Oliver Maurice Fitz-Gerald Stokes

Oliver Maurice Fitz-Gerald Stokes, D.S.O. (28 May, 1881 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Major General Stokes and born in Enniskillin, Ireland, Oliver Stokes gained seven months' time on passing our of Britannia.

Stokes was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 March, 1903, having recently lost a Flotilla Signal Book from Rocket which prompted a warning from the Admiralty to be more careful.

Stokes was told to be more mindful of article 564 of King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions (which appears to centre on boilers and steam readiness) after a 1909 collision between Eden and Amazon.

Stokes was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 March, 1911.

Stokes was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1916.

Post-War

Stokes was appointed in command of the seaplane carrier Pegasus on 2 December, 1919.

In the mid-20s, Stokes commanded several monitors.

Stokes was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 18 January, 1928.

World War II

On 1 January, 1940, Stokes was appointed in command of the sloop Dundee, vice Allen. She was lost to a torpedo on 15 September 1940. Stokes was found by the Board of Enquiry to have committed a grave error in judgement in abandoning H.M.S. Dundee prematurely, perhaps causing her loss. Stokes injured his shoulder and the first Lieutenant lost his life as twenty men were incapacitated.

Stokes was admitted to hospital on 12 October 1940 to explore recurrent dislocations of his right shoulder following the sinking of Dundee.

On 23 March, 1942, Stokes was appointed R.N.O., Preston vice Le Mottée. From early 1943 to the end of the war, Stokes served as X.N.O, Clyde vice Tancred.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Ralph Collins	Captain of H.M.S. Eden 24 Jan, 1907 – 3 Mar, 1910	Succeeded by F. Burges Watson
Preceded by Charles J. Wintour	Captain of H.M.S. Exe 8 Mar, 1910 – 13 Jun, 1910	Succeeded by Charles J. Wintour
Preceded by Charles J. Wintour	Captain of H.M.S. Test 13 Jun, 1910 – 4 Apr, 1911	Succeeded by Edwin A. Homan
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Peony 9 Oct, 1915 – 1 Feb, 1917	Succeeded by Arthur F. Powell
Preceded by Eric G. Robinson	Captain of H.M.S. M.21 25 Aug, 1917 – 20 Oct, 1918	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Harvester 15 Nov, 1918 – 25 Apr, 1919	Succeeded by John R. G. Moncreiffe
Preceded by Cecil J. Crocker	Captain of H.M.S. Pegasus 25 Apr, 1919 – 15 Nov, 1921	Succeeded by Thomas F. P. Calvert
Preceded by Gordon A. Coles	Captain of H.M.S. Agamemnon 9 Apr, 1923 – 6 Nov, 1923	Succeeded by Oliver M. F. Stokes
Preceded by Oliver M. F. Stokes	Captain of H.M.S. Agamemnon 17 Mar, 1924 – 23 Feb, 1925	Succeeded by Edward C. Stubbs
Preceded by Charles G. C. Sumner	Captain of H.M.S. Erebus 25 Sep, 1925 – 15 Jun, 1926	Succeeded by Patrick B. Crohan
Preceded by Douglas W. O'B. Forsyth	Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Soult 15 Jun, 1926 – c. Aug, 1926	Succeeded by Arthur L. Snagge
Preceded by William F. Sells	Captain of H.M.S. Cleopatra 11 Nov, 1926 – 8 Dec, 1926	Succeeded by Gerald H. Brady
Preceded by Arthur L. Snagge	Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Soult 1 Apr, 1927 – 20 Jul, 1927	Succeeded by Christopher J. F. Wood
Preceded by Cecil C. A. Allen	Captain of H.M.S. Dundee 1 Jan, 1940 – 15 Sep, 1940	Succeeded by Vessel Lost