SEYMOUR, Vice Admiral Claude, DSO MiD

Vice Admiral Claude Seymour DSO, MiD

Royal Navy

By Robert Simpson

Claude Seymour was born on 17^th March 1876 at Barrett Heath, Southampton Hampshire England. He was a son to Alfred Seymour and Jessie Madeline MacDougall. They had married on 28^th April 1870 at Carleton Ontario in Canada. Alfred, although born in Brussels on 16 February 1843, was a British Subject due to his parentage. Claude was one of six sons and two daughters to them. He was baptised on 12^th May 1876 at Shirley by Southampton in Hampshire. Alfred’s father was the Right honourable Sir George Hamilton Seymour, who was a diplomat and a privy councillor. He took part in the negotiations to secure the independence of Belgium. Alfred was a magistrate until he retired at an early age. He was born in 1843 and died in 1897. They lived at Hollybrook House in Millbrook, Hampshire. Claude was a grandson of Hon Sir William MacDougall, who was a founding father of the Canadian Confederation. (as notified by Kim Cameron-Friel, a third-cousin to Claude). In the 1881 census, Claude was listed as living at home and he was a scholar. It was the same for the 1891 census (even though he was in the navy). There is also a record for the 1891 Census in Devon which has a list of the HMS Britannia at Dartmouth and included Claude Seymour, born 1876 in Bassett Heath Southampton, who was training for HM Navy as a Naval Cadet. A handwritten note at the top of the page says not to be abstracted, not on board; and it applied to all on that page and surrounding pages. It would appear all were given leave to go to their home for the census. H.M.S. Britannia was the name given to the British Royal Navy’s ship used for the preliminary education of naval officers from 1859 to 1905. Claude passed all of his exams at the first attempt, except gunnery, which he passed at the second try.

H.M.S. Britannia. Hindostan at left, connected to the fifth Britannia at right. Image: By courtesy of Terry Dickens [astraltrader].

They 1892 Naval List showed that Claude was a Naval Cadet with seniority from 15^th January 1890 (when he entered the navy) and he was on HMS Blake, a twin screw Cruiser 1^st Class. HMS Blake was at the North American Station in February 1892. From the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer of 19^th January 1892, he had been posted to the Blake from 2^nd February. The 1894 list showed he was a Midshipman, still on the HMS Blake, with seniority from 15^th April 1892. The Hampshire Telegraph of 15^th June 1895 reported that Midshipman Claude Seymour had been posted to HMS Endymion from 8^th June. He had two Seamanship certificates by 15^th October 1895 and had seniority as a Sub-Lieutenant from that day. Claude was sent on a re-qualifying course in Gunnery, studying on board Excellent (the Gunnery School at Portsmouth). In 1896, he was then on the Indefatigable (a twin screw Cruiser 2^nd Class) as an acting Sub-Lieutenant (lent). The Hampshire Telegraph of 9^th January 1897 reported Sub-Lieutenant Claude Seymour was posted to the Ranger from 7^th January. In 1898, he was promoted to Lieutenant with seniority from 1^st April. He was on HMS Immortalite, a twin screw Cruiser 1^st Class Armoured. In 1900, at Portland, he was on HMS Minotaur, a screw Cruiser 1^st Class Armoured.

By 1901, he was in Sydney on HMS Torch as a Lieutenant. HMS Torch had been re-commissioned at Sydney on 24^th April 1900 and was a screw sloop. She was part of the naval escort for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to Australia and New Zealand aboard the chartered Royal liner HMS Ophir during 1901. Claude was still on HMS Torch in 1902 and 1903 and a Lieutenant with seniority from 1^st April 1898. In mid-1903, he departed Calcutta on the Golconda as a Lieutenant RN, and arrived in London on 25^th July. In October 1904, there was a court of inquiry as to the grounding of HMS Inchen off Verde Island, which was due to an error of judgement, and the officer was cautioned and logged. By 1905, he was in China as a Lieutenant on HMS Itchen, a twin screw torpedo boat destroyer (TSTBD). While on HMS Ichon, as part of the British squadron in Far Eastern waters commanded by Admiral Sir Gerald Noel, they visited various ports in Japan as a promotion for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in October 1905. He then returned to England and was Lieutenant and Commander on HMS Lightning at Portsmouth, in reserve. By March 1907, he had transferred to HMS Earnest (a TSTBD) at Portland. He was still a Lieutenant and Commander with seniority from 6^th July 1906. From 15^th June 1908, he was on HMS Erne (a TSTBD) with the Home Fleet as a Tender to HMS Blenheim and was still on HMS Erne in 1909 with the Frist Destroyer Flotilla.

