World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseRoger Roland Charles Backhouse was the fourth son of Sir Jonathan Backhouse, 1st Baronet and Florence Backhouse (née Salusbury-Trelawny). He joined the British Royal Navy in 1892 and trained aboard HMS Britannia. In 1894, he was a midshipman aboard the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Repulse of the Channel Squadron. In Oct 1895, he was transferred aboard corvette HMS Comus on the Pacific Station. In 1898, he was promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant, followed by lieutenant one year later. In Nov 1899, he was transferred board battleship HMS Victorious in the Mediterranean Fleet. In the early 1900s, he attended the gunnery school HMS Excellent on Whale Island near Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom. In Feb 1903, he was made the gunnery officer of battleship HMS Russell of the Mediterranean Fleet. In Apr 1904, he was transferred to battleship HMS Queen, also of the Mediterranean Fleet. In Jul 1905, he made a member of the directing staff of HMS Excellent. In 1907, he married Dora Louise Findlay, daughter of newspaper proprietor ("The Scotsman") John Ritchie Findlay; they would have two sons and four daughters together. In Aug 1907, he was made the gunnery officer of battleship HMS Dreadnought of the Channel Fleet. In Dec 1909, he was promoted to the rank of commander. In Feb 1910, he returned to the staff of HMS Excellent. Between Mar 1911 and Nov 1915, he was the Flag Commander to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, initially aboard HMS Neptune, after Mar 1914 aboard HMS Iron Duke. In Sep 1914, he was promoted to the rank of captain. In Nov 1915, he was given his first sea-going command, light cruiser HMS Conquest. In Nov 1916, he was made the commanding officer of battlecruiser HMS Lion, flagship of the Battle Cruiser force. In Jun 1917, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. In Sep 1920, he was made the Director of Naval Ordnance at the Admiralty. In Jan 1923, he became the commanding officer of battleship HMS Malaya. In Feb 1925, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. In May 1926, he was named the commanding officer of the 3rd Battle Squadron. In Nov 1928, he was made the Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy. In Oct 1929, he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral. In Apr 1932, he was named the commanding officer of the 1st Battle Squadron and Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1933, he was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. In 1934, he was promoted to the rank of admiral. In Aug 1935, he was made the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, with his flag aboard battleship HMS Nelson. In May 1937, he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. In 1938, he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. In Jul 1938, he became the First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George VI. In Nov 1938, he was named the First Sea Lord. In this position, he sided with those who believe British naval strength should be kept close to Britain to deter the potential threat from Germany and Italy, at the cost of possibly sacrificing far flung possessions from the potential threat from Japan; in other words, he was the one who officially abandoned the Singapore Strategy. In May 1939, he resigned due to poor health. In Jun 1939, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. Backhouse passed away from a brain tumor in London, England in the following month.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Roger Backhouse Timeline