Difference between revisions of "Ronald Arthur Hopwood"

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(renamed shiplink UK-Grafton)
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==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
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Hopwood was born at "Rubland Gate, Knightbridge" [?], the son of J. T. Hopwood, Esq..  He entered {{UK-1Britannia|f=p}} in January, 1882 and emerged with eleven months' seniority at the end of 1883.  His first ship was the {{UK-1Minotaur|f=t}} of the [[Channel Squadron]], appointed 4 January, 1884.
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In October, he was appointed to {{UK-1Opal}} which was operating at the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa.  He would spend two years in her.
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His skills in drawing and French were noted in 1884, as well as some talent in photography in 1893.
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Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 14 February, 1890.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
 
Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 14 February, 1890.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
  
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Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 26 June, 1902.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
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Hopwood was sent to the {{UK-Excellent|f=tp}} to qualify for gunnery lieutenant on 30 September 1891 and was awarded a first-class certificate in an examination in July 1892.  He earned another such first-class certificate in June 1895.
  
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Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1907.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
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Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 26 June, 1902.  He woudl serve in {{UK-Hawke}}, {{UK-Highflyer}} and {{UK-Glory}} through late 1905 before being sent to {{UK-DukeOfEdinburgh}}, first for her trials, and then as her executive officer.  His service in her ended shortly after he was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1907.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
  
 
Hopwood was appointed captain of the {{UK-1Grafton|f=t}} on 11 January, 1909.  He was discharged on 1 March, 1910 and appointed to ''President'' to take command of the {{UK-1Revenge|f=t}}.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
 
Hopwood was appointed captain of the {{UK-1Grafton|f=t}} on 11 January, 1909.  He was discharged on 1 March, 1910 and appointed to ''President'' to take command of the {{UK-1Revenge|f=t}}.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
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He was superseded in ''Revenge'' and appointed to command the battleship {{UK-PrinceOfWales}} on 20 November, 1910.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 21 November, 1910.  Issue '''39435''', col F, p. 8.</ref>
 
He was superseded in ''Revenge'' and appointed to command the battleship {{UK-PrinceOfWales}} on 20 November, 1910.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 21 November, 1910.  Issue '''39435''', col F, p. 8.</ref>
  
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He turned over command of ''Prince of Wales''<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref> and was made captain of {{UK-Hercules}} on 19 December of 1911, and then was appointed in command of the {{UK-Gibraltar|f=t}} on 20 January, 1913.{{NLApr14|p. 319}}
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He turned over command of ''Prince of Wales''<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref> and was made captain of {{UK-Hercules}} on 19 December of 1911, and then was appointed in command of the {{UK-Gibraltar|f=t}} and a group of training ships on 20 January, 1913.{{NLApr14|p. 319}}
  
 
==The Great War==
 
==The Great War==
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Hopwood had received good evaluations of his commands, but when he was appointed to command {{UK-Conqueror}} on 22 December, 1914, he asked that it be cancelled as he "informed the Naval Secretary that he was not equal to the command of that ship" and that he would not be employed afloat.  Although no reason is given for this unusual request, an ensuing series of medical reports implies that it was due to colorectal issues.  He was marked as fit for shore service only on 29th December and appointed as a Naval Member of the [[Ordnance Committee (Royal Navy)|Ordnance Committee]].  This committee work kept him busy through the war, with intermittent periods of medical debility and two surgeries in Chatham Hospital in October and December, 1915.  On 2 April, 1917 Hopwood was appointed as Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee.  It seems likely that he worked in this appointment until his retirement in January, 1919.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
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On 28 November 1914, Hopwood left ''Gibraltar'' and was appointed to command {{UK-Conqueror}} on 22 December, 1914.  Despite having proven able at other, seemingly similar roles, he asked that this appointment be cancelled, "[informing] the Naval Secretary that he was not equal to the command of that ship".
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Hopwood was told that he would not be employed afloat.  An ensuing series of medical reports implies that it was due to colorectal issues.  He was marked as fit for shore service only on 29th December and appointed as a Naval Member of the [[Ordnance Committee (Royal Navy)|Ordnance Committee]].  This committee work kept him busy through the war, with intermittent periods of medical debility and two surgeries in Chatham Hospital in October and December, 1915.  On 2 April, 1917 Hopwood was appointed as Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee.  It seems likely that he worked in this appointment until his retirement in January, 1919.<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
  
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==Post-War==
 
 
Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 1 January, 1919 and placed on the Retired List the next day in accordance with [[Order in Council of 9 March, 1914]].<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
 
Hopwood was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 1 January, 1919 and placed on the Retired List the next day in accordance with [[Order in Council of 9 March, 1914]].<ref>Hopwood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7602364}} f. 16.</ref>
  

Revision as of 09:27, 6 December 2019

Admiral Ronald Arthur Hopwood, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (7 December, 1858 – 28 December, 1949) was an officer of the Royal Navy and also a writer and poet of some distinction.

