Stuart Bonham Carter

Vice Admiral Sir Stuart Sumner Bonham Carter, KCB, CVO, DSO (9 July 1889 – 5 September 1972) was an officer in the Royal Navy who served in both world wars.

For other people with the name Stuart Carter, see Stuart Carter (disambiguation).

This British surname is barrelled, being made up of multiple names. It should be written as Bonham Carter, not Carter.
Sir Stuart Bonham Carter
Vice Admiral Bonham-Carter on the bridge of HMS Edinburgh, 1942
Born9 July 1889
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Died5 September 1972 (1972-09-06) (aged 83)
Petersfield, Hampshire
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1904–1945
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldHMS Intrepid
HMS Shark
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Distinguished Service Order

Born the younger son of Lothian Bonham-Carter and Emily Maud Sumner, Bonham Carter joined the Royal Navy in 1904[1] and served in World War I commanding the block ship HMS Intrepid at the Zeebrugge Raid in 1918.[2] He also commanded the destroyer HMS Shark in the closing stages of the War.[1]

A keen cricketer, he played two first-class matches for the Royal Navy Cricket Club in 1925.[3] He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa Station in 1928[1] and made Assistant Director for Navy Equipment in 1932 before becoming Chief Staff Officer to the Commander of the 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1934.[1] He was given command of the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham in 1937 and made Naval Secretary in 1939.[2]

He also served in World War II commanding the 3rd Battle Squadron from 1940 and the 18th Cruiser Squadron from 1942.[2] It is said that he had something of a reputation of being a Jonah in any cruiser in which he raised his Admiral's flag, as these kept being sunk from under his feet.[4] 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.[2]

Family

In 1933 he married Eve Lloyd; they had one child, Joanna.[1] He is distantly related to the actress Helena Bonham Carter.[5]

Memorial

There is a memorial to him at St Mary's Church, Buriton.[6]

See also

References
  1. Unit Histories
  2. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. CricketArchive
  4. Bassett, Ronald (1988). HMS Sheffield. pp. Chapter 14. ISBN 0-85368-911-3.
  5. Info re Bonham Carter family Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Geograph
Military offices
Preceded by
William Whitworth		 Naval Secretary
May 1939 – November 1939		 Succeeded by
Neville Syfret
Preceded by
Sir Ralph Leatham		 Flag Officer, Malta
1942–1943		 Succeeded by
Sir Arthur Power
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