Brian Cameron Gourley

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Interbellum

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

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

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.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

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