Admiral Cecil Frederick Dampier, C.M.G., (11 May 1868 – 11 April 1950).
Life and Career
Dampier scored 1,261 marks in the competitive examinations for cadetships in the Royal Navy, coming fifth out of his batch of twenty.
He was promoted to Commander on 1 January 1900, and to Captain on 1 January 1904.
In March 1906, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Hermione.
He was appointed in command of the new armoured cruiser Defence on 16 November 1908.
He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V dated 23 June 1913.
Great War
He was in command of Audacious when she struck a mine and was lost.
On 1 January 1915, Dampier was appointed Commodore, First Class as Admiral of the Training Service, a temporary appointment. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 18 February 1915. On 13 January 1916, he was appointed President of the Court Martial convened to enquire into the loss of the armoured cruiser Natal, and he hoisted his flag in the Aurora for this purpose on 17 January. He struck his flag on 20 January.
Dampier was appointed Admiral Superintendent of Dover Dockyard, and in charge of Shore Establishments and King's Harbour Master at Dover, on 18 June 1917. On 1 June 1918, he was appointed Rear-Admiral of Controlled Minefields, with his flag in the Surf. He took up the appointment on 2 June.
Post War
Dampier was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 2 August, 1919. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 July 1922.
He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July 1924.
Dampier died on 11 April, 1950 at Bishop's Waltham at the age of eighty-two. His funeral took place at St. Peter's, Bishop's Waltham, Hants. on Friday 14 April. The Reverend F. H. Sargeant officiated, assisted by the Right Reverend A. L. Kitching, Assistant Bishop of Portsmouth.