Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers
Pound
G.C.B., G.C.V.O.
Updated 18-Oct-2007
| Personal Details | ||
| Event | Date / details | Source |
| Date of Birth | 29 August 1877 | 1 |
| Place of Birth | Wroxhall, Newchurch | 1 |
| Name of father | A.D. Pound, Marlborough Lodge, Newton Abbot | 1 |
| Profession of father | 1 | |
| Wife's Name | Bessia CG Whitehead | 1 |
| Date of Marriage | 14 October 1908 | 1 |
| Place of Marriage | ||
| Date of Death | 21 October 1943 | 1 |
| Place of Burial | ||
| Rank History | ||
| Rank | Date attained | Source |
| Naval cadet | 15/01/1891 | 1 |
| Midshipman | 15/01/1893 | 1 |
| Sub-Lieutenant | 29/08/1896 | 1 |
| Lieutenant | 29/08/1898 | 1 |
| Commander | 30/06/1909 | 1 |
| Captain | 31/12/1914 | 1 |
| Rear-Admiral | 01/03/1926 | 1 |
| Vice-Admiral | 15/05/1930 | 1 |
| Admiral | 16/01/1935 | 1 |
| Admiral of the Fleet | 31/07/1939 | 1 |
| Honours and Knighthoods | |||
| Honour or Knighthood | Date awarded | Date Gazetted | Source |
| Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) | 3 June 1919 | 30 May 1919 (31379) | 4 |
| Legion of Honour | 12 December 1919 | Not found | 1 |
| American DSM | 12 December 1919 | Not found | 1 |
| Rising Sun 3rd Class | 8 March 1920 | Not found | 1 |
| A.D.C. | 1 January 1925 | Not found | 1 |
| Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) | 3 June 1933 | 2 June 1933 (33946) | 4 |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) | 23 July 1937 | 23 July 1937 | |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) | 2 January 1939 | 30 December 1938 (34585) | 4 |
| Order of Merit | 3 September 1943 | 4 | |
| Rewards & Distinctions |
| Source: ADM 196/44 - Service History |
| Gained 12 months time on passing out of Britannia |
| Awarded CB(M) Gazette 3/6/19 |
| Legion of Honour (offr) Gaz 12/12/19 |
| American D.S.M. Gaz 12/12/19 |
| Rising Sun (3rd Cl.) Gaz 8/3/20 |
| CW 7707/21 Awarded GSP 3 Aug 1924 Relinquished 1/3/26 |
| CW 436/25 Appts A.D.C. 1.1.25 Ceased 1/3/26 |
| K.C.B. Gaz 3.6.33 |
| GCVO Gazette 23.7/37 |
| G.C.B. (Mil) New Year Honours Jan 39 Gazette 2.1.39 |
| Examinations |
| Source: ADM 196/44 - Service History |
| Passed in Seamanship 1st Cl. Cert. 966 marks |
| Passed College Part I Novr '96 2nd Cl. Cert. 891 marks |
| Passed College Part II Feby '97 1st Cl. Cert. 1594 marks |
| Passed Pilotage April '97 2nd Cl. Cert. 848 marks |
| Passed Gunnery Aug '97 2nd Cl. Cert. 478 marks |
| Passed Torpedo Sepr '97 1st Cl. Cert. 183 marks |
| Special Attainments or Qualifications |
| Source: ADM 196/44 - Service History |
| June 01 Gained 1st Cl. Cert. as T Lieut |
| Requalified in T. 20 Jan 05 |
| Dec 1911 Bronze medal & cert Royal Humane Society |
| 1 Jan 14 Apptd War Staff withouth qualifying course |
| Service / Appointments History | |||||
| Ship | Station | Date of appointment |
Date of discharge |
Cause | Source |
| Britannia | Teg Ship | 15 Jany 91 | Dec 92 | 1 | |
| Royal Sovereign addl | Ch Sq | 5 Jan 93 | 28 March 94 | ??? | 1 |
| Undaunted | China | 17 April 94 | 27 May 95 | ?Coming home? | 1 |
| Calypso | ?? Squad | 5 Oct 95 | 29 Augt 97 | ?Seamanship? | 1 |
| Vivid alld for T Boat | Manres | 15 June 97 | 9 July 97 | OO | 1 |
| 58 in Command ???? | 1 | ||||
| Vivid for ????? | Devport | 11 Oct 97 | 17 Jan 98 | 1 | |
| Magnificent | Chan Sq | 17 Jan 98 | 29 Aus | Promd | 1 |
| Magnificent | Chan Sq | 29 Aug 98 | 1 Oct 98 | 1 | |
| Magnificent | Chan Sq | 1 Oct 98 | 8 May 99 | To qual for T | 1 |
| As Falg Lieutenant | 1 | ||||
| Magnificent as Flag Lt. to R Adml Fanshawe |
Chan Sq | 1 June 99 | 15 Sep 99 | Supd | 1 |
| Vernon addnl to qual in Torpedo | Portsth | 30 Sept. 99 | 9 July 01 | 1 | |
| Blake (lent) | ?????? | 10 July 00 | 9 July 00 | 1 | |
