Cecil Rupert Hemans

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to navigationJump to search

Captain (retired) Cecil Rupert Hemans (20 September, 1883 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born the son of Henry Hemans, newpaper owner, Cecil gained six months time on passing out of Britannia and being appointed to Repulse of the Channel Squadron on 15 September, 1898.

Hemans was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1904.[1]

Hemans was appointed Lieutenant & Commander of the destroyer Avon on 20 March, 1909.[2]

Hemans functioned as an acting Interpreter in German in a series of his appointments, starting from the midpoint of his second stint in command of Avon.

Hemans was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 September, 1912.[3]

Great War

On 9 June, 1914, Hemans was appointed in command of the destroyer Lydiard.[4]

On 25 November, 1914, he was admitted to Chatham Hospital with gastritis. He did not regain fitness until 1 February, 1915. Hemans was appointed in command of the new Medea Class destroyer Medusa on 15 June, 1915. While in command, the Admiralty recorded that his "[a]ction in not capturing or sinking German trawler on 17/8/15, shewed great lack of initiative but T.L. decided not to supersede him."

Hemans was tried in the customary Court Martial for the loss of Medusa on 4 September, 1916. He was charged with "[n]eglect of duty in abandoning his ship without taking all possible step to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy" and "neglect of duty in not destroying or or saving certain confidential documents when he abandoned his ship in the presence of the enemy." The charges were not proved and Hemans was acquitted.[5]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Ossory on 14 September, 1916.[6]

Hemans was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1917.[7]

In early December 1917, Hemans was hospitalised with abdominal complaints, possibly an obstruction. He remained in command of Ossory, but left her in light of his condition. Hemans was found not found fit until 16 February, 1918 and he rejoined Ossory four days later.[8]

Interbellum

On 11 April, 1919, Hemans was gazetted for his services in convoying and patrol work during the war.

Hemans was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Valorous on 1 November, 1919.[9]

Hemans was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 November, 1922 and promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 20 September, 1928. He applied for a Masters Certificate to the Board of Trade a week later and in 1923 was granted permission to reside on the Gold Coast to take up an appointment. By 1927, he was a Harbour Master at Takoradi. In 1933, he took a Minesweeping Course for Colonial Officers.[10]

World War II

On 16 February 1939, Hemans was granted permission to accept an appointment as an Assistant Commandant of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in town centre, Bristol, receiving three months exemption from naval mobilisation in so doing. In 18 June, 1940, he was appointed in command of the old light cruiser Caroline, which was lying in Belfast in ordinary and as Chief Staff officer to Flag Officer in command, Belfast, vice Stokes. Similar duties occupied him through the war, despite a two week hospitalisation for diverticulitis on 28 January, 1941. Such intestinal issues recurred, but he was not forced to altogether give up naval service until being reverted to the Retired List on 27 April, 1944.[11]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Charles E. L. Thomas
Captain of H.M.S. Salmon
29 Sep, 1908[12][13] – 20 Mar, 1909[14]
Succeeded by
Ralph V. Eyre
Preceded by
John E. P. Bickford
Captain of H.M.S. Avon
20 Mar, 1909[15][16] – 27 May, 1910[17]
Succeeded by
Cecil R. Hemans
Preceded by
Leonard W. Patch
Captain of H.M.S. Sylvia
28 May, 1910[18][19] – 15 Aug, 1910[20]
Succeeded by
Hugh J. Tweedie
Preceded by
Anthony L. H. D. Coke
Captain of H.M.S. Coquette
15 Aug, 1910[21] – Dec, 1910[22]
Succeeded by
Richard M. King
Preceded by
Cecil R. Hemans
Captain of H.M.S. Avon
3 Dec, 1910[23][24] – 11 Jan, 1912[25]
Succeeded by
Frederic A. H. Russel
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Lydiard
9 Jun, 1914[26][27] – 3 Oct, 1914[28]
Succeeded by
George H. Knowles
Preceded by
Bertrand Bannerman
Captain of H.M. T.B. 13
19 Feb, 1915[29] – 3 Mar, 1915[30]
Succeeded by
Frederic G. Schurr
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Medusa
15 Jun, 1915[31][32] – 25 Mar, 1916[33]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Rapid
9 Sep, 1916[34] – 14 Sep, 1916[35]
Succeeded by
Reginald S. Goff
Preceded by
Harold V. Dundas
Captain of H.M.S. Ossory
14 Sep, 1916[36][37] – 23 Mar, 1919[38]
Succeeded by
Frederick R. M. Johnson
Preceded by
Raymond G. F. H. de Caen
Captain of H.M.S. Narwhal
26 Mar, 1919[39] – 1 Nov, 1919
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Robert G. Hamond
Captain of H.M.S. Valorous
1 Nov, 1919[40][41] – 14 Jul, 1921[42]
Succeeded by
Hamilton C. Allen
Preceded by
Hamilton C. Allen
Captain of H.M.S. Wolsey
14 Jul, 1921[43] – 4 Jan, 1922[44]
Succeeded by
Francis H. G. Walker

Footnotes

  1. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  2. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 281.
  3. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  4. The Navy List. (July, 1914). p. 342.
  5. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  6. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 857.
  7. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  8. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 879b.
  10. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  11. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  12. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  13. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 371.
  14. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  15. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  16. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 281.
  17. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  18. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  19. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 281.
  20. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  21. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  22. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  23. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  24. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 281.
  25. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  26. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  27. The Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 352.
  28. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  29. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  30. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  31. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  32. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396.
  33. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  34. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  35. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  36. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  37. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 857.
  38. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  39. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, Mar 28, 1919; pg. 23; Issue 42060.
  40. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  41. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 879b.
  42. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  43. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.
  44. Hemans Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/47/151. f. 356.