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Remembered Today:

Tracing officer's careers


Ron

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I would like to trace the career of Capt Nunn, C-in-C of the naval flotilla on the Tigris in WW!. Is it possible to do it in the same way as you can with military officers?

Regards

Ron

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Ron,

This is not a full answer but its a start

From the "Naval Who's Who 1917"

Nunn, Wilfred. specialised in Navigation: Commander (N) of Flagship, Australia, Jan. 1908, to Jan. 1911; served on staff, RN War College, Sep. 1911, to Oct 1912; War Staff Officer (without qualifying course), Jun. 1912; Captain, 31st Dec 1914; DSO., 10th April, 1915; CMG., 1st Jan. 1916

From the War Supplement to the above

Nunn, Capt. Wilfred, in command of HMS 'Espiegle' was present at the bombardment and capture of the Turkish fort at Fao, co-operating with Indian troops, 5th Nov. 1914, and in co-operation with Indian forces at the storm and capture of a Turkish entrenched camp on the right bank of Shat-el-Arab in the Persian Gulf, 15th Nov. 1914; took part in the operations in the Shat-el-Arab, 3rd to 9th Dec. 1914, which resulted in the capture of Qurnah; the official report (London Gazette 10th April 1915) says:- "Commander Nunn displayed great coolness and skill in handling his ship under fire in the difficult conditions of unsurveyed waters"; DSO. for this service; Captain Dunn (sic) was in command of the naval forces on the Tigris during the operations from the middle of April to the end of Sep. 1915, taking part in the advance on Kut-el-Amara; Gen. Sir John Nixon in his despatch dated 1st Jan. 1916 says:- "It was in a great measure due to the excellent work of the Royal Navy that these amphibious operations, like those at Qurnah at the end of May, were brought to so successful a conclusion" (London Gazette 5th April 1916). Capt. Nunn was also present at the attack on Ctesiphon and the subsequent withdrawal to Kut. October to December, 1915 and Vice-Admiral R.H.Peirse, Commanding-in-Chief, East Indies, says in his despatch:- "I consider much credit is due to Capt. Nunn for having effected this retreat in the face of a much superior force with so little loss." Capt Nunn was appointed CMG. for his services, 1st Jan. 1916; was mentioned in Lieut.-General Sir Percy Lake's despatch of 24th August 1916, for his services during the operations for the relief of Kut January to April 1916 (London Gazette 19th October 1916).

Hope that this is of some help

Michael D.R

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Ron,

Your other option is to go through the 'Navy Lists' which came out annually. Probably best working backwards from when you think he left the service as the books tell you when he was last appointed so it is then possible to skip a few years to go back to the next later date.

Copies of all the Navy Lists are in Portsmouth RN Library which I can have a look at if you want but I am at sea myself for the next couple of weeks so will not be able to get access. Send me what you know and I'll see what I can find.

Steve

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Jack

Many thanks. I am afraid I have no other information apart from what has appeared in these postings. What happenede to him after Mespotamia I

have no idea.

Best wishes

Ron

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