The excellent Companion of the Order of the Bath and French Legion of Honour group awarded to Admiral T.D. Gilbert, Royal Navy who captained the cruiser H.M.S. Yarmouth at the Battle of Jutland, receiving a Mention in Despatches in the London Gazette of 15th September 1916 for his service at the battle. He would still be serving aboard Yarmouth when Commander Rutland of the Royal Naval Air Service took off from a flying off platform atop her turret, thus becoming the first man to attempt such a manoeuvre on a moving ship. Later serving as the Chief of Staff to the Senior Naval Officer in Malta, he would be appointed A.D.C. to the King on 1st July 1921 and was advanced Rear Admiral on 7th April 1922. He would raise his flag aboard Curacao in 1923 to command the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet, a post he held for two years. He would retire in 1927 being appointed a vice-admiral and later being promoted Admiral on the retired list in 1931. He was one of the last surviving captains from the Battle of Jutland when he died at Taynton House, Oxfordshire on 23th January 1962.
Group of 5: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion, C.B., neck badge, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-1915 Star; (CAPT T.D. GILBERT. R.N,.) British War Medal and Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches oakleaf; (CAPT. T.D. GILBERT. R.N.) France – Republic: Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel.
Condition: slight enamel wear to first, overall Good Very Fine
Thomas Drummond Gilbert was born on 1st November 1870, with the last name ‘Pratt’, he later changed it by Royal License to Gilbert. Entering the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet at Britannia on 15th January 1884 before being appointed Midshipman in September 1886 and posted to H.M.S. Sultan.
Advanced Sub-Lieutenant in September 1890 and Lieutenant in January 1893 he served in a variety of postings during this time. A notable one being as second in command of the cruiser Tauranga. His time with her coinciding with her stay in Sydney, Australia where she was stationed in case fresh British intervention were needed in the ongoing Second Samoan Civil War.
Gilbert’s first independent command occurred just after leaving Tauranga on 12th March 1902 with the bramble class gunboat H.M.S. Britomart. Further promoted Commander on 31st December 1904 he served aboard a number of vessels, not in command, before going shore for a navigation course in 1908. Upon returning to sea in January 1911 Gilbert took the helm of Spartiate receiving glowing reports from all of his commanders, including Prince Louis of Battenberg. He was promoted Captain at the end of that year on 31st December. After this he was appointed to the 1912 Admiralty committee inquiring into matters of discipline and the system of summary punishments in the Navy.
Returning to the Royal Naval War College in Portsmouth in 1913 he undertook numerous courses in Signalling and Navigation, ending with a new command, H.M.S. Galatea. Gilbert was still with this vessel on the outbreak of war in August 1914 but was soon posted away to the scout cruiser Active before joining Yarmouth in January 1915.
The cruiser was initially stationed with the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron but soon joined the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron in February. It was with this unit that she was to take part in the Battle of Jutland on 31st May – 1st June 1916 as part of Beatty’s Battlecruiser Fleet. During the action Yarmouth served as link ship between the rest of the Squadron and Lion. For his role in the action Gilbert received a Mention in Despatches under the name of ‘Pratt’ in the London Gazette of 15th September 1916.
Continuing to command Yarmouth after Jutland, Gilbert was still with her in July 1917 when Commander Rutland of the Royal Naval Air Service took off from a flying off platform mounted atop her turret. This was the first time such a manoeuvre had been attempeted.
The following month, August 1917 he would posted to command the Battleship Thunderer. This vessel was assigned to the Grand Fleet in British waters and did not see action again during the war. Towards the end of the conflict Gilbert was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and an Officer of the French Legion of Honour.
He would posted to Malta as Chief of Staff to the Senior Naval Officer in 1919, a role in which he served for the next years. Appointed A.D.C. to the King on 1st July 1921 Gilbert was advanced Rear Admiral on 7th April 19222. He raised his flag aboard Curacao in 1923 to command the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet, a post he held until 1925. Retiring two years later in 1927 he was appointed a Vice-Admiral and was later promoted Admiral on the retired list in 1931. His death on 24th January 1962 at Taynton House, Oxfordshire made him one of the last surviving captains from the Battle of Jutland.
