Cecil Rupert Hemans

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.

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

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.

Great War

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

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