Allied Warship Commanders

Gervase Boswell Middleton, RN

Born  22 Dec 1893London, England
Died  12 Jun 1961(67)London, England


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Ranks

15 May 1911 Mid.
15 Sep 1913 A/S.Lt.
15 Apr 1914 S.Lt.
15 May 1915 Lt.
15 May 1923 Lt.Cdr.
30 Jun 1928 Cdr.
30 Jun 1935 Capt.
2 Jan 1945 Rear-Admiral
2 Sep 1948 Vice-Admiral
15 Mar 1952 Admiral (Retired)

Retired: 1 Dec 1950


Decorations

1 Jan 1943 CBE
12 Jun 1947 CB

Warship Commands listed for Gervase Boswell Middleton, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Aurora (12)Capt.Light cruiser20 Apr 193822 Jan 1940
HMS Revenge (06)Capt.Battleship6 Mar 194323 Aug 1943
HMS Ramillies (07)Capt.Battleship23 Aug 194325 Jan 1945

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Battleship HMS Revenge (06)


17 Mar 1943
The battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini during which she was escorted by the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN).

On completion of the exercises they proceeded to Manza Bay where they arrived the following morning. (1)

20 Mar 1943
HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) proceeded from Manza Bay to Kilindini. (1)

12 Apr 1943
From 12 to 16 April 1943, the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), heavy cruisers HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN), light cruisers HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (2)

15 Jun 1943
Around 1300C/15, the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) departed Kilindini for Durban. The was escorted by the destroyers HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN). (3)

18 Jun 1943
Around 1040C/18, the battleships HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), on passage from Kilindini to Durban, and HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN), on passage from Durban to Kilindini, made rendezvous.

HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN) then joined HMS Resolution and HMS Racehorse (Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) while HMS Rotherham (Lt. J.R.L. Moore, RN) and HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN) joined HMS Revenge and HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN). (4)

20 Jun 1943
Around 1700C/20, the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Lt. J.R.L. Moore, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN) and HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) arrived at Durban.

HMS Revenge was then taken in hand for a short refit at the Durban Dockyard. (3)

29 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) is docked at the Durban Dockyard. (3)

12 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) is undocked. (5)

28 Jul 1943
Around 1230B/28, the battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN) and HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) departed Durban for Capetown. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMAS Quiberon (Lt. G.J.A. Ashley-Brown, RAN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN).

The destroyers had gone to sea around 1100B/28 and had first conducted exercises.

HMAS Norman developed problems with her renewed port stern gland and had to return to harbour. She was later able to depart again and overtook and joined the other ships around 1710B/29.

Both battleships had been ordered to return to the U.K. to be decommissioned from active service and serve as training ships. (6)

31 Jul 1943
Around 0930B/31, HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN), HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMAS Quiberon (Lt. G.J.A. Ashley-Brown, RAN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) arrived at Capetown from Durban.

HMS Rotherham and HMAS Quickmatch actually did not enter the harbour but proceeded to Simonstown arriving there later the same day. (7)

4 Aug 1943
Around 1700B/4, the battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN), HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) and the transports Aorangi (British, 17491 GRT, built 1924) and Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939) departed Capetown for the Congo River estuary. They were escorted by the destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HMAS Quiberon (Lt. G.J.A. Ashley-Brown, RAN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN).

They were to pass through the following positions;
A) 33°13'S, 17°37'E,
B) 28°30'S, 14°30'E,
C) 17°15'S, 10°30'E,
D) 10°00'S, 11°00'E.
(8)

11 Aug 1943
The battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN), HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), transports Aorangi (British, 17491 GRT, built 1924), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939) and the destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HMAS Quiberon (Lt. G.J.A. Ashley-Brown, RAN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN) arrived in the Congo River Estuary. (9)

15 Aug 1943
The battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN), HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), transports Aorangi (British, 17491 GRT, built 1924), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), destroyers HMS Wolverine (Cdr. J.M. Money, RN), HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. K.H.J.L. Phibbs, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN), HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. E.J. Lee, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN) departed the Congo River Estuary for Freetown. (10)

22 Aug 1943
The battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN), HMS Revenge (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), transports Aorangi (British, 17491 GRT, built 1924), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), destroyers HMS Wolverine (Cdr. J.M. Money, RN), HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. K.H.J.L. Phibbs, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN), HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. E.J. Lee, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN) arrived at Freetown. (9)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/118462
  2. ADM 53/117540 + ADM 53/117564 + ADM 53/117620 + ADM 53/117897 + ADM 53/118463
  3. ADM 53/118465
  4. ADM 53/118443 + ADM 53/118465
  5. ADM 53/118466
  6. ADM 53/118444 + ADM 53/118466 + ADM 199/2349 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Norman for July 1943
  7. ADM 53/118444 + ADM 53/118466 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Norman for July 1943
  8. ADM 53/118445 + ADM 53/118467 + ADM 199/2273
  9. ADM 53/118445 + ADM 118467
  10. ADM 53/118445 + ADM 118467 + ADM 199/2274

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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