| Vernon for Staff T duties | 9 July 01 | 14 Jan 02 | Grafton | 1 | |
| Grafton - T duties | Pacific | 14 Jan 02 | 1 | ||
| ?Firequean? for K Edq Vii | PO | 3.3.05 | 5.3.07 | 1 | |
| Lieut Vernon for W/T course | 4.1.05 | 1 | |||
| Queen (1sy & T) | 5.3.07 | 14.12.08 | PO | 1 | |
| President for N.O.D. | Admy | 6.1.09 | 1 | ||
| President to Asst to D.N.O. | 1.2.09 | 1 | |||
| Reappt on prom | 30.6.09 | 18.5.11 | Supd | 1 | |
| Superb | Home | 30.5.11 | 6.1.13 | 1 | |
| Victory for War College | 6.1.13 | 21.4.14 | 1 | ||
| St Vincent | HF | 21.4.14 | 17.1.15 | 1 | |
| Naval Asst to 1st Sea Lord | 20.3.15 | 24.10.15 | 1 | ||
| Colossus asFlag Capt | 24.10.15 | 1 | |||
| 7-17 | 1 | ||||
| Addl Asst to D.O.D. Adlty War Staff | 7-17 | 10.17 | 1 | ||
| Assistant Director of Plans | 10.17 | 18/1/18 | 1 | ||
| D.O.D. (H) | 18/1/18 | 15.7.19 | Supd | 1 | |
| Hood addl for specia; service on staff of R.A.C. B.C.S. tempy | 20.5.20 | 14.10.20 |
1 | ||
| Victory addl for Repulse & Repulse in Comd on comg |
18.10.20 | 18.4.22 | Supd | 1 | |
| President addl for duty inside Admy | 19/4/22 | 1 | |||
| & as Director of Plans ??? of Naval Staff | 3/5/22 | 9.3.25 | Supd | 1 | |
| Victory for S.O. Tactical Cse | 9.3.25 | 1.5.25 | 1 | ||
| Queen Elizabeth addl. | 2.5.25 | 1 | |||
| Queen Elizabeth addl. as C.O.S. to Act Adml. Sir Roger Keyes Bt. K.C.B., K.C.V.O., C.M.G., D.S.O. with rank of Comdre 2nd class on joining | .5.25 | 1 | |||
| Reappointed on promotion tempy | 1.3.26 | ?8? 27 | 1 | ||
| President addl for duty inside Admiralty | 20.3.27 | 1 | |||
| & to be a Lord Comm of Admy & Asst Chief of Naval Staff | 21.4.27 | 22.4.29 | Supd | 1 | |
| RAC BCS | 21.5.29 | 24/4/31 | Supd | 1 | |
| VA & reappointed on promotion | 15.5.30 | 1 | |||
| President addl for Special duty inside Admiralty
in connection with the Disarmament Conference not exceeding 6 months (CW
9133/31) CW 6931/32 Appt extended ?Temporary? approved |
1.12.31 | 6/7/32 | 1 | ||
| British Naval Representative on Permanent Advisory Commission of League of Nations (OA 10/32) | 1.2.32 | 1 | |||
| President addl for special duty inside Admtalty (M.0134/32) | 7.7.32 | 20.7.32 | 1 | ||
| President addl for duty a the Adlt | 3.8.32 | 1 | |||
| A Lord Commissioner of the Admy & Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Fuller CW 1827/32 | 31/8/32 | 30.9/35 | WL 1.4.35 | 1 | |
| Apptd Resolution tempy addll. (and Queen Eliz. on transfer of Flag ) and as C.O.S. to C in C Med. Vice Raikes from date of assuming duty | 30.9.35 | CW 8297/35 (not on D.L.) | 1 | ||
| To be C in C Med in succession to Adl Sir WW
Fisher K.C.B., C.V.O. To assume Cmd at Malta about |
20.3.36 |
appt. deferred tempy CW 8297.35 |
WL 1.4.35 amended orders DL 6.3.36 (CW 2178/36 M 844/36) |
1 | |
| L.C. of Admiralty & Chief of Naval Staff | 12.6.39 | 1 | |||
| To be First and Principal Aide de Camp to His Majesty the King in succession to Adml the Hon Sir Reg. AR Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax KCB. | 1.10.41 | 1 | |||
| Reports | |||||||
| Source: ADM 196/44 | |||||||
| Date of Report | General Conduct | Ability | Professional knowledge, specifying any particular branch | Whether temperate habits | Special knowledge or acquirements (Languages, Drawing, & c.) | Remarks, mentioning any special defects or high qualifications as regards Zeal, Judgment, Physical Qualities, & c., and if specially recommended for advancement. | Remarks |
| Jan '94 | VGI | VGI | VG | Yes | Attentive, Zealous, very intelligent | Capt. Hammill | |
| May 95 | VGI | VGI | VG | Yes | Very steady, promising officer. | Capt. Halifax | |
| Dec 03 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Capt. Keppel | ||
| Nov 04 | VGI | VG | VG | Yes | Keen. Strongly recd. | Com Goodrich | |
