Harold Owen Reinold

Vice-Admiral Harold O. Reinold as a Rear-Admiral, March 1930.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Vice-Admiral Harold Owen Reinold, C.B., C.V.O., Royal Navy (18 October, 1877 – 4 January, 1962) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

His father was Professor Arnold William Reinold, and his cousin Basil Edward Reinold, five years younger, also served in the Navy during the Great War.

Life & Career

Born in Greenwich, Reinold gained ten months time on passing out of Britannia. He was first appointed, additional, to Narcissus in the Cruiser Squadron, on 17 August, 1893.

In September 1895 while serving in the armoured cruiser Undaunted on the China Station, Reinold was deprived of one month's time by Commander-in-Chief for misconduct.

28 March, 1898 Reinold was appointed to the training brig Pilot for navigating duties. On 12 April, 1898, he was faulted for an error in judgment in grounding the vessel.

Reinold was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1899.

Reinold passed in Pilotage for first class ships on 6 February, 1904. On the 17th, he was appointed to H.M.S. Minerva in Devonport, where he remained until being appointed to Charybdis as navigating Lieutenant on 26 April, 1904. She operated on the North American Station until paying off on 24 March, 1905 and Reinold was then appointed to (of course!) Scylla. His term in her would be just over a year in duration.

On 26 July, 1909 he was appointed to the Indomitable as navigating officer. Reinold left Indomitable for Lion on 1 December, 1911 and was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1911.

Reinold was appointed to the armoured cruiser Defence for navigating duties on 6 January, 1913. She operated in the Mediterranean, and in June, 1914 he took ill and was allowed to take a month's sick leave to take a course of baths at Sales Maggiore. Although he was welcome to return to England thereafter, if required, Reinold rejoined Defence on 16 July.

Great War

In October 1914, Reinold joined Euryalus as navigating officer. The following month he left the ship to participate in the Court-Martial of Rear-Admiral Troubridge.

On 11 February, 1915 Reinold was sent to Hospital with an intestinal disease. He was found fit at Haslar on 14 April.

In August 1915, as a Commander, Reinold commanded the monitor H.M.S. Prince Rupert during bombardment operations lasting through November. He was gazetted for these deeds on 12 January, 1916.

Reinold was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1917.

Interbellum

In July 1919, he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Ceres, in which capacity he assisted in operations to evacuate Odessa, for which he received the Admiralty's expression of appreciation. Reinold was superseded in Ceres by John Knowles im Thurn after two years in command.

On 8 May 1924 he was admitted to Haslar for an injury to his right leg.

Reinold was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 7 April, 1928.

In 1930, Reinold served as Chairman of the Committee appointed to consider the question of the Paint Supply of the Fleet. He was superseded the next year by Percy L. H. Noble.

Reinold was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 January, 1933 (vice Kitson) and was placed on the Retired List on 2 January, 1933.

World War II

Reinold emerged from three weeks in Haslar Royal Naval Hospital for bronchitis to assume an appointment as Flag Officer in Charge, Southampton, vice Tillard to serve in the rank of Rear-Admiral from 17 April, 1942. However, at the end of August, he was sent back to hospital. He was deemed unfit for further duty on 12 September, 1942.

Reinold died at Paulsgrove, Hayling Island on 4 January, 1962.

See Also

• "Obituary" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 6 January, 1962. Issue 55282, col B, pg. 12.
• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by E. Hyde Parker	Captain of H.M.S. Endymion 12 Dec, 1914 – 20 Dec, 1914	Succeeded by Arthur V. Vyvyan
Preceded by Henry F. Aplin	Captain of H.M.S. Hermione 18 Apr, 1915 – Apr, 1915	Succeeded by Reginald St. P. Parry
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Prince Rupert 12 Jun, 1915 – 16 May, 1917	Succeeded by Henry W. Osburn
Preceded by Herbert L. Edwards	King's Harbour Master, Plymouth 16 May, 1917 – Jul, 1919	Succeeded by Geoffrey H. Freyberg
Preceded by Henry G. E. Lane	Captain of H.M.S. Ceres Jul, 1919 – 18 Jul, 1921	Succeeded by John K. im Thurn
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Durban 1 Nov, 1921 – 20 Dec, 1921	Succeeded by Casper B. Ballard
Preceded by Archibald Cochrane	Captain of H.M.S. Caroline 20 Dec, 1921 – 17 Feb, 1922	Succeeded by Douglas M. Hervey-Macleay
Preceded by Oliver E. Leggett	Captain of Portsmouth Navigation School 30 Nov, 1922 – 2 Dec, 1924	Succeeded by John W. Carrington
Preceded by John K. im Thurn	Captain of H.M.S. Hood 30 Apr, 1925 – May, 1927	Succeeded by Wilfred F. French
Preceded by Thomas H. Binney	Deputy Director of Plans 24 Jun, 1927 – 1 May, 1928	Succeeded by G. Frederick B. Edward-Collins
Preceded by Joseph C. W. Henley	Director of Naval Equipment 14 Mar, 1930 – 2 Mar, 1931	Succeeded by Percy L. H. Noble
Preceded by Oliver Backhouse	Admiral Superintendent, Devonport Dockyard 2 Mar, 1931 – 2 Mar, 1935	Succeeded by Arthur L. Snagge
Preceded by Stephen D. Tillard	Flag Officer in Command, Southampton 17 Feb, 1942 – 14 Sep, 1942	Succeeded by James M. Pipon