Screw sloop HMS Torch

Still with the First Destroyer Flotilla in 1910, he had been posted to HMS Welland (a TSTBD) from 18^th September 1909; which was also a tender to HMS Blenheim and he still had the rank of Lieutenant and Commander. An inspection of HMS Welland by Commodore Charlton on 21^st June 1910 was deemed satisfactory. On 8^th July 1910, he applied for a War Course commencing on 12^th September, but he was not approved. On 1^st September he was discharged from the Welland and appointed to the Blenheim for Wolverine in temporary command from 2^nd to 28^th September. Commodore Charlton commented in his service record on October 1910 that all was VG and he was a valuable destroyer Captain with much experience in that line. He handled “his destroyer well & will do well in the higher ranks.” His application for H.P. was approved on 15^th October 1910. By the 1911 census on 2nd April, Claude was listed as a Commander on the HMS Albemarle, a twin screw Battleship with the Home Fleet. He was listed as single and had seniority from 30th June 1910 (when he was promoted to Commander). Rear Admiral Limpus gave a satisfactory inspection of HMS Albermarle on 13^th February 1911. Also in February, there is a note in his service record of the loss of a torpedo from the Albemarle, for which he was responsible for allowing it to be fired in unfavourable weather. The torpedo was recovered. He was granted 4 months H.P. while on HMS Albermarle on 22^nd August 1911. In September 1911, Captain Luard wrote all very good, A “zealous and very efficient 2nd in cd. Has great tact and is a good disciplinarian.” In February 1912, he applied for Signal and War Courses. A posting to HMS Falmouth was cancelled and he was posted to HMS Otter at the China Station on 8^th February 1912.

HMS Albemarle

The Navy List for August 1912 show Claude was posted back on HMS Welland, which was a tender to HMS Tamar at Hong Kong, and he was a Commander. With the October 1913 list, he was still Commander on HMS Welland at Hong Kong. He was given an appreciation at the good results of HMS Welland in Battle Practice in 1913. An inspection in March 1913 showed the ship to be in particularly good order and Claude was zealous and efficient. In June 1914, Admiral Jerrum in China commented that he “recommends add’ly for prom’n.”

In the November 1914 list, he was a Commander with seniority from 7^th April 1914 on HMS Colne, a torpedo boat destroyer. He had been appointed to HMS Colne in temporary command while HMS Welland was being refurbished, on 7^th April 1914. In December 1914, Admiral Jerrum again recommended him additionally for promotion. HMS Colne was stationed in China when war was declared, and was used against the German settlement at Tsing-Tao, which was then occupied by the Japanese. After this, she was sent to the Mediterranean. On 18^th March 1915, the navy tried to penetrate the straits and starting bombarding the forts along it. Two of the battleships, HMS Irresistible and HMS Ocean, struck mines which had been laid by the Turks the night before, and started to sink. Despite the ‘terrific fire’ being directed onto both ships from both sides, Claude directed HMS Colne to steam to their assistance. His service records show he was commended for saving lives from HMS Ocean on 18^th March 1915. Also in March, Admiral Jerrum recorded “ G.C.Satis. Ab’ty above av. Rec’d for advance specially. Excellent offr for comd of a flotilla in whom I have great confidence. Gd powers of com’d.”

