Anselan John Buchanan Stirling

Admiral Anselan John Buchanan Stirling, C.B., R.N. (27 June, 1875 – 7 April, 1936) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was known as "Birn" to his relatives and as "Snatcher" to naval colleagues.

Life & Career

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1897. On 27 May, 1898 he was appointed to Barfleur on the China Station during the time of the Boxer Rebellion. He suffered serious wounds at Tiensin, for which he would eventually be granted 40 pounds per year for life by writ of an Order in Council of 15 July, 1904. In August, 1900, Stirling was in a hospital in Wei-hai-wei, recovering from wounds sustained in China during the Boxer Rebellion at the same time as were then-Captain John Jellicoe and then-Commander David Beatty.

He commanded four 30 knotters in 1903 through 1904, leaving this work to undertake short courses in gunnery and torpedoes at Excellent and Vernon. If he completed those, they took him all of six days, as he was appointed to command Vulture on 28 October, 1904.

Leaving Vulture on 23 January, 1905, he was appointed to the training ship Caldonia for one year as first lieutenant. Upon paying her off on 19 January, 1906, he was sent back to a string of three destroyer commands, the last being a long-standing appointment in Welland commencing on 28 May, 1906.

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1909 and re-appointed temporarily in Welland, being superseded on 18 September, 1909.

Great War

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1915.

He was Captain (D) of Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland, commanding the flotilla from the bridge of flotilla leader Faulknor.

Post-war

Stirling was scolded by a Court of Enquiry in 1922 for damage caused by Argus to motor launch M.L. 519 and lighter X134. It was deemed that he dispensed with the services of a pilot who had been sent to him.

Stirling was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 8 July, 1926, but ceased in this appointment on 9 August when he was promoted to Rear-Admiral.

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 2 April, 1931 and placed on the Retired List the next day.

Stirling was promoted to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 January, 1936.

See Also

• Twelfth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland

Bibliography

• "Vice-Admiral Stirling" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 8 April, 1936. Issue 47344, col D, pg. 16.

Service Record

• The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Arthur K. Macrorie	Captain of H.M.S. Shark 14 Apr, 1903 – 19 Nov, 1903	Succeeded by Lionel J. G. Anderson
Preceded by Hugh J. Orr	Captain of H.M.S. Violet 19 Nov, 1903 – 26 Nov, 1903	Succeeded by Reginald G. Copleston
Preceded by Osmond J. Prentis	Captain of H.M.S. Dove 27 Nov, 1903 – 3 Sep, 1904	Succeeded by Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by Clement L. Long	Captain of H.M.S. Teazer 1 Oct, 1904 – 22 Oct, 1904	Succeeded by Edward O. Gladstone
Preceded by Frederick H. Hallowes	Captain of H.M.S. Vulture 28 Oct, 1904 – 23 Jan, 1905	Succeeded by Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by Reginald St. P. Parry	Captain of H.M.S. Fawn 20 Feb, 1906 – 10 Apr, 1906	Succeeded by Herbert M. Denny
Preceded by Herbert M. Denny	Captain of H.M.S. Wizard 10 Apr, 1906 – 28 May, 1906	Succeeded by Montague G. Philpott
Preceded by William F. Blunt	Captain of H.M.S. Welland 28 May, 1906 – 18 Sep, 1909	Succeeded by Claude Seymour
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Shark 1 Oct, 1912 – 6 Oct, 1914	Succeeded by Harold V. Dundas
Preceded by Charles J. Wintour	Captain of H.M.S. Swift 6 Oct, 1914 – 24 Nov, 1914	Succeeded by H. Ralph Crooke
Preceded by Herbert Meade	Captain of H.M.S. Faulknor 24 Nov, 1914 – Nov, 1916	Succeeded by Henry G. L. Oliphant
Preceded by Rowland H. Bather	Captain (D), Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla 20 Apr, 1916 – 12 Oct, 1918	Succeeded by William Spencer Leveson-Gower
Preceded by Henry G. L. Oliphant	Captain of H.M.S. Saumarez Nov, 1916 – 12 Oct, 1918	Succeeded by The Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower
Preceded by Humphrey H. Smith	Captain of H.M.S. Argus 31 Jul, 1920 – 15 Aug, 1922	Succeeded by Francis G. G. Chilton
Preceded by Arthur K. Macrorie	Captain of H.M.S. Columbine 1 Nov, 1922 – 15 Oct, 1924	Succeeded by Andrew B. Cunningham
Preceded by Henry E. Grace	Commodore in Charge at Hong Kong 15 Oct, 1924 – Dec, 1926	Succeeded by John L. Pearson
Preceded by Charles P. Beaty-Pownall	Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard 7 Dec, 1927	Succeeded by Charles W. Round-Turner