Vice Admiral Sir Stuart Sumner Bonham Carter, (9 July 1889 – 5 September 1972) was an officer in the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...
who served in both the
First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
and
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
s.
Naval career
Born the younger son of
Lothian Bonham-Carter
Lothian George Bonham-Carter J.P. (29 September 1858 – 1 January 1927) 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 ...
and Emily Maud Sumner, Bonham Carter joined the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...
in 1904.
[Unit Histories]
/ref> He served in the First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...
, commanding the block ship during the Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid ( nl, Aanval op de haven van Zeebrugge;
) on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the Royal Navy to block the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. The British intended to sink obsolete ships in the canal entrance, to prevent Germ ...
in 1918.[Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]
/ref> He also commanded the destroyer in the closing stages of the war.[
A keen cricketer, Bonham Carter played two first-class matches for the ]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. The club was formed in 1863, although cricket is recorded as having been played by seame ...
in 1925. He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa 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
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy officer who advises the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on naval officer appointing (and General Officers).
Their counterpart in the British Army is the Military Secretary. The Royal Air Force equiv ...
in 1939.[
Bonham Carter also served in the ]Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, commanding the 3rd Battle Squadron from 1940 and the 18th Cruiser Squadron
The 18th Cruiser Squadron was a formation of cruisers of the Royal Navy from 1939 to 1942. The squadron was formed in September 1939 and was assigned to the Home Fleet
The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the Unite ...
from 1942.[ 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. 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 Bonham Carter married Eve Lloyd; they had one child, Joanna.[ He is distantly related to the ]actress
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter (born 26 May 1966) is an English actress. Known for her roles in blockbusters and independent films, particularly period dramas, she has received various awards and nominations, including a British Academy Film Award ...
.
There is a memorial to Bonham Carter at St Mary's Church, Buriton
Buriton () is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is located 2 miles (3.3 km) south of Petersfield.
History
About a mile north-west of Buriton was the extensive manor of West Mapledurham, fo ...
.Geograph
/ref>
See also
* Bonham Carter family The Bonham-Carter family is a British family that has included several prominent people active in various spheres in the United Kingdom.
Antecedents
The Bonham-Carter family are the descendants of John Bonham-Carter (1788–1838), who was the fir ...
References
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonham Carter, Stuart
Royal Navy officers
Royal Navy vice admirals
Royal Navy personnel of World War I
Royal Navy personnel of World War II
English cricketers
People educated at Clifton College
Royal Navy cricketers
1889 births
1972 deaths
People from Petersfield
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
Stuart
Stuart may refer to:
Names
* Stuart (name), a given name and surname (and list of people with the name) Automobile
*Stuart (automobile)
Places
Australia Generally
*Stuart Highway, connecting South Australia and the Northern Territory
Northe ...
People from Buriton
Military personnel from Portsmouth