Admiral Sir Hugh Henry Darby Tothill, KCB, KCMG, KCVO (14 March 1865 – 25 September 1927) was a Royal Navy officer who served as captain in World War I and went on to become commander-in-chief of East Indies Station following his promotion to admiral.

Sir Hugh Tothill
1918 portrait by Francis Dodd
Born14 March 1865 (1865-03-14)
Died25 September 1927 (1927-09-26) (aged 62)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
RankAdmiral
CommandsHMS Illustrious
HMS Lancaster
HMS Conqueror
East Indies Station
Battles / warsWorld War I
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
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Tothill was promoted to lieutenant in 1888,[1] commander on 31 December 1900,[2] and subsequently to captain in 1906.[3] He was in command of the training brig HMS Nautilus from 20 January 1898 until 31 December 1900. In March 1900 he re-commissioned the brig at Devonport with a complement of boys for the annual training cruise.[4] After promotion to commander, he was in January 1901 posted to the armoured cruiser HMS Australia, serving in home waters.[5]

Having received command of HMS Illustrious by 1908[6] and HMS Lancaster by 1911,[7] he served in World War I, commanding HMS Conqueror at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.[8]

He was appointed Fourth Sea Lord in 1917[9] and served as Commander-in-chief at East Indies Station from 1919 to 1921[10] before becoming Admiral Commanding the Reserves in 1923.[11] He retired from military service in 1926[12] and died in 1927.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "No. 25772". The London Gazette. 3 January 1888. p. 15.
  2. ^ "No. 27263". The London Gazette. 4 January 1901. p. 82.
  3. ^ Sir Hugh Henry Darby Tothill Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904-1945
  4. ^ "Naval & military Intelligence". The Times. No. 36092. London. 17 March 1900. p. 14.
  5. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36348. London. 10 January 1901. p. 8.
  6. ^ Navy List 1908
  7. ^ 1911 Census Results
  8. ^ Battle of Jutland – Royal Navy Ships and Commanding Officers
  9. ^ Royal Air Force flag: timeline for introduction Archived 6 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Sir Henry Hesketh Bell Collection Janus
  11. ^ Naval and Military, The Times, 24 July 1923
  12. ^ Service Notes Evening Post, 1926
  13. ^ Obituary: Admiral Sir Hugh Tothill, The Times, 27 September 1927
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Military offices
Preceded by Fourth Sea Lord
1917–1919
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
1921–1923
Succeeded by