Difference between revisions of "Charles Donnison Roper"

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'''Charles Donnison Roper''' ( – ) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
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{{CaptRN}} '''Charles Donnison Roper''' (12 January, 1876 – 13 November, 1921) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
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As a Commander, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Cameleon|f=t}} on 27 November, 1912.<ref>''The Navy List'' (April, 1914).  p. 291.</ref>
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Born in Richmond, Yorks.
  
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Roper was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1915.
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Roper was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1897.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
  
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In July 1915, he assumed command of the {{UK-Fearless|f=t}}.{{MackieRNW}}
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Roper was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1908.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
  
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He was in her, acting as Captain (D) of the {{UK-DF|1}} during the [[Battle of Jutland]], screening the {{UK-BS|5}}. Poor {{UK-Fearless}} proved unable to keep up with her charges, failing to take station in a submarine screen and getting in the way of the Battle Fleet.  She eventually had to consort with other small fry on the disengaged side.{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 242,243}}
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On 8 May, 1909, Roper was loaned to the Canadian government for two years.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
  
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In seeking to balance out destroyer forces after losses in the Battle, he was to be moved to {{UK-DF|4}}, and to move to {{UK-DF|14}} when it was fully formed.<ref>At {{TNA|ADM 137/1645}}, p. 41.</ref>
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Roper was appointed in command of the {{UK-Cameleon|f=t}} on 27 November, 1912.{{NLApr14|p. 291}}
  
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On 4 December 1918, he was appointed as additional to the old {{UK-Queen|f=t}} as S.N.O. of Taranto.{{SMNLFeb19|p. 887}}
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==Great War==
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On 9 October, 1914, Roper was appointed from ''Cameleon'' to the {{UK-1Broke|f=t}}.
 +
 
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On 17 December, 1914, {{UK-1Broke}} and {{UK-Bellona}} collided;  "Incurred TL displeasure."  Roper was also blamed for damaging jetties and tugs at Leith when he backed {{UK-1Broke}} out of a dock in March, 1915.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Roper was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1915.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
 +
 
 +
In July, Roper assumed command of the {{UK-1Fearless|f=t}}.  He was in her, acting as Captain (D) of the {{UK-DF|1}} during the [[Battle of Jutland]], screening the {{UK-BS|5}}.  Poor {{UK-1Fearless}} proved unable to keep up with her charges, failing to take station in a submarine screen and getting in the way of the Battle Fleet.  She eventually had to consort with other small fry on the disengaged side.{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 242,243}}
 +
 
 +
In seeking to balance out destroyer forces after losses in the Battle, Roper was to be moved to {{UK-DF|4}}, and then to move to {{UK-DF|14}} when it was fully formed.<ref>At {{TNA|ADM 137/1645.|}} p. 41.</ref>
 +
 
 +
On 30 July, Roper was determined to be suffering from nervous tension (or "lesion"?).  On 4 August, 1916, he was admitted to Haslar due to a "Debacle[?] of Nervous System."  He was given six weeks time to recover and was belatedly replaced in command of {{UK-1Ithuriel}} at the end of August.  On 22 September, he was deemed fit, but only for shore duty.  This pronouncement would prove to spell the end of his sea-going naval career.  Two days later, he was appointed temporarily to work in the [[Operations Division (Royal Navy)|Operations Division]].  Roper worked in Operations from 24 September 1916 until 25 February, 1918.  He then moved to work at the D.I.R. through December of 1918.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
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==Post-War==
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On 4 December 1918, Roper was appointed as additional to the old {{UK-Queen|f=t}} as S.N.O. of [[Taranto]].{{NLFeb19|p. 887}}
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 +
He ceased work at Taranto on 2 March and was placed on the Retired List as medically unfit on 14 April, 1919.<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Charles+Donnison+Roper Service Records]
 
* [[First D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland]]
 
* [[First D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland]]
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{{refend}}
 
