Philip George Wodehouse

Captain (retired) Philip George Wodehouse, D.S.O. (26 November, 1883 – 4 April, 1973) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Wodehouse was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1906.

In 1907 he grounded his command T.B. 72 due to an error in judgment. He later was similarly found responsible for a collision between his T.B. 112 and T.B. 073. In 1909, T.B. 112 again collided, this time with a buoy. He obtained instruction in aeroplanes that year at Palmers.

Wodehouse was appointed in command of the destroyer Bittern on 4 February, 1913.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Wolf in April, 1913.

Wodehouse was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1914.

On 22 June, 1914, Wodehouse was appointed in command of the destroyer Rattlesnake.

Great War

On 11 April, 1915 Wodehouse was commended for his work in escorting transports since December, 1914. In April 1915 he performed commendable work in conducting minesweeping operations in the Dardanelles, frequently when under heavy fire.

On 28 July, 1915, Wodehouse's Beagle Class destroyer Rattlesnake collided with H.M.S. Bulldog. Vice-Admiral of the Eastern Mediterranean de Robeck considered that Wodehouse had no excuse for this accident.

On 2 September, 1916 Wodehouse left Malta for Plymouth in Huntsend. He was appointed in command of the destroyer Northesk on 22 September, 1916.

While in command of the Northesk on 18 October 1917, Wodehouse rescued the crew of the S.S. Lorenzo and received the thanks of the Italian Ministry of Marine.

Interbellum

Wodehouse was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1918.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Waterhen on 15 November, 1920.

On 8 April, 1925 Wodehouse was appointed to M.L. 291, additional, and as Senior Officer, Rhine Flotilla. On 13 March, 1926, a Court of Enquiry into the loss of M.L. 287 concluded that Wodehouse had committed an error in judgment.

In 1927-28, Wodehouse undertook a series of short destroyer commands as he helped shuttle the vessels to Rosyth to join the Maintenance Reserve.

Wodehouse was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 26 November, 1929.

World War II

Appointed to command the Coastal Forces training establishment H.M.S. Hornet on 8 October, 1941, vice Chapple. His appointment was terminated on 8 August, 1942/

On 24 August, 1942 Wodehouse was appointed in command of H.M.S. Tynwald, a civilian vessel refitted as an anti-aircraft platform, vice Peters, having the rank of Acting Captain. He survived her loss to an Italian submarine on 12 November.

In mid 1943 he was appointed in command of the Thames Medway Flotilla, and on 2 October, 1944 in command of Wildfire, vice Taylor.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Roger V. Alison	Captain of H.M. T.B. 72 18 Jun, 1907 – 15 Nov, 1907	Succeeded by Laurence R. Palmer
Preceded by Douglas Faviell	Captain of H.M. T.B. 112 15 Nov, 1907 – 9 Sep, 1909	Succeeded by Francis B. Haygarth
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M. T.B. 36 9 Sep, 1909 – 4 Apr, 1911	Succeeded by James R. M. M. Crichton
Preceded by Henry de B. Tupper	Captain of H.M.S. Bittern 4 Feb, 1913 – Apr, 1913	Succeeded by Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Claude A. Rombulow-Pearse	Captain of H.M.S. Wolf Apr, 1913 – 10 Jun, 1914	Succeeded by Ambrose T. N. Abbay
Preceded by Reginald W. Grubb	Captain of H.M.S. Rattlesnake 22 Jun, 1914 – 4 Aug, 1916	Succeeded by Andrew B. Cunningham
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Northesk 22 Sep, 1916 – 7 Aug, 1919	Succeeded by Arthur R. D. Collins
Preceded by Edwin A. Homan	Captain of H.M.S. Waterhen 15 Nov, 1920 – 17 Aug, 1922	Succeeded by George H. Creswell
Preceded by Alexander S. Douglas	Captain of H.M.S. Wryneck 17 Aug, 1922 – 5 Jan, 1923	Succeeded by William J. Whitworth
Preceded by Herbert A. Buchanan-Wollaston	Captain of H.M.S. Carysfort early 1927 – 18 Apr, 1927	Succeeded by George L. Massey
Preceded by Ernald G. H. Master	Captain of H.M.S. Turbulent 29 Aug, 1927 – Nov, 1927	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Alan F. W. Howard	Captain of H.M.S. Tenedos c. Oct, 1927 – 15 Nov, 1927	Succeeded by Reginald F. Morice
Preceded by Lionel G. Foote	Captain of H.M.S. Saladin 18 Jan, 1928 – 28 Feb, 1928	Succeeded by Gerald H. Thompson
Preceded by Frederick A. Richardson	Captain of H.M.S. Tintagel 28 Feb, 1928 – 18 Aug, 1928	Succeeded by John S. Prescott-Roberts
Preceded by Reginald B. C. Hutchinson	Captain of H.M.S. Pegasus 18 Aug, 1928 – 6 Dec, 1928	Succeeded by Aubrey T. Tillard
Preceded by Lawrence D'O. Bignell	Captain of H.M.S. Tyrian 6 Dec, 1928 – 22 Apr, 1929	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by James C. Colvill	Captain of H.M.S. Sesame 22 Apr, 1929 – 29 May, 1929	Succeeded by Hubert Vaughan-Jones