| Mch 07 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Zeal & Judgt. Strongly recd | Cap Leveson | |
| Nov 08 | VGI | VGI | VG (T) | Yes | Zeal. Excellt Offr. Strongly recd. | Cap Troubridge | |
| 5.11 | All VGI. Yes. High qualifications. Carrying out work with marked interest & ability D.N.O. Moore | ||||||
| 9.11 | All VGI. Yes. High qualifications in all branches. Idea of discipline & leading men. VG phys. Strongly recd early adt. Capt. Heath | ||||||
| 1.13 | All VGI. Yes. Strongly recd for early promotion. VG organiser. Gauch | ||||||
| 4.14 | Satis. Exceptional. Specially recd. Hdwkg & vy thorough. Good organiser and has excellent manner. Well fitted for comd. Capt. le Messurier. Concur V Ad, Bethell. | ||||||
| Special Reports or Service |
| Source: ADM 196/44 - Service History |
| 28 March 94 Ordered ?home? for appointment to Undaunted (?Telegraphed?) Arrived home 7 April 94 |
| 27 May 95 Ordered passage Home in Leander by C in C China for appointment to Training Squadron |
| Coming home by ?P&O? leaving Hong Kong 15 Augt 95 |
| 19 Sept 95 Arrived home in SS Himalaya |
| 14 Nov 98 Noted on list of candidates to Qual for T Lieut |
| 31 May 99 has conducted himself with greatest zeal & ability ?RA Blackberry? |
| 14 Sep 99: A very capable Officer: most useful to me especially during the Manoeuvres RA Fanshawe |
| G4864/04 Thanked for trouble taken in inventing system of deflection sights |
| May 04 Satisfy Performed 10 days N course in Grafton |
| Requalified in T 20 Jan 05 |
| G 5575/4/06 Contributed to good prize firing results in K. Edward VII |
| Recommended by Adml ?Drury? (Addl) Nov 07 |
| G 16647 (7-2.08) Especially contributed to good Battle Practice firing of Queen |
| Recommended by Adml Drury (addl) May 08 |
| H.L. 7762/12/12 Insp.of Superb Reflects great credit |
| Recd, by RAdl Madden May 1913 |
| G. 4296/13 Specially contributed to good Battle Practice of Superb 1912 |
| Recd by RAdl Madden |
| Recd by RAdl Bayly Oct 1914 |
| Appointed on Committee to enquire into the mining D service 16/1/15 G 0190 |
| Battle of Jutland 31.5.16 |
| Appd to director of plans |
| CE 2588 Appt D.O.D. (H) at Salary of £1200 p.a. |
| CW 45469/19 |
| Aommended Gazette 15/9/1? at salary of £?800? per annum ????? |
| Awarded CB (M) for services as DOD(H) Gaz 3/6/19 |
| Invested CB at Buckingham Palace 10/7/19 |
| CW Legion of Honour (Offcer) in Gaz 12.12.19 |
| CW 36592/19 Awarded American DSM in Gaz 12.12.19 |
| CW 3785/20 Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (3rd Class) Gaz 8.3.20 |
| 7.12.20 Leave appd (Tel 122) |
| T.L. special expression of satisfaction conveyed to this officer for preparation of Chapters on Coaling re for revised Seamanship Manual Vol 1, N 1904/21 |
| M. 0134/32 To be British Naval Representative on the Permanent Advisory Commt of the League of Nations 1.2.32 in succession to V.A. FC Dreyer (DCNS) who has been acting in this capacity since this appt was relinquished 24/4/31 by Adm Sir DM Anderson |
| MDG 5607/34 Removed to Cambridge Hse Nursing Home 4 Dorset Sq NW 5/7/34 for removal of foreign body from lung |
| MDG 8418/34 report sick at residence with tonsillitis 20.9.35 ?Probate duration lodged? |
| MDG 8418/?? returned to duty 24.9.35 |
| M. 02266/36 Mentioned by C in C Med for whole hearted co-operation during emergency 1935/35 while serving as COS |
| CW 16850/38 Apptd as C in C Med. extended till about May 1940 |
| Captain's Confidential Reports | ||
| Source: ADM 196/90 -Captain's Confidential Report | ||
Date |
Remarks | Reporting Officer |
| May 11 | S.206: All VGI. Whitehead torpedoes & mines. High service qualiificatons. Carries out work with marked interest & ability. | Cpt Charlton |
