Difference between revisions of "Alexander Lowndes"

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==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
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Lowndes was made a {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1895.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
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Lowndes was the youngest son of Major James Lowndes, a member of the United Services Club in London.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
  
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Lowndes was appointed to the {{UK-Commonwealth|f=t}} in 1905 and remained in her when he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1906.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
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Lowndes was made a {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1895 and would spend the next three years serving in China, providing navigation services for the {{UK-Pigmy|f=t}}.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
  
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He decided in September 1907 at this juncture to transfer from the navigation branch to the executive branch of the navy, and a Commander (N) was brought to the {{UK-Commonwealth}}, and Lowndes became the executive officer.
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In May 1899 he obtained his pilotage certificate for first-class ships.
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 +
Lowndes was appointed to the {{UK-Commonwealth|f=t}} as first and navigating officer in March 1905.  Despite some "domestic affliction" which called him away for two weeks in September 1905, he remained in ''Commonwealth'' after being promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1906.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref> 
 +
 
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He decided in September 1907 to transfer from the navigation branch to the executive branch of the navy, and a Commander (N) was brought to the {{UK-Commonwealth}}, and Lowndes became the executive officer, now under the wing of the new Captain, [[Montague Edward Browning]].  Much of the rest of his career would have him following Browning, suggesting a strong interpersonal bond.<ref>Obituary.</ref>
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Three months in signal and war courses at the end of 1909 were followed by two years in command of the {{UK-Alacrity|f=tp}}, back again on the [[China Station]].
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Lowndes spent four months as Acting Flag Captain in {{UK-1Minotaur}} from mid September, 1910 to January, 1911.  Vice-Admiral Winsloe would offer Lowndes a strong recommendation afterward, noting that he possessed "great tact & ability."  Lowndes reverted to service in ''Alacrity'' until he was invalided on 8 February, 1912.  No details of the condition prompting this necessity are provided in his Service Record.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
  
 
Lowndes was promoted to {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1913.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
 
Lowndes was promoted to {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1913.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
  
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He was appointed in command of the battleship {{UK-Hibernia}} on 29 August, 1913.{{NLDec14|p. 330}}
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He was appointed to the battleship {{UK-Hibernia}} on 29 August, 1913, acting as flag captain to his mentor Montague Browning, who was now Rear-Admiral, {{UK-BS|3}}.{{NLDec14|p. 330}}<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
  
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Lowndes was appointed in command of the {{UK-Antrim|f=t}} on 23 July, 1915.{{NLOct15|p. 392''c''}}
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Lowndes left ''Hibernia'' when he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Antrim|f=t}} on 23 July, 1915.{{NLOct15|p. 392''c''}} He served just over a year in her before being called back under Browning's wing when he was appointed as Flag Captain and Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Browning in {{UK-Leviathan|f=p}} on 9 August 1916.
  
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Lowndes served as captain of {{UK-Leviathan}} from 9 August 1916 until being appointed to command the {{UK-Hercules|f=t}} on 12 February, 1918.{{NLFeb19|p. 812}}
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He followed Browning again when he was appointed to command the {{UK-Hercules|f=t}} on 12 February, 1918 as Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Commanding, {{UK-BS|4}}.{{NLFeb19|p. 812}}
  
 
==Post-War==
 
==Post-War==
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He was appointed Chief of Staff to Browning, now [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]], on 30 September, 1920.{{NLDec20|p. 790}}
 
He was appointed Chief of Staff to Browning, now [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]], on 30 September, 1920.{{NLDec20|p. 790}}
  
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Lowndes died on 20 March, 1921, in the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, following an operation for carcinoma of the rectum.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
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Although he had been fairly healthy throughout his career, Lowndes was admitted to hospital on 28 February, 1921 with colon cancer. He died on 20 March following an operation in the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth.<ref>Lowndes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 470.</ref>
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowndes, Alexander}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowndes, Alexander}}
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{{CatPerson|UK|1874|1921}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1874|1921}}
 
{{CatBritannia|July, 1887}}
 
{{CatBritannia|July, 1887}}
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[[Category:Chiefs of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]]
 
 
{{CatNavigatingOfficer|UK}}
 
{{CatNavigatingOfficer|UK}}
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{{CatDeceasedOnActiveService|UK}}
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{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 15:35, 7 April 2022

Captain Alexander Lowndes, C.B., Royal Navy (26 March, 1874 – 20 March, 1921) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Lowndes was the youngest son of Major James Lowndes, a member of the United Services Club in London.[1]

Lowndes was made a Lieutenant on 31 December, 1895 and would spend the next three years serving in China, providing navigation services for the gunboat Pigmy.[2]

In May 1899 he obtained his pilotage certificate for first-class ships.

