Hubert Edward Dannreuther
Encyclopedia
Rear-Admiral Hubert Edward Dannreuther, DSO
(12 December 1880 – 12 August 1977) was a British admiral and one of six survivors of the sinking of HMS Invincible
during the battle of Jutland
.
and Chariclea Anthea Euterpe (Ionides) Dannreuther (1844–1923). He was a godson of Richard Wagner
. He joined HMS Britannia
as a naval cadet in 1895. After being made chief naval cadet in 1896 he was send to the Australia station as a midshipsman on board HMS Flora
. In Australia he served on HMS Orlando
and HMS Royal Arthur
. Promoted to lieutenant in 1902, from 1911 to 1912 he was gunnery officer on board HMS Exmouth
in the Mediterranean Fleet.
. For this he was mentioned in dispatches
and promoted to commander.
At the Battle of Jutland
on 31 May 1916, HMS Invincible was the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. She was hit in her "Q" turret by a salvo from SMS Derfflinger
, which blew the roof off the turret over the side. It was either this shell hit which caused a flash down the magazine or a second shell in the same salvo that penetrated the armour and exploded in the magazine, causing a massive explosion. The ship broke in two and sank with the loss of all but six of her crew of 1,021. Dannreuther was amongst those few rescued. After 20 minutes in the freezing waters of the North Sea
, Dannreuther was rescued by the destroyer HMS Badger.
For his service at Jutland he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the DSO and the Russian Order of St. Anna
, 3rd Class, with Swords. Upon his return to Britain he was awarded the privilege of an audience at Buckingham Palace
with King George V
and Queen Mary
.
From 1916 to 1918 Dannreuther served as commander on HMS Renown
. In 1917 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with palms
.
. From 1927 to 1929 Dannreuther served as Superintendent of Training of the Royal Australian Navy
while simultaneously commanding the Flinders Naval Depot
. Dannreuther commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle
from 1929 to 1930. Promoted to commodore
, from 1931 to 1932, he commanded the Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth and he was appointed Naval Aide-de Camp to the King from 23 September 1932 onwards. In 1932 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral and placed on the retired list. In 1939 he held the position of Assistant Director General, Control Division, Ministry of Information.
He married Janie Hay Thorborn in 1916 and they had three children, Hubert Harold (1917), Ion Alexander (1920) and Raymond Portal (1923). He died on 12 August 1977 in Hastings
.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(12 December 1880 – 12 August 1977) was a British admiral and one of six survivors of the sinking of HMS Invincible
HMS Invincible (1907)
HMS Invincible was a battlecruiser of the British Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class of three, and the first battlecruiser to be built by any country in the world. She participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in a minor role as she was the oldest and slowest of the British battlecruisers...
during the battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
.
Early life
Hubert Dannreuther was born the son of the German pianist Edward DannreutherEdward Dannreuther
Edward Dannreuther was a German pianist and writer on music resident from 1863 in England. He trained as a musician at the Conservatoire at Leipzig, where he was a pupil of Ignaz Moscheles, a severe critic of the music of Wagner and Franz Liszt...
and Chariclea Anthea Euterpe (Ionides) Dannreuther (1844–1923). He was a godson of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
. He joined HMS Britannia
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
as a naval cadet in 1895. After being made chief naval cadet in 1896 he was send to the Australia station as a midshipsman on board HMS Flora
HMS Flora (1893)
HMS Flora was an Astraea class cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 21 November 1893. She was constructed under the Naval Defence Act of 1889 along with several other Astraea class cruisers...
. In Australia he served on HMS Orlando
HMS Orlando (1886)
HMS Orlando was the lead ship of the Orlando-class of first-class cruisers built in the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow and launched on 3 August 1886....
and HMS Royal Arthur
HMS Royal Arthur (1891)
HMS Royal Arthur was a first class cruiser of the Edgar class, previously named Centaur, but renamed in 1890 prior to launching. Royal Arthur, and her sister ship Crescent, were built to a slightly modified design and are sometimes considered a separate class...
. Promoted to lieutenant in 1902, from 1911 to 1912 he was gunnery officer on board HMS Exmouth
HMS Exmouth (1901)
HMS Exmouth was a Duncan class predreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy. HMS Exmouth was laid down by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead in August 1899, launched in August 1901 and finally completed in May 1903...
in the Mediterranean Fleet.
First World War
During the First World War he served as gunnery officer of HMS Invincible during the Battle of Heligoland Bight and the Battle of the Falkland IslandsBattle of the Falkland Islands
The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a British naval victory over the Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914 during the First World War in the South Atlantic...
. For this he was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
and promoted to commander.
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
on 31 May 1916, HMS Invincible was the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. She was hit in her "Q" turret by a salvo from SMS Derfflinger
SMS Derfflinger
SMS Derfflinger"SMS" stands for "Seiner Majestät Schiff", or "His Majesty's Ship" in German. was a battlecruiser of the German Kaiserliche Marine built just before the outbreak of World War I. She was the lead vessel of her class of three ships; her sister ships were and...
, which blew the roof off the turret over the side. It was either this shell hit which caused a flash down the magazine or a second shell in the same salvo that penetrated the armour and exploded in the magazine, causing a massive explosion. The ship broke in two and sank with the loss of all but six of her crew of 1,021. Dannreuther was amongst those few rescued. After 20 minutes in the freezing waters of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, Dannreuther was rescued by the destroyer HMS Badger.
For his service at Jutland he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the DSO and the Russian Order of St. Anna
Order of St. Anna
The Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
, 3rd Class, with Swords. Upon his return to Britain he was awarded the privilege of an audience at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
with King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
.
From 1916 to 1918 Dannreuther served as commander on HMS Renown
HMS Renown (1916)
HMS Renown was the lead ship of her class of battlecruisers of the Royal Navy built during the First World War. She was originally laid down as an improved version of the s. Her construction was suspended on the outbreak of war on the grounds she would not be ready in a timely manner...
. In 1917 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with palms
Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)
The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 is a French military decoration.-Creation:Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created...
.
Later life
From 1919 – 20 Dannreuther served on HMS Excellent. Promoted to captain in 1920 he was made Vice-President of the Chemical warfare Committee from 1920–1923. In 1924-1926 he commanded the cruiser HMS DauntlessHMS Dauntless (D45)
HMS Dauntless was a Danae-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was launched from the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company on 10 April 1918 and commissioned on 22 November, 1918.-Design:...
. From 1927 to 1929 Dannreuther served as Superintendent of Training of the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
while simultaneously commanding the Flinders Naval Depot
HMAS Cerberus, Victoria
HMAS Cerberus is the Royal Australian Navy's primary training establishment, located adjacent to Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is also an official bounded locality of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
. Dannreuther commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle
HMS Eagle (1918)
HMS Eagle was an early aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Ordered by Chile as the Almirante Cochrane, she was laid down before World War I. In early 1918 she was purchased by Britain for conversion to an aircraft carrier; this work was finished in 1924...
from 1929 to 1930. Promoted to commodore
Commodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
, from 1931 to 1932, he commanded the Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth and he was appointed Naval Aide-de Camp to the King from 23 September 1932 onwards. In 1932 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral and placed on the retired list. In 1939 he held the position of Assistant Director General, Control Division, Ministry of Information.
He married Janie Hay Thorborn in 1916 and they had three children, Hubert Harold (1917), Ion Alexander (1920) and Raymond Portal (1923). He died on 12 August 1977 in Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
.