Theodore Evelyn Johnstone Bigg

Captain Theodore Evelyn Johnstone Bigg, R.N. (5 September, 1878 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He would prove a capable destroyer commander during the Great War.

Life & Career

Bigg gained nine months time upon passing out of Britannia in December, 1894. He was appointed to join the second class battleship Camperdown in the Mediterranean on 15 January, 1895. He'd also serve in Collingwood that first year and wind up back in Camperdown until early 1898.

After a few months in Raleigh, Bigg was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 64 on 11 July, 1899 for manoeuvres.

Bigg was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1901.

In June, 1904, he completed at 10 day navigation course in Talbot. Captain Bayly noted that Bigg "would do well if placed in command of a T.B.D.." This advice would prove resonant, as Bigg enjoyed a considerable number of destroyer commands. A similar endorsement was inspired by his command of the "C" Class destroyer Brazen which started in mid-1907, as in December where someone noted "has done well in Brazen. Rec^d for command of a better destroyer." It would appear that perhaps the River Class destroyer Exe was determined to be that better destroyer, as his next appointment was in her, on 15 June, 1908. He'd command a further five torpedo craft before being promoted.

Bigg was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913 while in command of T.B. 27. He was appointed in command of the "C" Class destroyer Cheerful on 27 January, 1914 and would be in her through the first year of the war.

Great War

Bigg left Cheerful for a brief stint in command of Beagle on 22 September, 1915, followed by a series of additional destroyer commands. Some confusion exists about the span of a second command of Badger, but he seems to have missed the Battle of Jutland.

Bigg was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1918, and appointed in command of the scout cruiser Bellona on 15 November, 1918. Sadly for him, his ship was under refit during the surrender of the High Sea Fleet.

Post-War

Bigg was placed on the Retired List upon his relief as Captain (D) of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on 16 August, 1922.

World War II

Bigg was made the Naval Representative on the Joint Recruiting Board of the University of Liverpool, including the University College of North Wales, Bangor on 2 September, 1939, but was reverted to the Retired List on 4 November.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Bernard St. G. Collard	Captain of H.M. T.B. 64 11 Jul, 1899 – 1899	Succeeded by Robert M. Groves
Preceded by George B. Hartford	Captain of H.M. T.B. 74 c. Jun, 1905 – c. Aug, 1905[Inference]	Succeeded by Arthur M. Longmore
Preceded by Arthur T. Blackwood	Captain of H.M.S. Zephyr 3 May, 1906 – 3 Aug, 1906	Succeeded by Richard Daly
Preceded by Leonard A. B. Donaldson	Captain of H.M.S. Rocket 3 Aug, 1906 – 26 Apr, 1907	Succeeded by Reginald Henniker-Heaton
Preceded by John R. Corner	Captain of H.M.S. Brazen 28 May, 1907 – 15 Jun, 1908	Succeeded by Hugh D. Colville
Preceded by Percy W. Pontifex	Captain of H.M.S. Exe 15 Jun, 1908 – 10 Sep, 1909	Succeeded by James U. Farie
Preceded by Stanley V. Ellis	Captain of H.M.S. Ness 10 Sep, 1909 – 4 Oct, 1910	Succeeded by Gerald C. Wynter
Preceded by William D. Irvin	Captain of H.M.S. Usk 7 Nov, 1910 – 1 May, 1911	Succeeded by Bertie W. Bluett
Preceded by Francis B. Haygarth	Captain of H.M. T.B. 8 16 May, 1911 – 12 Feb, 1913	Succeeded by Roger L'E. M. Rede
Preceded by Raymond J. Harris-St. John	Captain of H.M. T.B. 27 12 Feb, 1913 – 27 Jan, 1914	Succeeded by John P. Burton
Preceded by Robert Makin	Captain of H.M.S. Cheerful 27 Jan, 1914 – 22 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by Henry I. M. L. Scott
Preceded by Harry R. Godfrey	Captain of H.M.S. Beagle 22 Sep, 1915 – 14 Oct, 1915	Succeeded by Claude Seymour
Preceded by Claude Seymour	Captain of H.M.S. Colne 14 Oct, 1915 – 13 Jan, 1916	Succeeded by Lewes G. Gardner
Preceded by Claude Seymour	Captain of H.M.S. Beagle 13 Jan, 1916 – 11 Apr, 1916	Succeeded by Henry M. Coombs
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Nereus 11 Apr, 1916 – c. late Apr, 1916[Inference]	Succeeded by Charles A. Fremantle
Preceded by Charles A. Fremantle	Captain of H.M.S. Badger ? – 7 Nov, 1916	Succeeded by Alan M. Yeats-Brown
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sable 11 Dec, 1916 – 12 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by Hugh J. Woodward
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Valhalla 12 Jul, 1917 – 16 Jul, 1918	Succeeded by Dashwood F. Moir
Preceded by Ernest W. Denison	Captain of H.M.S. Bellona 15 Nov, 1918 – 1 Mar, 1920	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Arthur M. Lecky	Captain of H.M.S. Malcolm 25 Jun, 1921 – 16 Aug, 1922	Succeeded by Cyril St. C. Cameron
Preceded by Kerrison Kiddle	Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla 25 Jun, 1921 – 16 Aug, 1922	Succeeded by Cyril St. C. Cameron