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==Bibliography==
 
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{{refbegin}}
 
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{{refend}}
 
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==Service Records==
 
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{{refbegin}}
 
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cameleon (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cameleon'']]'''<br>27 Nov, 1912{{NLOct14|p. 288}} &ndash; ?|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Victor Dundas|Harold V. Dundas]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Digby St. Aubyn Percy Weston|Digby St. A. P. Weston]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 50 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 50]]'''<br>8 Jul, 1896{{NMI|3 July, 1896; pg. 12}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sebald Walter Bluett Green|Sebald W. B. Green]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles John Wintour|Charles J. Wintour]]'''|'''[[Fourth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>1914<ref>{{TNA|ADM 137/1645}}, p. 41.</ref> &ndash; ?|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Edmund Wood|Arthur E. Wood]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Drury St. Aubyn Wake|Drury St. A. Wake]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Prince George (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Prince George'']]'''<br>4 Jun, 1912<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref> &ndash; 28 Jul, 1912<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Godfrey Tuke|Godfrey Tuke]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Frederick Blunt|William F. Blunt]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Fearless (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Fearless'']]'''<br>25 Jul, 1915{{NLOct15|p. 394''d''}} &ndash; after 1 Jun, 1916{{UKJutlandOD|p. 46}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles James Colebrooke Little|Charles J. C. Little]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hugh Justin Tweedie|Hugh J. Tweedie]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cameleon (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cameleon'']]'''<br>27 Nov, 1912<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>{{NLOct14|p. 288}} &ndash; 9 Oct, 1914<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Victor Dundas|Harold V. Dundas]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Frederick Blunt|William F. Blunt]]'''|'''[[First Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), First Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>before 31 May, 1916 &ndash; ?|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Kemmis Betty|Arthur K. Betty]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles John Wintour|Charles J. Wintour]]'''|'''[[Fourth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>1914<ref>{{TNA|ADM 137/1645}}, p. 41.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Oliver Gladstone|Edward O. Gladstone]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>mid 1916<ref>{{TNA|ADM 137/1645}}, p. 41.</ref>{{FC}} &ndash; ?|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harry Rowlandson Godfrey|Harry R. Godfrey]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Broke (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Broke'']]'''<br>9 Oct, 1914<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>{{NLApr15|p. 392''n''}} &ndash; 25 Jul, 1915<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Ernest Sulivan|Harold E. Sulivan]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Brandreth Scott Dutton|Arthur B. S. Dutton]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Botha (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Botha'']]'''<br>8 Jun, 1915<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref> &ndash; 6 Jul, 1916<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Walter Lingen Allen|Walter L. Allen]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Oliver Gladstone|Edward O. Gladstone]]'''|'''[[Fourth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>8 Jun, 1915<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref> &ndash; 6 Jul, 1916<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Percy Withers|Percy Withers]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Frederick Blunt|William F. Blunt]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Fearless (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Fearless'']]'''<br>25 Jul, 1915<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>{{NLOct15|p. 394''d''}} &ndash; 6 Jul, 1916<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>{{UKJutlandOD|p. 46}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles James Colebrooke Little|Charles J. C. Little]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Frederick Blunt|William F. Blunt]]'''|'''[[First Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), First Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>27 Jul, 1915<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref> &ndash; 8 Jun, 1916<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Brien Michael Money|Brien M. Money]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>6 Jul, 1916<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref> &ndash; 28 Aug, 1916<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|D7602937}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Walter Lingen Allen|Walter L. Allen]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Taranto|Senior Naval Officer, Taranto]]'''<br>4 Dec, 1918<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|}} f. 169.</ref> &ndash; 2 Mar, 1919<ref>Roper Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/151.|}} f. 169.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''Command Disestablished'''}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roper, Charles}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roper, Charles}}
  
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{{CatPerson|UK||}}
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{{CatPerson|UK|1876|1921}}
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{{CatBritannia|July, 1889}}
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{{CatCapt|UK}}
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{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 22:24, 9 June 2022

Captain Charles Donnison Roper (12 January, 1876 – 13 November, 1921) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Born in Richmond, Yorks.

Roper was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1897.[1]

Roper was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1908.[2]

On 8 May, 1909, Roper was loaned to the Canadian government for two years.[3]

Roper was appointed in command of the destroyer Cameleon on 27 November, 1912.[4]

Great War

On 9 October, 1914, Roper was appointed from Cameleon to the flotilla leader Broke.