 

The list of April 1915 has him with the same details as November 1914. He was commended for service in action between 19^th February 1915 and 24^th April 1915 at the Dardanelles by Vice-Admiral de Roebeck, and they were recorded in the London Gazette of 12^th August 1915. At the landing at Anzac Cove on 25^th April, HMS Beagle carried C Company of the 9th Battalion and half of C Company 12^th Battalion, and HMS Colne carried D Company and half of C Company 12^th Battalion. A week later HMS Colne was involved with landing 50 New Zealanders for a raid on an enemy observation post on Nibrunesi Point at Ejelmer Bay. They landed at dawn, surprised the Turks who were asleep in the trenches, killed 3 of them and took the rest as prisoners back to the boats. They also got a very large quantity of ammunition. Three small houses, one of which contained telephone equipment, were blown up and telephone wire was cut. HMS Colne was mentioned in his despatch of 1^st July 1915 and in the Gazette of 16^th August, the ship was mentioned along with Commander C Seymour, under the heading, the “work accomplished by the destroyer flotillas fully maintained the high standard they have established in these waters.”

 

It was also decided to attack Gaba Tepe to ascertain defences, destroy communications and attack the garrison there. 100 men from the 11^th battalion, under Captain R L Leane, boarded rowing boats which were attached to HMS Colne on her port side so the Turks could not see them. On 5^th May at dawn, they were cast off 500 yards from the shore. No firing occurred until the boats grounded, then they received heavy fire. As they moved to cover from the beach, it was seen to be impossible to get through all the barbed wire and any paths were completely covered. They signalled the navy to come and get the wounded and as the stretcher-bearers came from the steamboat, the navy ceased their heavy covering fire. To the surprise of all the Turks did not fire a shot at the wounded men or those assisting them. Once the boat left, they started firing again. The rest of the men were evacuated by boats from the destroyers, who poured such a fire on the Turks, they could not effectively fire at the Australians as they ran to the boats.

In May, HMS Colne and other destroyers were involved in landing the New Zealanders. They moved close to shore and then disembarked their boats. In a story about the landing “The delay seemed ages long. Men were being hit on the destroyers’ decks by the gradually increasing rifle fire from the shore. The machine-guns had the range accurately, and the shots were hitting the steel bows of the destroyers with a sound like hail on an iron roof. The water through which the boats pulled to shore was ripped with bullets, man after man in the boats being killed or wounded…” HMS Colne was used to provide supporting fire to the New Zealanders, with Major Cecil Paddon of the Otago Mounted Rifles acknowledging Claude and the ship with saving many lives in his regiment. The New Zealanders affectionately nicknamed the ship HMS Nursie. Major Paddon wrote of the part the destroyers played in saving a scouting patrol which had stayed out in No Man’s Land on the night of 9^th June: “They delayed their return until dawn, and were pinned down to the sandhills at the mouth of the Aghul Dere, about 1300 yards to the north of our position in No. 3 post. One of our officers, Captain Twisleton, and a small party, by clever use of the sandhills, got to them, but they were held up. We got through to H.Q. at Anzac, and in very short time Colne, Chelmer and Rattlesnake came up at full speed. Then the fun began. They opened fire, and pinned the Turks down whenever they showed themselves, which allowed our isolated party near the Aghul Dere to begin retiring on No. 3. In the meantime, the Turks on another hillock overlooking the scene lined their trenches and had sitters at our people as they bolted from sandhill to sandhill. This encouraged still more Turks. Things got hotter and hotter. We managed to keep down some of the fire, but what really finished it was the Colne, Chelmer and Rattlesnake solemnly coming in line ahead, well within rifle range, and shepherding the patrol and its relief home at the patrol’s own walking pace. It looked outrageous, the Turk evidently thought so too, and fairly plastered the three destroyers as they came slowly along. But the 4-inch and 12-pounders were too much for Abdul…”

The story was also told by one of the men on a destroyer: “One of the most successful ruses we carried out was the shelling of No. 3 post and Table Top on the left flank at the same time each night for some weeks before 6 August, so that both these positions were taken by the New Zealanders with hardly any loss when they advanced out of Anzac on that night. No. 3 post was near the beach, and had changed hands pretty frequently during May, June and July. Our wheeze was to get the Turks used to the shelling, so that the New Zealanders, when they attacked, would find them empty. So far as I remember, we used to switch on the searchlight and start in on No. 3 post at 9 p.m. with slow deliberate fire until 9.25, then a rapid burst at 9.30. At 9.30 we shifted to Table Top, which was above No. 3 post and literally a table top, with a cliff face towards the New Zealanders. We fired deliberate rounds from 9.30 to 9.55, and then five minutes rapid until 10.00 p.m. The Chelmer and Colne did this every night for about six weeks before 6 August, and on that night the same routine was carried out. The result was excellent. Both positions were evacuated. The trenches were empty, and Turkish officers were found in their dug-outs on the side of the positions in their pyjamas!”

