admiralty elected to send him to H.M.S. Excellent for the Long Course in gunnery on 4 June, 1917.[1]
Benson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July, 1922.[2]
Having impressed the Admiralty with tests of the S.F. Mark VIII Inclinometer, Benson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1927.[3]
Benson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1932.[4]
Benson was killed along with his entire crew while in command of the destroyer H.M.S. Exmouth when she was torpedoed in January, 1940.[5]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Harold Hickling |
Squadron Gunnery Officer, First Cruiser Squadron 28 Apr, 1926[6] – 3 Jan, 1928[7] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Geoffrey R. S. Watkins |
Captain of H.M.S. Montrose 1935 – Aug, 1935 |
Succeeded by Ernest R. Archer |
| Preceded by Alexander R. Hammick |
Captain of H.M.S. Duncan 24 Aug, 1935[8] – 30 Jul, 1937 |
Succeeded by Harold Hickling |
| Preceded by Alexander R. Hammick |
Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla 24 Aug, 1935[9] – 30 Jul, 1937[10] |
Succeeded by Harold Hickling |
| Preceded by Llewellyn V. Morgan |
Captain of H.M.S. Exmouth 31 Jul, 1939[11] – 21 Jan, 1940[12] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
Footnotes
- ↑ Benson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/18. f. 18.
- ↑ Benson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/18. f. 18.
- ↑ Benson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/18. f. 18.
- ↑ Benson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/18. f. 18.
- ↑ Benson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/18. f. 18.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1928). p. 240.
- ↑ Benson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/18. f. 18.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 234.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 234. Double-check this.
- ↑ "8th Flotilla Command" The Times (London, England), Friday, Jul 30, 1937; pg. 10; Issue 47750.
- ↑ Uboat.net page on the ship.
- ↑ Uboat.net page on the ship.
