Brian Cameron Gourley

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Commander (retired) Brian Cameron Gourley (21 October, 1887 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Spotted three months seniority on passing out of Britannia, Gourley's first appointments were to battleships, starting with Jupiter of the Channel Fleet on 15 September, 1903. Cæsar, Duncan and Caesar again, in the Atlantic Fleet followed, ending in January 1907 at which time he began training at Whale Island.[1]

Gourley was then appointed to Orion, additional, for the destroyer Stag on 16 April, 1908. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 December, 1908, Gourley remained in Stag until she paid off on 26 January, 1909.[2]

Great War

Gourley was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 7 on 3 August, 1914, having recently spent three months at the barracks at Pembroke. He would command T.B. 7 alongside other units of the Nore Local Defence Flotilla until being appointed to the patrol boat P20 on 15 July, 1916, to take command upon her commissioning.[3]

Gourley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1916.[4]

At some point in 1917, Gourley was appointed in command of Victor, but on 20 September, 1917 he moved again, this time to command the "M" Class destroyer Menace. He remained with her until he was appointed in command of the destroyer Seabear on 14 August, 1918.[5]

Interbellum

On 9 September, 1919, Gourley was appointed in command of the destroyer Verity.[6]

Gourley was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 15 October, 1929.[7]

World War II

Mobilised in September, 1938, Gourley was made Naval Officer in Charge, Sunderland on 29 August, 1939. In late 1942 he was appointed to the shore establishment H.M.S. Trelawney, likely in support of minelaying operations. On 3 November, 1943, he was placed in command of the base, vice Hamilton, being given the acting rank of Captain while holding the appointment.

Gourley reverted to the Retired List in September, 1945.[8]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Terence A. F. Longford
Captain of H.M. T.B. 7
29 Jul, 1914[9] – 15 Jul, 1916[10]
Succeeded by
Edward Eastwick-Field
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. P20
15 Jul, 1916[11][12] – 1917[13]
Succeeded by
Norman B. F. Peploe
Preceded by
Cosmo M. Graham
Captain of H.M.S. Victor
4 Jun, 1917[14] – 20 Sep, 1917[15]
Succeeded by
William V. H. Harris
Preceded by
Charles A. Poignand
Captain of H.M.S. Menace
20 Sep, 1917[16][17] – 14 Aug, 1918[18]
Succeeded by
Ivo W. L. Frewen-Laton
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Seabear
14 Aug, 1918[19][20] – 15 Feb, 1919[21]
Succeeded by
Henry M. Coombs
Preceded by
Reginald St. P. Parry
Captain of H.M.S. Whirlwind
20 Feb, 1919[22][23] – Aug, 1919[24]
Succeeded by
William A. C. Salmond
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Verity
9 Sep, 1919[25] – May, 1921[26]
Succeeded by
Montague R. Bernard
Preceded by
Arthur A. Scott
Captain of H.M.S. Sterling
11 Jul, 1921[27] – 20 Feb, 1922[28]
Succeeded by
Frederick Medway

Footnotes

  1. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  2. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  3. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  4. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  5. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  6. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 881.
  7. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  8. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  9. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  10. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  11. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  12. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396ii.
  13. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  14. The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 398u.
  15. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  16. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  17. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395p.
  18. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  19. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  20. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 905.
  21. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  22. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  23. The Navy List. (August, 1919). p. 943.
  24. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  25. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 881.
  26. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  27. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.
  28. Gourley Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/51/33. f. 38.