Charles Lester Kerr

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Commander (retired) Charles Lester Kerr, D.S.O., (16 November, 1886 – 29 October, 1965) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Folkestone the son of a retired Army officer, Kerr gained three months' time on passing out of Britannia.[1]

Kerr was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 July, 1907. On 15 August, 1908 he was appointed to Mercury for instruction in submarines. On 1 February, 1909, he emerged, and was appointed to join C 2, in chich he would spent eighteen months. On 8 August, 1910 he was appointed in command of the submarine A 8.[2]

Kerr was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July, 1915.[3]

On 17 December 1917, Kerr was appointed Patrol Commander, Ortranto. In January, 1918, he moved to be Patrol Commander, Port Said.

Post-War

Kerr was placed on the Retired List for non-service on 13 May, 1926.[4]

Kerr was promoted to the rank of Commander (retired) on 16 November, 1926.[5]

World War II

Kerr was acquitted of blackmailing a candidate for Parliament in the general elections of 1938. In September, 1939 he was made Officer in Charge of Small Craft at Dover.

Admitted to hospital in Dover for a compound fracture of his right femur on 27 September 1940. He was sent to Chatham, where his right leg was amputated. In 1942, he was deemed fit for shore duty of a "sedentary nature." He went to a Training Unit at G.T.C. [illeg]worth.

On 1 March 1945, Kerr was appointed in command of wireless Mechanic Trainees at Rutherford College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, vice Coates.

Kerr reverted to Retired List as medically unfit on 21 November, 1945.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Donald Greig
Captain of H.M.S. A 8
8 Aug, 1910[6][7] – 22 Feb, 1911[8]
Succeeded by
Herbert W. Shove
Preceded by
Kenneth M. Bruce
Captain of H.M.S. C 15
22 Feb, 1911[9][10] – 12 Jun, 1912[11]
Succeeded by
Reginald T. Dimsdale
Preceded by
Reginald T. Dimsdale
Captain of H.M.S. C 8
12 Jun, 1912[12] – 13 May, 1913[13]
Succeeded by
Richard H. B. Everard

Footnotes

  1. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  2. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  3. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  4. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  5. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  6. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  7. The Monthly Navy List. (March, 1911). p. 350.
  8. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  9. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  10. The Navy List. (January, 1912). p. 286.
  11. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  12. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.
  13. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/265. f. ?.