 

In Sir Ian Hamilton’s third Gallipoli despatch, dealing with fighting in August 1915, also discussed the attack:-

“Amongst other stratagems the Anzac troops, assisted by H.M.S. “Colne,” had long and carefully been educating the Turks how they should lose Old No. 3 Post, which could hardly have been rushed by simple force of arms. Every night, exactly at 9 p.m., H.M.S. “Colne” threw the beam of her searchlight on to the redoubt, and opened fire upon it for exactly ten minutes. Then, after a ten minutes’ interval, came a second illumination and bombardment, commencing always at 9.20 and ending precisely at 9.30 p.m. The idea was that, after successive nights of such practice, the enemy would get into the habit of taking the searchlight as a hint to clear out until the shelling was at an end. But on the eventful night of the 6th, the sound of their footsteps drowned by the loud cannonade, unseen as they crept along in that darkest shadow which fringes a searchlight’s beam, came the right covering column. At 9.30 the light switched off, and instantly our men poured out of the scrub jungle and into the empty redoubt. By 11 p.m. the whole series of surrounding entrenchments were ours!”

and

“Simultaneously the attack on Table Top had been launched under cover of a heavy bombardment from H.M.S “Colne.””

 

Claude was transferred to HMS Beagle on 14^th October 1915 and was with her during the evacuation of the peninsula. He brought HMS Beagle back to England in January (after being re-appointed to her on his promotion) and spent a month on a Boom Trials Committee from 8^th February until 30^th March 1916.

HMS Beagle WW1

The 1916 list showed Claude had been promoted to Captain with seniority from 31^st December 1915 and was in service at Admiralty Hydrographic Department Operations Division in England. He was awarded a Companion to the Distinguished Service Order on 14^th March 1916 (London Gazette) and it was recorded in the October 1916 Navy List. He was a Captain and Assistant Director of the Anti-Submarine Division in the 1917 list, from 9^th May 1917 to 10^th June 1918. He took command of the Southern Patrol Force in the summer of 1918.

By January 1919, he was on HMS Venerable, a Battleship, as an additional officer with the rank of Captain. He was to command the 3^rd and 4^th Hydrographic Flotilla from 11th June 1918. Admiral de Roebeck, in his despatch reporting operations in the Dardanelles on 18^th March 1915 submitted Claude’s name for favourable consideration in the saving of valuable lives by Colne, which was a brilliant and gallant performance. The entry was recorded in the London Gazette of 2^nd May 1919. On 5^th March 1919, he was diagnosed with functional heart disease, but was judged fit in May. He was granted full pay with sick leave from March 1919 until July 1919.

On 18^th June 1919, Claude married Ariel Dorothy Quin at Falmouth Cornwall. Ariel had been born at Castle Bellingham, Louth, Ireland in 1887. Her father, Richard, was a land agent in Ireland. The family had moved to England at sometime between the 1901 and 1911 census.