| Sept. 11 | All VGI. High qualifications in all branches. Excellent idea of discipline & leading of men. Strongly recomd. for advancement | Cpt. Heath |
| 21.12.11 | C.W. 17813: Awarded R.H.S. Bronze Medal & Cert. for gallant attempt to save 3 men from suffocation in the provision room of SUPERB on 30.6.11 | |
| Nov. 12 | N.L. 7762/12 V. creditable inspecn. SUPERB by R/A Madden. Great credit to Cdr. Pound. | |
| Dec 13 | R/A Madden (3rd Cr. Sq.) recds. for promotion, June 1913. and in Dec 13< | R/A Madden |
| April 1914 | Exceptional. Hard-working, v. thorough & loyal. G. organizer & has excellent manner. Exceptionally good & clear lecturer. | Cpt. le Mesurier |
| V/A Bayly recomds. for promotion. | Bayly | |
| 15:9:16 | Gazette 15:9:16. Commended for services in Jutland Battle | |
| 20:7:17 | "A v. able Capt. of a battleship. Keen & good physique. Has very materially assisted in developing the gunnery of the Division and Squadn. R. Adm Gaunt had a high opinion of his capabilities as a Flag Capt." | Adm. Sturdee |
| 1919 Birthday Honours List - C.B. | ||
| 31:3:21 | "Altho' I have not seen much of Capt. P. in the B.C.S. he served as my Flag Capt in Colossus for a short time, was my Asst. when I was D. of P., & I had a good deal to do with him when he was D.O.D. during the last year of the war. He possesses a strong character, an even temper, powerful physique: keeps himself v. fit. A strong Oar, v.g. at games, a keen sportsman. His services as D.O.D. in 1918 are well known at the Admy. In my opinion, his most valuable quality is an extraordinary gift of imagination & clear thinking, & he can put forward this ideas logically & convincingly. He certainly originated the Northn Barrage, the Dover flare patrol over the minefield & he persuaded me that an attack on Zeebrugge was a feasible opern, if an efficient smoke screen could be produced - for none existed at the time. Capt. P will always have a happy, efficient ship, & he is a good seaman. But he is a v. brilliant staff offr, & if properly made use of will, I am convinved, be of the greatest value to the Service. Specially recomd" | Sir Roger Keyes |
| 10:5:22 | "An offr of exceptional ability with high qualities of resource and quick & correct instinct for war strategy & tactics. I consider him to be an ideal C.O.S. to a high Comd. As Capt. of a ship I have found his only weak point to be a failure to exact from the personnel the highest standard of discipline & efficiency which ot is necessary to insist on, no that our numerical strength in ships & men has been so much reduced and he is inclined to repose undue trust & confidence in offrs before requiring sufficient proof of their fitness for this. His loyalty & stunchness of backing to me could not have been exceeded. | R/A Cowan |
| 22:3:30. | Report by Adm. Sir Roger Keyes:- "I first came across R/A Pound in 6/17 when I hoisted my flag in 'Colossus', which ship he commanded. I was immensely struck by his high professional ability, his grip of affairs & his unbounded energy. A leader who demands a high standard of service & invariably gets it. He was subsequently my principal asst. when I became D.of P. in 10/17, and was subsequently D.O.D. when I was the V/A at Dover; in both capabilities his work was much under my personal notice. Again, later, he was D. of P. when I was D.C.N.S., 1922/25, & , C.O.S. in the Medn. (1925/26). I have an unbounded admiration for this offr. as a staff offr., a leader & a sea offr. Possessed of excellent judgment, he is a wise counsellor. I consider that he shd. be, and I believe that he will be, 1 S.L. before his career comes to an end." | Admiral Sir Roger Keyes |
