William Robert Wildman Kettlewell

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Captain (retired) William Robert Wildman Kettlewell, R.N. (4 September, 1877 – ) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born on Harptree Court in Bristol, Kettlewell gained twelve months' time on passing out of Britannia.[1]

From 9 November 1897 to the 30 June 1899, Kettlewell commanded torpedo boats based in Gibraltar. On 9 August, 1898, he was subjected to a Court Martial for stranding T.B. 91 and was acquitted. He was found to have been careless in a 13 March, 1899 grounding of T.B. 93.[2]

Despite these misfortunes, Kettlewell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1899 and was presently sent home, arriving in England on 24 September.[3]

Kettlewell was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1911.[4]

In July 1912, he participated in an International Radio-Telegraphic Conference in London. In May 1913, he was appointed the Admiralty member of a Board of Trade Committee on Electrical Communication with Lighthouses. Soon thereafter, he was empanelled on a Committee on Wireless Telegraphy and was recommened for early promotion by the Chief of the War Staff.[5]

He was appointed to the battleship Prince of Wales as executive officer on 12 October, 1915 and served in that capacity until she paid off on 5 April, 1917.[6]

Kettlewell was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 19 April, 1920 and subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain (retired) on 4 September, 1922.[7]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Raymond Fitzmaurice
Captain of H.M.S. Espiegle
18 Jul, 1918[8][9]c. Jan, 1920[Inference]
Succeeded by
Colin A. M. Sarel

Footnotes

  1. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  2. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  3. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  4. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  5. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  6. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  7. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  8. Kettlewell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/318. f. 357.
  9. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 789.