Wilmot Stuart Nicholson

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Admiral Wilmot Stuart Nicholson, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (18 May, 1872 – 9 June, 1947) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Nicholson was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 14 August, 1891.[1] He lent to command T.B. 77 for the Annual Manoeuvres of 1892 and was sent to join the second class battleship Collingwood in the Mediterranean and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 14 February, 1893.[2]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1903[3][4] and placed in the battleship Prince George. After six months, he was placed in command of Greyhound.

He was appointed in command of Dreadnought on 17 December, 1912.[5]

Great War

Nicholson was placed in command of Hogue in August 1914,[6] and survived her loss on 22 September.

He was appointed command of the light cruiser Aurora on 11 November, 1914.[7]

On 1 December, 1916, Nicholson was appointed command of the battleship Collingwood.[8]

He was appointed in command of the battlecruiser Furious on 20 March, 1917.[9]

On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 4 June, 1917.[10]

On 15 June, 1919, his appointment in command of Furious was terminated and he was appointed Captain (A). He remained in that post until November, 1919.[11]

Flag Rank

In November, 1919, Nicholson was appointed to Victory for Eagle for her trials. On 3 March, he was appointed to President for Eagle as a Naval Staff representative.

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 30 July, 1920, vice Henderson,[12] and reappointed to Eagle. His appointment in her ceased on 18 November, 1920.[13]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 24 November, 1925, vice Hope.[14] He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 July, 1927.[15] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 April, 1930.[16]

In 1941, "Their Lordships' severe displeasure [was] expressed" in a matter concerning his wife and an alleged infraction of the Official Secrets Act.[17]

Bibliography

  • "Adml. W. S. Nicholson" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 13 June, 1947. Issue 50786, col F, pg. 6.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Edward F. B. Charlton
Captain of H.M. T.B. 77
21 Jul, 1892[18] – Aug, 1892[19]
Succeeded by
Thomas P. Bonham
Preceded by
Bernard J. H. Ward
Captain of H.M.S. Greyhound
10 Jan, 1904[20] – 15 Sep, 1904[21]
Succeeded by
V. E. B. Phillimore
Preceded by
Osmond J. Prentis
Captain of H.M.S. Welland
15 Sep, 1904[22] – 6 Mar, 1905[23]
Succeeded by
Ernest K. Loring
Preceded by
Charles F. Corbett
Captain of H.M.S. Usk
1 Jun, 1905[24] – 10 Oct, 1905[25]
Succeeded by
Duncan H. Carmichael
Preceded by
Duncan H. Carmichael
Captain of H.M.S. Gala
10 Oct, 1905[26][27] – 28 May, 1906[28]
Succeeded by
William F. Blunt
Preceded by
Charles J. Collins
Captain of H.M.S. Nith
28 May, 1906[29] – 10 Jul, 1906[30]
Succeeded by
Francis G. St. John
Preceded by
Spencer A. Hickley
Captain of H.M.S. Pathfinder
26 Jan, 1907[31]
Succeeded by
Francis G. St. John
Preceded by
Lewis Bayly
Captain of H.M.S. Attentive
20 Jan, 1908[32][33] – 25 Feb, 1909[34]
Succeeded by
Cecil H. Fox
Preceded by
Stuart Nicholson
Captain of H.M.S. Exmouth
1 Jul, 1912[35] – late 1912
Succeeded by
Hughes C. Lockyer
Preceded by
Sydney R. Fremantle
Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought
17 Dec, 1912[36] – 1 Jul, 1914[37]
Succeeded by
William J. S. Alderson
Preceded by
Reginald A. Norton
Captain of H.M.S. Hogue
Aug, 1914[38] – 22 Sep, 1914[39]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
Alan G. Hotham
Captain of H.M.S. Aurora
11 Nov, 1914[40][41] – 1 Dec, 1916[42]
Succeeded by
Wilfred Tomkinson
Preceded by
?
Captain (D), Tenth Destroyer Flotilla
11 Nov, 1914[43] – 1 Dec, 1916[44]
Succeeded by
Colin K. MacLean
Preceded by
James C. Ley
Captain of H.M.S. Collingwood
1 Dec, 1916[45] – 20 Mar, 1917[46]
Succeeded by
Cole C. Fowler
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Furious
20 Mar, 1917[47][48] – 15 Jun, 1919[49]
Succeeded by
Cuthbert D. Longstaff
Preceded by
Richard F. Phillimore
as Admiral Commanding Aircraft
Captain (A)
15 Jun, 1919[50] – 29 Nov, 1919[51]
Succeeded by
Reginald G. H. Henderson
as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers
Preceded by
Arthur A. M. Duff
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Light Cruiser Squadron
14 May, 1921[52][53] – 15 May, 1923[54]
Succeeded by
Thomas D. Gilbert
Preceded by
Hugh F. P. Sinclair
Chief of the Submarine Service
1 Sep, 1923 – 1 Sep, 1925
Succeeded by
Vernon H. S. Haggard

 

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 26356. p. 7551. 23 December, 1892.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 26373. p. 881. 17 February, 1893.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 27572. p. 4187. 3 July, 1903.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 27582. p. 4820. 31 July, 1903.
  5. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  6. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  7. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 279.
  8. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  9. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 796.
  10. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30111. p. 5454. 4 June, 1917.
  11. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 32017. p. 8408. 13 August, 1920.
  13. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 33110. p. 7950. 1 December, 1925.
  15. The London Gazette: no. 33294. p. 4565. 15 July, 1927.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 33596. p. 2327. 11 April, 1930.
  17. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  18. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  19. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  20. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  21. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  22. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  23. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  24. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  25. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  26. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  27. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 10 October, 1905. Issue 37834, col A, p. 7.
  28. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  29. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  30. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  31. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 352.
  32. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 280.
  33. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  34. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  35. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 311.
  36. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  37. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  38. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  39. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  40. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 392h.
  41. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  42. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  43. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  44. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  45. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  46. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  47. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 796.
  48. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  49. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  50. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  51. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  52. "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 19 March, 1921. Issue 42673, col C, p. 8.
  53. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  54. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.