Arthur Hugh Oldham

Captain (retired) Arthur Hugh Oldham (3 March, 1871 – 17 August, 1928) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

On 13 January, 1891, Captain Wiseman recorded that Oldham was hard working and "correct", but "not quick."

Oldham was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1893.

Oldham was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1904.

In January, 1906, Oldham was declared "unsuitable for destroyer" by Rear-Admiral Winston. Appointed in command of the former ironclad H.M.S. Triumph, now the training ship Tenedos on 1 January, Admiral Pearson reported that the ship was "[n]ot so clean as she should be."

In January, 1907, Oldham was not recommended for advancement by Captain Hall.

He was appointed in command of the old training ship Daedalus on 26 November, 1908. He left when she paid off on 30 September 1910, and on 22 October, 1910 he went to work with the Milford Division of the Coast Guard.

Great War

Oldham was appointed in command of the armed boarding steamer Suva on 25 August, 1915. On 13 March, 1916, he applied to the Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord, Captain Hubert George Brand, asking that he be relieved, but he was asked for his reasons, as a previous application had been refused for reasons deemed inadequate. Apparently his reasons were psychological in basis, as Oldham was invalided from the ship on 15 April, 1916 with anthenia. On 13 June, he was found fit for duty with some qualifications.

Oldham was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Gibraltar in May, 1917. Much of the remaining war years would be consumed with his efforts to escape naval service, or at least to find the least demanding appointments possible. In June of 1917, he applied to be placed on the Retired List with the rank of Captain or to be given a better paid appointment as Commander. He was informed that retirement was suspended during the hostilities and that any question of rank advancement would only be considered when he completed six months in his present command appointment. Oldham was duly promoted to the rank of Commander on 26 October, 1917 and remained in Gibraltar until March of 1918 when he was appointed in command of the battleship Venerable.

Post-War

In December, 1918, there was some confusion over whether Oldham would be granted leave and he was ordered to join Courageous "immediately." Oldham asked that his appointment to command the aircraft carrier be cancelled and that his appointment to the Milford Division of the Coast Guard be reinstated. This was refused.

Oldham was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 5 August, 1919.

Oldham died of a cerebral hemorrhage at a nursing home in Weymouth on 17 August, 1928.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John F. E. Green	Captain of H.M.S. Pigmy 15 Jan, 1901 – 25 Oct, 1902	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John G. Armstrong	Captain of H.M.S. Lapwing 3 Jan, 1903 – 17 Sep, 1904	Succeeded by Alfred B. Barker
Preceded by John Kiddle	Captain of H.M.S. Racehorse 3 Jan, 1905 – 1 Apr, 1905	Succeeded by Rupert S. Gwatkin-Williams
Preceded by Rupert S. Gwatkin-Williams	Captain of H.M.S. Ribble 1 Apr, 1905 – 26 May, 1905	Succeeded by Reginald F. Parker
Preceded by James U. Farie	Captain of H.M.S. Kestrel 18 May, 1905 – 11 Jul, 1905	Succeeded by James U. Farie
Preceded by Cecil F. Thursby as Captain of H.M.S. Triumph	Captain of H.M.S. Tenedos 1 Jan, 1906 – 10 Jan, 1907	Succeeded by Henry C. Carr
Preceded by Owen F. Gillett	Captain of H.M.S. Hawke 13 Mar, 1908 – 26 Nov, 1908	Succeeded by Henry D. Wilkin
Preceded by Henry G. Keenor	Captain of H.M.S. Enchantress 18 Aug, 1915 – 25 Aug, 1915	Succeeded by The Hon. Arthur C. Strutt
Preceded by Arthur B. F. Dawson	Captain of H.M.S. Gibraltar 16 May, 1917 – 11 Feb, 1918	Succeeded by William B. Macdonald
Preceded by William B. Fawckner	Senior Naval Officer, Swarbacks Minn c. Nov, 1917 – late 1918	Succeeded by Command Disestablished
Preceded by Charles A. Radcliffe	Captain of H.M.S. Venerable 11 Mar, 1918 – Jun, 1918	Succeeded by Lewis T. L. Jones
Preceded by William B. Macdonald	Captain of H.M.S. Gibraltar 18 Jun, 1918 – Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Hugh P. Buckle
Preceded by Guy D. Fanshawe	Captain of H.M.S. Courageous 17 Apr, 1919 – 9 Jul, 1919	Succeeded by Frederick C. G. St. Clair