On 17 December, 1914, Broke and Bellona collided; "Incurred TL displeasure." Roper was also blamed for damaging jetties and tugs at Leith when he backed Broke out of a dock in March, 1915.[5]

Roper was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1915.[6]

In July, Roper assumed command of the scout cruiser Fearless. He was in her, acting as Captain (D) of the First Destroyer Flotilla during the Battle of Jutland, screening the Fifth Battle Squadron. Poor Fearless proved unable to keep up with her charges, failing to take station in a submarine screen and getting in the way of the Battle Fleet. She eventually had to consort with other small fry on the disengaged side.[7]

In seeking to balance out destroyer forces after losses in the Battle, Roper was to be moved to Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, and then to move to Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla when it was fully formed.[8]

On 30 July, Roper was determined to be suffering from nervous tension (or "lesion"?). On 4 August, 1916, he was admitted to Haslar due to a "Debacle[?] of Nervous System." He was given six weeks time to recover and was belatedly replaced in command of Ithuriel at the end of August. On 22 September, he was deemed fit, but only for shore duty. This pronouncement would prove to spell the end of his sea-going naval career. Two days later, he was appointed temporarily to work in the Operations Division. Roper worked in Operations from 24 September 1916 until 25 February, 1918. He then moved to work at the D.I.R. through December of 1918.[9]

Post-War

On 4 December 1918, Roper was appointed as additional to the old battleship Queen as S.N.O. of Taranto.[10]

He ceased work at Taranto on 2 March and was placed on the Retired List as medically unfit on 14 April, 1919.[11]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Digby St. A. P. Weston 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 50
8 Jul, 1896[12] 		Succeeded by
Sebald W. B. Green
Preceded by
Drury St. A. Wake 		Captain of H.M.S. Prince George
4 Jun, 1912[13] – 28 Jul, 1912[14] 		Succeeded by
Godfrey Tuke
Preceded by
Hugh J. Tweedie 		Captain of H.M.S. Cameleon
27 Nov, 1912[15][16] – 9 Oct, 1914[17] 		Succeeded by
Harold V. Dundas
Preceded by
Charles J. Wintour 		Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla
1914[18] 		Succeeded by
Edward O. Gladstone
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Broke
9 Oct, 1914[19][20] – 25 Jul, 1915[21] 		Succeeded by
Harold E. Sulivan
Preceded by
Arthur B. S. Dutton 		Captain of H.M.S. Botha
8 Jun, 1915[22] – 6 Jul, 1916[23] 		Succeeded by
Walter L. Allen
Preceded by
Edward O. Gladstone 		Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla
8 Jun, 1915[24] – 6 Jul, 1916[25] 		Succeeded by
Percy Withers
Preceded by
William F. Blunt 		Captain of H.M.S. Fearless
25 Jul, 1915[26][27] – 6 Jul, 1916[28][29] 		Succeeded by
Charles J. C. Little
Preceded by
William F. Blunt 		Captain (D), First Destroyer Flotilla
27 Jul, 1915[30] – 8 Jun, 1916[31] 		Succeeded by
Brien M. Money
Preceded by
? 		Captain (D), Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla
6 Jul, 1916[32] – 28 Aug, 1916[33] 		Succeeded by
Walter L. Allen
Preceded by
? 		Senior Naval Officer, Taranto
4 Dec, 1918[34] – 2 Mar, 1919[35] 		Succeeded by
Command Disestablished

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  2. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  3. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  4. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 291.
  5. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  6. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  7. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 242,243.
  8. ↑ At The National Archives. ADM 137/1645. p. 41.
  9. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 887.
  11. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  12. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 3 July, 1896; pg. 12.
  13. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  14. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  15. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  16. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 288.
  17. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  18. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 137/1645, p. 41.
  19. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  20. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 392n.
  21. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  22. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  23. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  24. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  25. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  26. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  27. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394d.
  28. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  29. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  30. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  31. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  32. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  33. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  34. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.
  35. ↑ Roper Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/151. f. 169.

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