| 25:5:30 | "Has comd the B.C.S. with the highest zeal & ability & has been an exceptional and outstanding R.A. Very loyal, energetic & determined. He is an enthusiast in his work & a remarkable organiser. He works his squadron hard, but is equally keen to look after their welfare. I consider he is marked out for high comd afloat, both by his tactical skill, his technical knowledge & his personality. He is equally qualified for Admiralty administration. | Adm Chatfield |
| 23.4.31 | V/A Pound has commanded the B.C.S. with conspicuous success. He is very progressive in all his ideas & in his training & handling & though he works all those under him harder than most Flag Officers he is popular with everyone & much looked up to. He is certainly marked out for High Command & can be confidently depended upon in any position in which he may be placed for his tecnical knowledge os as good as his tactical skill & both are of a high order. | M.H. Hodges C in C Atlantic Fleet |
| Jany 1933 | "A most able 2 S.L. A offr of v. strong personality. Recomd for comd of one of the principal fleets in due course" | Adm Field (1 S.L.) |
| Awarded K.C.B. - Birthday 1933 | ||
| Italio - Abyssinian dispute 1935 - 1936 Brought to the notice of Their Lordships by Admiral Sir W Fisher, C in C. Mediterranean, for excpetional services rendered during the Italio - Abyssinian dispute 1935 - 36, as follows:- "I believe it is to be without precedence that an Officer of his rank should have volunteered to serve as Chief of Staff. His work for me. & with me, was so whole hearted & self effacing that I find it impossible to express the sense of obligation & gratitude that I shall feel for all time." M.O. 2266/36 | Admiral Sir W Fisher, C in C. Mediterranean | |
| Coronation Review, 1937 - G.C.V.O. | ||
| New Year, 1939 - G.C.B. | ||
Admiral of the Fleet Awarded Order of Polonia Restituta, First Class, by the President of the Polish Republic in recognition of his services to the Polish Navy. (L.G. 22.12.42) |
||
| O.M. (3.9.43) | ||
Dudley POUND The Board resolved that an expression of their appreciation should be conveyed to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound on his resignation of the office of First Sea Lord. A copy of this message is appended to these Minutes. 9th October, 1943. My dear First Sea Lord, A their meeting to-day, the Board of Admiralty resolved that I should express to you on their behalf their deepest regret that ill-health has occasioned your retirement from the Board and the loss of your invaluable services. They consider that your arduous labours during the past four years of war as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff are largely responsible for the present highly satisfactory state of the war at sea, particularly in the Atlantic, and the predominant position generally of the Royal Navy, a position which has recently been emphasised by the surrender of the Italian Fleet and the reconquest of the seaways in the Mediterranean. They are fully conscious that the high state of efficiency of all units of the Fleet at the beginning of the war and since was largely due to your untiring insistence unop training and preparation for war in all its aspects. They wish me to say that they will miss your unfailing help and guidance on the Board and that each member individually will long continue to feel a sense of personal loss. Yours sincerely. (Sgd.) A.V. Alexander
Admiral f the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O. |
||
| Commander's Confidential Reports | ||
| Source: ADM 196/ | ||
| Date |
Remarks | Reporting Officer |
| Sources | ||
| 1 | ADM 196/44 - Service History | National Archives |
| 2 | ADM 196/90 - Captain's Confidential Report | National Archives |
| 3 | Times, 6 June 1929 | Worcestershire County Council Library Service |
| 4 | London Gazette (various dates) | www.gazettes-online.co.uk |