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Admiral Sir Arthur Duff World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Admiral Sir Arthur Duff

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[B]Admiral Sir Arthur Duff [/B] Admiral Sir Arthur Duff, K.C.B., who was in command of the light cruiser Birmingham when she rammed and sank the first German submarine to be sunk in the 1914-18 war, died, 5th April 1952 as already briefly reported, on Saturday at the age of 77. Arthur Alan Morison Duff was the son of General A. G. Duff, and was born on April 19, 1874. He entered the Britannia as a cadet in 1887; two years later he was at sea as mid- shipman of the Temeraire in the Mediterranean. From 1891 he served in the Howe, of the Channel Squadron; and from April, 1892, in the Active, flagship of the Training Squadron. He had put in over four years at sea when he passed for acting Sub-Lieutenant in 1893. Taking first-class certificates in seamanship, pilotage, gunnery, and torpedo, he was made lieutenant in 1894, and became Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral (later Admiral Sir) Cyprian Bridge on the Australia Station, in the Orlando. Returning home, he qualified in gunnery in the Excellent, and from July, 1900, was a junior staff officer of that establishment. Then in 1901 he was fortunate in being made gunnery Lieutenant of the Majestic, flag- ship of Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson. He remained in the Majestic when Lord Charles Beresford succeeded to the command in 1903. Later that year important combined manoeuvres of the Channel, Home, and Mediterranean Fleets took place, and on their conclusion the Fleets met in Lagos Bay for tactical exercises on a scale never before attempted. At the end of 1903 Duff was promoted to Commander, at the early age of 29, in recognition of meritorious services. He became executive officer in the Exmouth, flag- ship of Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson in the Home Fleet. In 1907 he was given his first independent command, to the scout cruiser Adventure, attached to the First Destroyer Flotilla, and at the end of 1909 was promoted to captain. In 1911 he became Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly in the First Cruiser Squadron on board the Indomitable, which ship was relieved in 1911 by the Lion on her completion. When Rear-Admiral Beatty took over the command in 1913 Captain Duff was transferred to the new light cruiser Southampton, and later in the year to the Birmingham, in which he was serving when war broke out in 1914. He was afloat in command in the North Sea all through hostilities, and took part in all the principal actions. But the service with which his name is chiefly associated took place in the first week of the war, and was by way of an isolated incident, which later became quite common. He was the first man to sink a German submarine. At 4 a.m. on August 9, 1914, the Birmingham was screening ahead of the Grand Fleet with the Second Cruiser Squadron when an unsuccessful attack was made by U.15. Captain Duff sighted this boat on the surface and promptly altered course, rammed and sank her. When the Germans raided Hartlepool and Scarborough on December 16, 1914, the Birmingham was among the light craft which got into touch with them, but aided by the mist the enemy made good their escape. Still in command of the Birmingham, Captain Duff also took part in the Jutland action in 1916. For his services at Jutland Captain Duff was commended in dispatches. Six months later he took command of the battle-cruiser Inflexible; and nine months later still of the battle-cruiser Tiger. Both were in the Grand Fleet, and from the bridge of the Tiger he witnessed the surrender of the High Sea Fleet off Rosyth in 1918. In the Birthday Honours List of 1917 he was made C.B. On the break-up of the Grand Fleet in 1919 he received the appointment of Commodore Commanding the Second Light Cruiser Squadron. It was during his two years in this command that he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. In 1922 he became Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron, flying his flag in the Revenge for the customary period of one year. On hauling down his flag, which marked the termination of his career afloat, he could look back on 22 years of almost continuous sea service, a rare achievement for an officer of his period. His work was not yet completed. In 1924 he took up the post of Director of Naval Equipment at the Admiralty, and during his two years there was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1926. Then in 1927 he was made Admiral Commanding Reserves, which post he also held for two years. In the New Year's Honours List of 1929 he was promoted K.C.B., and retired in 1930 on promotion to admiral. He married in 1909 Margaret Grace, daughter of Commander Wyatt Rawson, and had two sons and two daughters. From The Times Archive 8th April 1952

GPRDAVE - here are two awards to Adm. Duff ; DUFF Arthur A.M N/E Captain RN 78B001 Birmingham Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty 03.03.15 Gazetted Dogger Bank Action 24.01.15 N/E N/E DUFF Arthur A.M N/E Captain RN 78A063 N/E C-in-C Grand Fleet 15.09.16 & 04.06.17 Gazetted Despatch of 23.08.16 - Battle of Jutland 31.05.16 Mentioned in Despatches & 04.06.17 Commended for services in the Battle of Jutland, 31.05.1916.

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