Norman Wodehouse
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Norman Atherton Wodehouse (18 May 1887 - 4 July 1941) was a Royal Navy
officer killed in the second World War. He had gained 14 caps for England at rugby union, including six as captain between 1910 and 1913.
as a midshipman
in the Atlantic Fleet in 1904. During World War I
, Wodehouse served on the battleship HMS Revenge
at the Battle of Jutland
, as a gunnery officer. Although several other members of his team were killed in the battle, Wodehouse survived, and went on to secure the position of aide-de-camp
to King George VI and as a result was presented with the Companion of the Order of the Bath. He commanded Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
from 1931 to 1934.
Wodehouse was recalled to active service in 1939, at the beginning of World War II
and served as a Convoy Commodore
. He was killed when the merchant vessel Robert L. Holt was sunk by on 4 July 1941, after he had ordered the South Africa
bound convoy he was commanding to scatter due to the attacks by German
submarines.
Edward Boyle and Theodosia Ogilvie, and widow of Captain Douglas William Swire (d. 1920), on 22 October 1923.
By his wife Theodosia, he had two sons:
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Norman Atherton Wodehouse (18 May 1887 - 4 July 1941) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer killed in the second World War. He had gained 14 caps for England at rugby union, including six as captain between 1910 and 1913.
Naval history
Wodehouse joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Atlantic Fleet in 1904. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Wodehouse served on the battleship HMS Revenge
HMS Revenge (06)
HMS Revenge was the lead ship of the Revenge class of battleships of the Royal Navy, the ninth to bear the name. She was launched during World War I in 1915. Though the class is often referred to as the Royal Sovereign class, official documents of 1914–1918 refer to the class as the Revenge class...
at the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
, as a gunnery officer. Although several other members of his team were killed in the battle, Wodehouse survived, and went on to secure the position of aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to King George VI and as a result was presented with the Companion of the Order of the Bath. He commanded Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
from 1931 to 1934.
Wodehouse was recalled to active service in 1939, at the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served as a Convoy Commodore
Convoy commodore
A Convoy Commodore was the title of a civilian put in charge of the good order of the merchant ships in the British convoys used during World War II. Usually the convoy commodore was a retired naval officer or a senior merchant captain drawn from the RNVR...
. He was killed when the merchant vessel Robert L. Holt was sunk by on 4 July 1941, after he had ordered the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
bound convoy he was commanding to scatter due to the attacks by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
submarines.
Family
He married Mrs Theodosia Frances Swire, née Boyle (1890–1966), daughter of CommanderCommander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Edward Boyle and Theodosia Ogilvie, and widow of Captain Douglas William Swire (d. 1920), on 22 October 1923.
By his wife Theodosia, he had two sons:
- Rev. Armine Boyle Wodehouse (b. 1924), who has been twice married (once widowed), and has had issue, one son and two daughters
- Charles Norman Boyle Wodehouse, (b. 1927), who has married, and has issue, one son and two daughters.