From August 1919, Claude was posted to command HMS Calypso as Captain and was still on her in the July 1920 Naval List. He was awarded his medals for WW1 while on the Calypso. They were the 1914-15 Star, British Ward and Victory medals. Claude was Mentioned in Despatches twice during the war. He was involved with the bombardment of the Bolsheviks by HMS Calypso at Novorossiysk on 26^th March 1920. The Calypso and other ships were used to cover the retreat of Denikin forces and to cover the evacuation from the docks. Afterwards, they were involved with the evacuation of the British Military Mission at Batoum. From that, he was commended by the Foreign Office and was awarded the Russian Order of St Vladimir 4^th class with swords and bows. On 19^th January 1921, Vice-Admiral Sir G Hope wrote that he handled “his ship well. A careful & capable Commanding Offr. & shd. do well in the higher ranks.” While in command of HMS Calypso, they were stationed at Port Said. While there, the local press called them HMS Collapso, which upset all the crew. They also cruised along the coast of Palestine for 8 days. He did technical and war courses in early 1922. In 1923, he was listed as being with HMS Victory as a Captain, but the list says he was borne as additional for Signal School as Captain on 16^th November 1922. It also misspells his name as Claud. The 1924, 1925 and 1926 lists have him listed as Captain with seniority from 31^st December 1915. Commodore Leggett wrote of his time at the Signal School from November 1922 to April 1925 “Being in Charge of Signal School, Capt. S. Has to a great extent been in the position of holing as independent command. In dealing with such matters as came under my personal direction, I formed a high opinion of his judgement.” Admiral Fremantle added “I have nothing to add to this report. There has been little opportunity of forming and opinion as to the qualities of Captain Seymour.” In 1924 he reported from sick berth to sick on shore as he had influenza for 10 days. Later on that year he was ill with rheumatism.

HMS Calypso at Batoum / Batumi – Black Sea Port, Georgia, Russia, 1920

The Portsmouth Evening News of 30^th April 1925 reported that another officer was succeeding “Captain Claude Seymour in command of the Signal School, Portsmouth.” The newspaper also had a note on 8^th September 1925 that “Capt. Claude Seymour, D.S.O., formerly of the Signal School, Portsmouth, took over the command of the Royal Oak from Capt. C. A. Fountaine.” In October 1925, Rear-Admiral Mitchell gave a creditable inspection of HMS Royal Oak. An entry in his service record on November 1925 stated there was appreciation of his valuable advice and assistance afforded to the Signal books Section. He was awarded a good service pension on 2^nd March 1926. On 9^th July 1926 he was appointed as Naval Aide de Camp to the King. He remained with the Royal Oak until he retired on his own request on 9^th November 1926. The Western Morning News of 15^th November 1926 had the following article; “The Admiralty announce the following retirements and promotions have been approved: – Capt. Claude Seymour, D.S.O., A.D.C., R.N., is promoted rear-admiral, all to date November 8, 1926. Rear-Adml. Seymour is placed on the retired list at his own request, November 9”.

HMS Royal Oak

The July 1927 Navy List has Claude in the Retired List, under Flag Officers, as Rear Admiral Claude Seymour DSO. It also shows he was awarded WW1 medals and was promoted to Captain on 31^st December 1915 and Rear Admiral on 8^th November 1926.The County Directory of 1927 also shows they were living at Meadowland, Titchfield Rd Fareham in Hampshire. The January 1928 Naval List also contains the same information as the 1927 list.

On 28^th March 1929, then both departed on Edinburgh Castle in 1^st Class to South Africa. On the Arlanza, they departed Buenos Aires, Argentina on 20^th April 1929 and arrived at Southampton on 30^th April. They departed Southampton on 14^th Feb 1930 on Asturias, travelling 1^st Class to Madeira Lisbon, and then in March they departed on Arlanza from Buenos Aires, Argentina and arrived in Southampton on 18^th March. The 1931, 1933, 1934 and 1937 Navy Lists all have him listed as Vice Admiral Claude Seymour DSO on the retired list, showing he was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 20^th April 1931. On 20^th September 1934, the Berwick Advertiser had a story on the wedding of Mr Thomas Trotter to Miss Joan Fisher Rowe. “The bride was given in marriage by her uncle Rear-Admiral Claude Seymour, D.S.O., on the absence of Col. Fisher Rowe through illness”. The Portsmouth Evening News of 22^nd October 1936 was discussing the Charity Variety Show at Fareham and wrote “all those who had taken part, and the general public, were thanked for their support of a good cause by Mrs Claud Seymour (President of the Fareham branch of the Ladies’ N.S.P.C.C.).” (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). On 10^th February 1939, they both left Southampton on Marnix Van Sint Aldegonde to Port Said; Claude was listed as having no occupation and their address was still Meadowland in Hampshire. They returned to England on Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1^st Class, arriving at Southampton in 10^th March. The August 1939 Naval List has him with all the same details as above and the 1939 Register (which was done at the beginning of WW2) has them at the same address. The Portsmouth Evening News of 13^th October 1939, had an article about subscriptions received for the Fareham Services and Young Men’s Institute, which included Vice-Admiral Claude Seymour DSO, who gave 1 pound. He was involved with the United Services Club. Claude volunteered for ARP duties in WW2.

