Stuart Bonham Carter
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Sir Stuart Sumner Bonham Carter, KCB
, CVO
, DSO (9 July 1889 – 5 September 1972) was an officer in the Royal Navy
who had a distinguished record in both world wars.
and Emily Maud Sumner, Bonham Carter joined the Royal Navy
in 1904 and served in World War I
commanding the block ship HMS Intrepid at the Zeebrugge Raid
in 1918. He also commanded the destroyer
HMS Shark in the closing stages of the War.
A keen cricketer, he played 2 first-class
matches for the Royal Navy Cricket Club
in 1925. He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa Station in 1928 and made Assistant Director for Navy Equipment in 1932 before becoming Chief Staff Officer to the Commander of the 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1934. He was given command of the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham in 1937 and made Naval Secretary
in 1939.
He also served in World War II
commanding the 3rd Battle Squadron from 1940 and the 18th Cruiser Squadron from 1942. He was made Flag Officer, Malta in 1942 and retired due to ill health in 1943 although he was recalled in 1944 to lead Naval Convoys.
among others.
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
Sir Stuart Sumner Bonham Carter, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, DSO (9 July 1889 – 5 September 1972) was an officer in the 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...
who had a distinguished record in both world wars.
Naval career
Born the younger son of Lothian Bonham-CarterLothian Bonham-Carter
Lothian George Bonham-Carter J.P. was an English cricketer. Bonham-Carter was a right-handed batsman who bowled slow roundarm bowler, but with which arm is unknown, but he was one of the last cricketers to use this bowling style...
and Emily Maud Sumner, Bonham Carter joined the 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...
in 1904 and served in 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...
commanding the block ship HMS Intrepid at the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
in 1918. He also commanded the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
HMS Shark in the closing stages of the War.
A keen cricketer, he played 2 first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches for the Royal Navy Cricket Club
Royal Navy Cricket Club
The Royal Navy Cricket Club is a cricket team representing the British Royal Navy and based at the United Services Recreation Ground, Portsmouth, Hampshire...
in 1925. He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa Station in 1928 and made Assistant Director for Navy Equipment in 1932 before becoming Chief Staff Officer to the Commander of the 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1934. He was given command of the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham in 1937 and made Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
in 1939.
He also served in 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...
commanding the 3rd Battle Squadron from 1940 and the 18th Cruiser Squadron from 1942. He was made Flag Officer, Malta in 1942 and retired due to ill health in 1943 although he was recalled in 1944 to lead Naval Convoys.
Family
In 1933 he married Eve Lloyd; they had one child. He is distantly related to the actress Helena Bonham CarterHelena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
among others.