Lowndes was appointed to the battleship Commonwealth as first and navigating officer in March 1905. Despite some "domestic affliction" which called him away for two weeks in September 1905, he remained in Commonwealth after being promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1906.[3]

He decided in September 1907 to transfer from the navigation branch to the executive branch of the navy, and a Commander (N) was brought to the Commonwealth, and Lowndes became the executive officer, now under the wing of the new Captain, Montague Edward Browning. Much of the rest of his career would have him following Browning, suggesting a strong interpersonal bond.[4]

Three months in signal and war courses at the end of 1909 were followed by two years in command of the third class protected cruiser H.M.S. Alacrity, back again on the China Station.

Lowndes spent four months as Acting Flag Captain in Minotaur from mid September, 1910 to January, 1911. Vice-Admiral Winsloe would offer Lowndes a strong recommendation afterward, noting that he possessed "great tact & ability." Lowndes reverted to service in Alacrity until he was invalided on 8 February, 1912. No details of the condition prompting this necessity are provided in his Service Record.[5]

Lowndes was promoted to Captain on 30 June, 1913.[6]

He was appointed to the battleship Hibernia on 29 August, 1913, acting as flag captain to his mentor Montague Browning, who was now Rear-Admiral, Third Battle Squadron.[7][8]

Lowndes left Hibernia when he was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Antrim on 23 July, 1915.[9] He served just over a year in her before being called back under Browning's wing when he was appointed as Flag Captain and Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Browning in H.M.S. Leviathan on 9 August 1916.

He followed Browning again when he was appointed to command the battleship Hercules on 12 February, 1918 as Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron.[10]

Post-War

Browning went to the Admiralty as Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, and Lowndes was appointed his Naval Assistant on 30 March, 1919.[11]

He was appointed Chief of Staff to Browning, now Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, on 30 September, 1920.[12]

Although he had been fairly healthy throughout his career, Lowndes was admitted to hospital on 28 February, 1921 with colon cancer. He died on 20 March following an operation in the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth.[13]

Bibliography

  • "Captain A. Lowndes, C.B., R.N." (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 23 March, 1921. Issue 42676, col E, p. 13.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Cyril T. M. Fuller 		Captain of H.M.S. Alacrity
27 Jan, 1910[14][15] – 8 Feb, 1912[16] 		Succeeded by
Charles L. Lambe
Preceded by
Ernest K. Loring 		Captain of H.M.S. Hibernia
29 Aug, 1913[17][18] – 23 Jul, 1915[19] 		Succeeded by
Vernon H. S. Haggard
Preceded by
Vincent B. Molteno 		Captain of H.M.S. Antrim
23 Jul, 1915[20][21] – 9 Aug, 1916[22] 		Succeeded by
Reginald A. Norton
Preceded by
Marcus R. Hill 		Captain of H.M.S. Leviathan
9 Aug, 1916[23][24] – Jan, 1918[25] 		Succeeded by
Francis M. Austin
Preceded by
Henry W. Parker 		Captain of H.M.S. Hercules
12 Feb, 1918[26][27] – 30 Mar, 1919[28] 		Succeeded by
William L. Elder
Preceded by
The Hon. Herbert Meade
as Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord 		Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
30 Mar, 1919[29][30] – 30 Sep, 1920[31] 		Succeeded by
Arthur J. Davies

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  2. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  3. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  4. ↑ Obituary.
  5. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  6. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  7. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 330.
  8. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392c.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 812.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1920). p. 1812.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 790.
  13. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  14. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  15. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 274.
  16. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 330.
  18. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  19. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  20. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392b.
  21. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  22. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395b.
  24. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  25. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  26. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 812.
  27. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  28. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  29. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1920). p. 1812.
  30. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  31. ↑ Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.

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