William Edward James Eames DSC, RN

Born  21 Feb 1904

Ranks

15 Sep 1924 A/S.Lt.
15 Apr 1925 S.Lt.
15 Jan 1927 Lt.
15 Jan 1935 Lt.Cdr.
31 Dec 1938 Cdr.

Decorations

23 Jan 1942 DSC
5 Jun 1952 OBE

Warship Commands listed for William Edward James Eames, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Veteran (D 72)Cdr.Destroyer6 Jul 194119 Aug 1942
HMS Pheasant (U 49)Cdr.Sloop20 Jan 1944Dec 1944

Career information

He was born 21 Feb.1904, possibly in Australia, and educated at the Royal Australian Naval College (1918-22). As a Midshipman he served in the Hood (World Cruise 1923-24). In 1936, as a Lieutenant Commander, he commanded the Sandpiper, the smallest of the river gunboats in China. She was usually deployed at Changsha on the Xiang River, and she was at that place on 6 September 1938 when Japanese aircraft attacked her. The ship was damaged but there were no casualties. As the Japanese armies approached, Eames took over the role of Consul and arranged for Europeans of all nationalities to leave the area. His services were recognised with early promotion to the rank of Commander.

On the outbreak of World War II he was drafting commander at the RN Barracks, Devonport, and implemented mobilisation plans; then Executive Officer of the Argus, an aircraft carrier. From early 1941 until September 1942 he commanded escort groups in the North Atlantic. From Sept. 1942 to June 1943 he served on the staff of the Admiralty as advisor on convoy escorts, and also took part in a delegation to Washington. From July 1943 to the end of the war he again commanded escort groups in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

After the war he had various appointments including the Admiralty and Malta, and was Naval attache to Belgium and the Netherlands 1949-54 (Order of Orange confered in 1951). He retired in 1954.

Events related to this officer

Destroyer HMS Veteran (D 72)


3 Jul 1942
HMS Veteran took over the attack on U-215 from the British ASW Trawler HMS Le Tiger with depth charges and Hedgehog. U-215 was sunk but credited to Le Tiger. (1)

Sources

  1. Personal communication


You can help improve officers William Edward James Eames's page
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this officer.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve his page.

Allied Commanders main page