Claude passed away on 2^nd December 1941 at Meadowland Catisfield Fareham. He was cremated at Southampton Crematorium on Friday the 5^th. The Portsmouth Evening News of 8^th December had the following article on his death: – “The Rev. P. H. Biddlecombe, (Curate of Holy Trinity, Fareham) conducted the service, which, at Vice-Admiral Seymour’s request, was attended only by the widow and close members of the family. Second son of the late Mr. Alfred Seymour, of Folkestone, Vice-Admiral Seymour had had a long and interesting naval career. He was educated at Eastman’s College, Stubbington, from which he entered the Navy, specialising in destroyer work. When the Great War broke out he was serving in China, from which he took a destroyer flotilla to Gallipoli. For his work there he received the D.S.O. On promotion as post captain he entered the anti-submarine department of the Admiralty, with which he served until the end of the war. He served for two years in the light cruiser Calypso, gaining a bar to the D.S.O. for services in South Russia. For two and a half years he commanded the Signal School at Portsmouth, and later commanded the Royal Oak. Vice- Admiral Seymour had lived in Catisfield since his retirement 16 years ago. In the past few years his health had prevented him from taking any active part in public affairs. Messrs. M Coghlan were the undertakers.” Ariel received his probate of over 40000 pounds on 23^rd February 1942.
One of his brothers, Vere, served in the Royal Naval Reserve. Vere had been born in 1879 in Hampshire. He was 3^rd Officer on the SS Upada of the British India Steam Line and was entitled to the Sea Transport medal for China. Between 1907 and 1909, he was 3^rd Mate on the Orient and Orontes, both of which travelled between England and Australia. He was a Lieutenant on HMS Coquette, when it struck a mine in the North Sea on 7^th March 1916, which killed him. The ship was lost at the entrance to Black Deep off the East Coast near Harwich after striking a mine laid by the German submarine UC-10. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Vere was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. Claude received his effects of over 11000 pounds. Vere also held Great Western Railway shares, and upon his death, Claude was listed as executor (brother) and Captain on 15^th May 1916 and was living at Folkstone England.

His sister Maud, married Herbert Mayow Fisher-Rowe on 1902. Herbert joined the Grenadier Guards in 1887, was ADC to Governor and Commander-in-Chief in Bermuda from 1892 to 1894; was promoted to Major in 1904 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1911. He was awarded the CBE on 3^rd June 1919 while in the 2/1 Surrey Yeomanry. Herbert served in WW1 with the Surrey Yeomanry as a Colonel and was made Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Surrey in 1917.

The following is a list of Claude’s naval appointments as Captain of these ships:- HMS Fervent 15^th October 1903 to 4^th May 1904 HMS Zephyr 14^th July 1904 to 27^th October 1904 HMS Itchen 27^th October 1904 to 28^th May 1905 HMS Lightning 28^th May 1906 to 6^th July 1906 HMS Earnest 6^th July 1906 to 15^th June 1908 HMS Erne 15^th June 1908 to 18^th September 1909 HMS Boyne 26^th June 1908 HMS Welland 18^th September 1909 to 2^nd September 1910 HMS Wolverine 2^nd September 1910 to29th September 1910 HMS Otter 8^th February 1912 to 17^th April 1912 HMS Welland 17^th April 1912 to 7^th April 1914 HMS Colne 7^th April 1914 to 14^th October 1915 HMS Beagle 14^th October 1915 to 14^th January 1916 HMS Calypso 27^th September 1919 to 29^th September 1921 Portsmouth Signal School 16^th November 1922 to 30^th April 1925 HMS Royal Oak 8^th September 1925 to August 1926

 

 

 

 

His medals are Distinguished Service Order, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MiD oak leaf and 1911 Coronation medal. (also Russian Order of St Vladimir 4^th class with swords and bows).