Leonard Holbrook
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Leonard Stanley Holbrook MVO, (1 January 1882 - 29 August 1974) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy
. He was the Commodore Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron between 29 May 1931 and 7 April 1932.
, forerunner of the later Territorial Army. Arthur was later knighted for his service as a Colonel in the Army Service Corps, during the First World War, and became Member of Parliament
for Basingstoke in 1920. He and his wife had six sons and four daughters, and of these Leonard's brother Norman
achieved fame as the first Royal Navy recipient of the Victoria Cross
during the First World War.
Holbrook joined the Royal Navy in 1896. He was rated midshipman
on 15 January 1898. While serving on HMS Majestic
he formed part of the honour guard for the state funeral
of Queen Victoria
, and was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order on 19 March 1901. He was promoted to acting Sub-Lieutenant
on 15 July 1901, (and subsequently confirmed in that rank from the same date), Lieutenant
on 15 January 1902. He served aboard HMS Exmouth
as part of the Atlantic Fleet in 1908 and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
in 1910.
At the start of the First World War, Holbrook was serving as a gunnery officer aboard HMS Devonshire
. He was promoted Commander
on 31 December 1914, and then served successively as Flag Commander
to Vice Admiral
s Sir Martyn Jerram
, Sir Herbert Heath
and Sir Dudley de Chair in the Grand Fleet.
He was promoted Captain
on 30 June 1920. He married a widow, Mrs R. Spencer Britten (Gladys Nina Grove), on 1 January 1920, she had a son called Richard by her earlier marriage. He commanded HMS Curlew
from 1922–24. He was seconded to the Royal Australian Navy
in 1929, initially commanding HMAS Canberra, then he was appointed Commodore First Class
to command His Majesty's Australian Squadron between 29 May 1931 and 7 April 1932. He was appointed an Aide de Camp to King George V
until 5 July 1932 and appointed again on 15 October 1932. He was promoted to Rear Admiral
on 15 October 1932 and placed upon the retired list on 16 October 1932.
He died at home on 29 August 1974, and his funeral was at Bury, West Sussex
on 6 September, followed by a cremation. His wife had predeceased him, he was survived by their son Robert, and her son Richard.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Leonard Stanley Holbrook MVO, (1 January 1882 - 29 August 1974) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He was the Commodore Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron between 29 May 1931 and 7 April 1932.
Biography
Holbrook was born at Portsmouth on 1 January 1882, the second son of Arthur Holbrook and his wife Amelia Mary (née Parks). Arthur Holbrook was the owner of the Portsmouth Times, and also a keen member of the Volunteer ForceVolunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
, forerunner of the later Territorial Army. Arthur was later knighted for his service as a Colonel in the Army Service Corps, during the First World War, and became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Basingstoke in 1920. He and his wife had six sons and four daughters, and of these Leonard's brother Norman
Norman Douglas Holbrook
Commander Norman Douglas Holbrook VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
achieved fame as the first Royal Navy recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
during the First World War.
Holbrook joined the Royal Navy in 1896. He was rated midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 15 January 1898. While serving on HMS Majestic
HMS Majestic (1895)
HMS Majestic was a Majestic-class predreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy.-Technical characteristics:HMS Majestic was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 5 February 1894 and launched on 31 January 1895...
he formed part of the honour guard for the state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, and was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order on 19 March 1901. He was promoted to acting Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
on 15 July 1901, (and subsequently confirmed in that rank from the same date), Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 15 January 1902. He served aboard 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...
as part of the Atlantic Fleet in 1908 and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 1910.
At the start of the First World War, Holbrook was serving as a gunnery officer aboard HMS Devonshire
HMS Devonshire (1904)
HMS Devonshire was a 10,850 ton Devonshire-class armoured cruiser of the Royal Navy built at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 30 April 1904...
. He was promoted Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on 31 December 1914, and then served successively as Flag Commander
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
s Sir Martyn Jerram
Martyn Jerram
Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram GCMG KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:Jerram joined the Royal Navy in 1871....
, Sir Herbert Heath
Herbert Heath
Admiral Sir Herbert Leopold Heath KCB MVO was Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in the Royal Navy.-Military career:...
and Sir Dudley de Chair in the Grand Fleet.
He was promoted Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
on 30 June 1920. He married a widow, Mrs R. Spencer Britten (Gladys Nina Grove), on 1 January 1920, she had a son called Richard by her earlier marriage. He commanded HMS Curlew
HMS Curlew (D42)
HMS Curlew was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Ceres group of the C class of cruisers.She was laid down by Vickers Limited on 21 August 1916, and launched on 5 July 1917, being commissioned into the navy on 14 December 1917. In common with most of her...
from 1922–24. He was seconded to 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...
in 1929, initially commanding HMAS Canberra, then he was appointed Commodore First Class
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
to command His Majesty's Australian Squadron between 29 May 1931 and 7 April 1932. He was appointed an Aide de Camp to 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....
until 5 July 1932 and appointed again on 15 October 1932. He was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
on 15 October 1932 and placed upon the retired list on 16 October 1932.
He died at home on 29 August 1974, and his funeral was at Bury, West Sussex
Bury, West Sussex
Bury is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located six kilometres south west of Pulborough on the A29 road....
on 6 September, followed by a cremation. His wife had predeceased him, he was survived by their son Robert, and her son Richard.