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.

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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