Life & Career

Hopwood was born at "Rubland Gate, Knightbridge" [?], the son of J. T. Hopwood, Esq.. He entered H.M.S. Britannia in January, 1882 and emerged with eleven months' seniority at the end of 1883. His first ship was the ironclad battleship Minotaur of the Channel Squadron, appointed 4 January, 1884.

In October, he was appointed to Opal which was operating at the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa. He would spend two years in her.

His skills in drawing and French were noted in 1884, as well as some talent in photography in 1893.

Hopwood was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 February, 1890.[1]

Hopwood was sent to the gunnery training school H.M.S. Excellent to qualify for gunnery lieutenant on 30 September 1891 and was awarded a first-class certificate in an examination in July 1892. He earned another such first-class certificate in June 1895.

Hopwood was promoted to the rank of Commander on 26 June, 1902. He woudl serve in Hawke, Highflyer and Glory through late 1905 before being sent to Duke of Edinburgh, first for her trials, and then as her executive officer. His service in her ended shortly after he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1907.[2]

Hopwood was appointed captain of the first class protected cruiser Grafton on 11 January, 1909. He was discharged on 1 March, 1910 and appointed to President to take command of the battleship Revenge.[3]

He was superseded in Revenge and appointed to command the battleship Prince of Wales on 20 November, 1910.[4]

He turned over command of Prince of Wales[5] and was made captain of Hercules on 19 December of 1911, and then was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Gibraltar and a group of training ships on 20 January, 1913.[6]

The Great War

On 28 November 1914, Hopwood left Gibraltar and was appointed to command Conqueror on 22 December, 1914. Despite having proven able at other, seemingly similar roles, he asked that this appointment be cancelled, "[informing] the Naval Secretary that he was not equal to the command of that ship".

Hopwood was told that he would not be employed afloat. An ensuing series of medical reports implies that it was due to colorectal issues. He was marked as fit for shore service only on 29th December and appointed as a Naval Member of the Ordnance Committee. This committee work kept him busy through the war, with intermittent periods of medical debility and two surgeries in Chatham Hospital in October and December, 1915. On 2 April, 1917 Hopwood was appointed as Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee. It seems likely that he worked in this appointment until his retirement in January, 1919.[7]

Hopwood was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 January, 1919 and placed on the Retired List the next day in accordance with Order in Council of 9 March, 1914.[8]

On 15 February, 1919, Hopwood was appointed as Chairman of the Advisory Committee to select names for ships of the forthcoming construction programme.[9]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July, 1924,[10] and advanced to Admiral on the Retired List on 22 February, 1928.[11]

Bibliography

  • "Adml. R. A. Hopwood" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 16 May, 1946. Issue 50453, col E, p. 7.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Charles F. Thorp 		Captain of H.M.S. Grafton
11 Jan, 1909[12][13] – 1 Mar, 1910[14] 		Succeeded by
Constantine H. Hughes-Onslow
Preceded by
Vivian H. G. Bernard 		Captain of H.M.S. Revenge
1 Mar, 1910[15] – 20 Nov, 1910[16] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court
Preceded by
Edward M. Phillpotts 		Captain of H.M.S. Prince of Wales
20 Nov, 1910[17][18] – 19 Dec, 1911[19] 		Succeeded by
Edward H. F. Heaton-Ellis
Preceded by
Allan F. Everett 		Captain of H.M.S. Hercules
19 Dec, 1911[20][21] – 20 Jan, 1913[22] 		Succeeded by
George H. Baird
Preceded by
George B. Powell 		Captain of H.M.S. Gibraltar
20 Jan, 1913[23][24] – 28 Nov, 1914[25] 		Succeeded by
Edward H. Moubray
Preceded by
Cuthbert E. Hunter 		Naval Member of the Ordnance Board
28 Dec, 1914[26] – 4 Dec, 1915[27] 		Succeeded by
Ronald A. Hopwood
as Naval Member of the Ordnance Committee
Preceded by
Ronald A. Hopwood
as Naval Member of the Ordnance Board 		Naval Member of the Ordnance Committee
4 Dec, 1915[28] – 2 Apr, 1917[29] 		Succeeded by
Cecil Maxwell-Lefroy
Preceded by
Cuthbert E. Hunter 		Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee
2 Apr, 1917[30] 		Succeeded by
Henry R. Crooke
 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  2. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  3. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 21 November, 1910. Issue 39435, col F, p. 8.
  5. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  6. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 319.
  7. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  8. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  9. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32962. p. 5889. 5 August, 1924.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33362. p. 1494. 2 March, 1928.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 322.
  13. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  14. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  15. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  16. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  17. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 21 November, 1910. Issue 39435, col F, p. 8.
  18. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). pp. 361, 362.
  19. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  20. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  21. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 324.
  22. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 319.
  24. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  25. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  26. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  27. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  28. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  29. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  30. ↑ Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.

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