Admiral Bentinck John Davies Yelverton (28 October 1862 - 7 January 1959)
Early Life and Career
Bentinck John Davies Yelverton was born Bentinck John Davies at Penzance, Cornwall, on 28 October 1862, the son of Rowland Augustus Griffith Davies, a solicitor and Justice of the Peace, and Pauline Cecilia Louisa Anna Davies, née Yelverton. His father died on 4 September 1864, whilst Mayor of Penzance. He entered the Royal Navy and was appointed as a Naval Cadet to the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth on 15 January, 1876. He was placed thirty-eighth in order of merit out of forty-two candidates who passed the examination for naval cadetships. He left Britannia on 20 December 1877, having gained three months' time for Midshipman for conduct. On 21 December 1877, he was appointed to the Shannon on the Pacific Station. On 20 September 1878, he was rated Midshipman, and on 30 October 1879, was appointed to the Comus on the China Station. He passed his Seamanship examination with a First Class certificate and was promoted to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 20 September 1882. He returned home in the Rocket, and was appointed to Excellent for examinations for the rank of Lieutenant.
On 12 January he qualified as a Navigator for other than first class ships, and on 15 January was Navigating Officer of Forrester. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1885.
Yelverton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June 1898.
Captain
On 24 September 1904, Yelverton was appointed to President for the war course at Greenwich, where he obtained a Third Class pass. Completing this on 20 February 1905, he was appointed on the same day to Firequeen for the month-long Senior Officers' Signal Course, and thence for a series of Gunnery and Torpedo courses.
He was appointed to Pembroke, additional, for trials of the Jupiter on 17 July 1905. On 15 August he was appointed to command first class protected cruiser H.M.S. Ariadne, a nucleus crew ship at Portsmouth, which command he held until 6 November 1906. Rear-Admiral Charles H. Cross, commanding the Portsmouth Reserve Division, wrote that, "Judging from the one cruise he has been with me I consider him trustworthy & with good nerve & judgement."
Yelverton was appointed to command Talbot on 6 November 1906, where he remained until 6 November 1908, bar a brief Signal Course at Portsmouth between 21 January and 8 February 1907. In January 1907, Rear-Admiral Edward H. Gamble, commanding the Devonport Reserve Division, wrote of him that, "Although only a short time with me in Reserve Squadron, from my former experience of him he is a zealous officer with good judgement." The Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, wrote of him in November 1908:
Zealous, good judgement, very good physical qualities. A very good officer who keeps his ship in good man of war order. Recommended for advancement.
Yelverton was appointed to President for the war course on 6 November 1908, but did not complete it. He was appointed in command of the battleship Vengeance in the Home Fleet on 27 November 1908. On 24 March 1909, he was appointed in command of battleship Bulwark in the Channel Fleet, which soon after became part of the Home Fleet. He gave up command of Bulwark on 1 March1910. The fleet Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir William H. May, noted that:
Captain Yelverton is a very good practical officer [who] handles his ship very well & is a thorough disciplinarian. He gives great promise of making a good Flag officer & I should be pleased to have him in any fleet with me.
On 1 March 1910, Yelverton was appointed to Fisgard as Inspecting Captain of Mechanical Training Establishments. He was superseded after two years on 1 March 1912. The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, Admiral Sir Arthur W. Moore, described Yelverton as a "zealous and capable officer," whilst Their Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty expressed their appreciation at the efficiency and good organisation of the mechanical training establishments which they considered due to "zeal & ability with which Captain Yelverton has carried out the duties of Inspecting Captain."
On 4 March 1912, Yelverton was appointed to President for the war course at Portsmouth. Again, he didn't complete it as on 18 March 1912, he was appointed in command of H.M.S. Terrible, and a group of ships in reserve of the Fourth Division, Home Fleet. On 1 July he was appointed to H.M.S. Royal Arthur and in command of a group of ships of the Third Fleet, Home Fleets. He transferred to armoured cruiser Aboukir in a similar capacity on 22 October 1912, and to armoured cruiser Good Hope on 1 February 1913. He commanded Good Hope during the 1913 manœuvres. In November 1912, Rear-Admiral Arthur Y. Moggridge wrote of Yelverton that he, "Has shown much zeal, tact, judgement, & firmness as S.O.T.F. at Portsmouth." Rear-Admiral Reginald G. O. Tupper wrote of him a year later, "Has been most zealous & has afforded me great assistance in improving the general readiness for war & cleanliness & efficiency of 3rd Fleet of Portsmouth Division during my year here."
The Great War
Yelverton was appointed in command of the cruiser Suffolk on 19 August 1914.
On 17 July 1915, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Anstruther, and in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 18 July. In recognition of his services during the war he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 22 June, 1916.
On 18 September 1916 he was appointed to H.M.S. President as Senior Naval Officer, Folkestone, where he would remain until 21 October 1919.
Post War
He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 3 November 1919, and to Admiral on 1 August 1924. He died at his home at Great Brookham, Surrey, on 7 January 1959, aged ninety-six.