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Air Vice-Marshal Sir Vyell Vyvyan


Photograph of Sir Vyell Vyvyan (as a Captain RN)(Arthur) Vyell              

b: 12 Mar 1875                       

r: 1 Sep 1925             

d: 30 Sep 1935

KCB - 2 Jun 1923 (CB - 3 Jun 1918), DSO - 14 Mar 1916, MiD - 14 Mar 1916, MiD - 3 Jun 1918, LoH O - 11 Aug 1917, RS3 - 8 Nov 1918, DSM (US) - 16 Dec 1919, R, GC - xx xxx 1920.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RN): - Mid’n: 15 Jan 1891, Sub-Lt: 14 Jul 1894, Lt: 14 Jan 1896, Cdr: 30 Jun 1906, Capt: 30 Jun 1913.

(RAF): - (T) Brig-Gen [Col]: 18 Feb 1918, Col: 1 Apr 1918 [18 Feb 1918], Act Brig-Gen [graded as Maj-Gen]: 1 May 1919, A/Cdre: 1 Aug 1919, AVM: 10 Oct 1919,

15 Jan 1889:   Attended HMS Britannia.

 7 Jan 1891:   Naval Cadet/Midshipman, HMS Camperdown. (Training Sqn)

 6 May 1892:  Midshipman, HMS Victoria. (awaiting disposal)

12 Dec 1892:   Midshipman, HMS Camperdown.

14 Mar 1894:  Midshipman/Sub-Lieutenant, HMS Wanderer

24 Jul - 24 Aug 1895:    lent to HMS Boxer

14 Jan 1896:   Lieutenant, HMS Theseus. (Cape Station) (Benin Expedition – 1897)

19 May 1897:  Lieutenant, HMS Gibraltar

20 Sep 1897:    HMS Excellent for course in Gunnery

20 Jun 1899:    Cambridge Junior Staff

11 Jul 1899:     Lent to HMS Thames for Gunnery duties

10 Jul 1900:    Gunnery Lieutenant, HMS Hood (Mediterranean)

10 Jul 1900:    Lent as Gunnery Lieutenant, HMS Thunderer for manoeuvres from HMS Hood

xx xxx 1902:   HMS Wildfire for Sheerness Gunnery School

21 Jul 1903:    Lent to HMS Diadem for manoeuvres as Gunnery Lieutenant

15 Oct 1904:    Lent to HMS Victorious for trial of new gunnery fittings

 6 Jan 1905:     1st Lieutenant, HMS Royal Oak.

 8 Mar 1905:    1st Lieutenant and Gunnery Lieutenant, HMS Caesar (Channel Sqn)

 5 Dec 1905:     HMS Excellent for requalification at Gunnery

12 Jan 1906:   Staff of Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Moore. (HMS King Alfred, China Station)

30 Jun 1906:   Flag Commander to Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Moore. (HMS King Alfred, China Station)

10 Jun 1908:   Commander, HMS Albemarle (Atlantic Fleet)

16 Dec 1908:   First Commander, HMS Invincible (Home Fleet)

25 Mar 1911:   Directing Staff, RN War College.

 2 Jul 1912:     Flag Commander to V-Adm Sir H B Jackson

xx Jan 1913:    Assistant to Chief of War Staff.

xx Aug 1914:    Officer Commanding, HMS Inflexible

xx Oct 1914:    Officer Commanding, HMS Cordelia

11 Mar 1915:  Beachmaster, 'Z' Beach, Gallipoli, Dardanelles.

xx xxx 1915:    Officer Commanding, HMS Endymion. (Dardanelles)

26 Jan 1916:     Naval Assistant to Superintendent of Aircraft Construction

 9 Mar 1917:     Assistant to Director of Air Services

18 Feb 1918:    Director of ?, Air Ministry.

17 Apr 1918:    Senior RAF Officer, C-in-C Mediterranean

28 Apr 1919:    GOC/AOC, Northern Area.

 1 Aug 1919:    Awarded Permanent Commission as a Colonel

 1 Sep 1919:     AOC, Coastal Area.

22 Jan 1920:     Removed from the Navy Lists on being awarded Permanent Commission in RAF

1 Sep 1924:      Placed on half pay list, Scale A.

In 1897, he served in punitive expedition against the King of Benin.  He was a Gunnery Specialist.  After retiring from the RAF he was appointed a Government director of Imperial Airways, taking part in a number of inaugural flights.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order

“Captain Arthur Vyell Vyvyan, R.N.

Beachmaster at Anzac on 25th April and subsequently.  Was frequently exposed to heavy shell-fire while carrying out his very arduous duties.”

(London Gazette – 14 March 1916)


Citation for the award of Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

"VYVYAN, Arthur Vyell, AVM, CB, DSO

In recognition of distinguished service while in command of Coastal Area, Royal Air Force."

(Source - Air 30/54)

This page was last updated on 08/09/23

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