Admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
Cyril Samuel Townsend (28 June 1875 – 31 March 1949) was a
Royal Navy officer.
He saw service during the First World War and later headed the British naval mission to Greece.
Biography
Early life and career
In 1906, Townsend was appointed to the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth to reorganize its disciplinary system after a high-profile disciplinary incident where the "on the knee" order was given, leading to a mutiny by hundreds of strokers and ratings.
From 1913 to 1914 he commanded the
Royal Naval War College
The Royal Naval War College was a training establishment for senior officers of the Royal Navy that existed from 1900 to 1914. It was based originally at Greenwich, then Plymouth, then Portsmouth, and then Greenwich again. Branch colleges were ...
.
First World War
During the
First World War, Townsend saw active service during the
Gallipoli Campaign, during which he was beachmaster at 'W Beach' during the
Landing at Cape Helles in 1915.
He was appointed a
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III.
...
"in recognition of valuable services rendered during the War" in 1918; the appointment was later cancelled and replaced with an appointment as a
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion may refer to:
Relationships Currently
* Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance
* A domestic partner, akin to a spouse
* Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach
* Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...
the same year.
After the war, Townsend was the commander of the Gunnery School at Chatham until 1921. He was appointed naval aide-de-camp to the King in 1923 and was promoted to rear-admiral in 1924.
British Naval Mission to Greece
In 1925, Townsend was appointed head of the British naval mission to Greece, with the rank of vice-admiral in the Greek Navy.
Townsend's main mission was to implement a scheme for naval training devised by Vice-Admiral
Sir Richard Webb.
The mission expanded technical and tactical training, and opened a naval staff college.
The mission fell afoul of Greek politics and was terminated in May 1926 ostensibly on grounds of economy, the dictator
Theodoros Pangalos
Lieutenant General Theodoros Pangalos (; 11 January 1878 – 26 February 1952) was a Greek general, politician and dictator. A distinguished staff officer and an ardent Venizelist and anti-royalist, Pangalos played a leading role in the Septemb ...
having declared that Greece could no longer afford foreign naval missions.
Townsend left in June; it was noted at the time that he was not afforded the courtesies due to his rank when he departed and that no other foreign naval mission was asked to leave the country.
However, decorations were bestowed to members of the mission later on.
Townsend was himself appointed Grand Commander of the
Order of the Redeemer.
Later career
From 1927 to 1929, Townsend was Rear Admiral in Charge, Gibraltar, and Admiral-Superintendent, Gibraltar Dockyard.
In 1928, he presided over the court-martial of Captain
K. G. B. Dewar.
He retired in 1929.
He was promoted to admiral on the retired list in 1933.
Notes
References
*{{Cite journal , last=Fotakis , first=Zisis , year=2010 , title=Greek Naval Policy and Strategy, 1923-1932 , url=https://nausivios.hna.gr/docs/e4_2010.pdf , journal=Nausivios Chora
1875 births
1949 deaths
Royal Navy admirals of World War I
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Hellenic Navy admirals