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The following obituary for Walter James Hunt-Grubbe appeared in the Times newspaper.
| Obituary in the Times newspaper | |
| Date | Obituary |
| 13 April 1922 | A LINK WITH THE OLD NAVY. Born on February 23, 1833, or four years before the accession of Queen Victoria, Walter James Hunt-Grubbe was the son of the Rev. J. A. Hunt-Grubbe. He entered the Navy in 1845, and his first three years were spent in suppressing the slave trade on the West Coast of Africa, whither he returned in 1854-57 and in 1863-66. As lieutenant he was appointed in May, 1854, to the Scourge, on the West African coast, and took part in the bombardment of Pessie and Labadie. Having been landed to instruct the Gold Coast Artillery, he was present at the defence of Christiansborg Castle in September and October. In 1855 he received his first independent command, that of the Teazer, also employed in slave-cruising, and was thanked by the Liberian Government for his services during an insurrection at Sinou. As senior lieutenant of the Arrogant, he took part in the Gambia operations of 1861, and was present at the capture of Saba, Promotion to commander, with less than seven years' seniority, brought him the command of the Jaseur, and for his further zeal in suppressing the slave trade he was advanced to captain in 1866. In 1872 he was given command of the iron troopship Tamar. The outbreak of the Ashanti War a year later gave him further opportunities. He landed in command of the Naval Brigade during the second phase of the war until its conclusion, being present, among other engagements, at the capture of Kumasi. He was severely wounded, and received the Ashanti medal and Kumasi clasp, a "mention," and the C.B. Appointed in 1882 to command H.M.S. Sultan, he was in command of the off-shore squadron in the attack on the northern division of the forts of Alexandria during the bombardment on July 11, for which he was promoted to be a K.C.B. He was in charge of the transports and their convoy in the feint on Aboukir on August 19, and was employed in watching the coast until the close of the campaign. He became a rear-admiral in 1884; he had been A.D.C. to Queen Victoria since 1879. In 1885 he hoisted his flag in the Raleigh as Commander-in-Chief on the Cape and West Coast of Africa Stations, and after the usual three years became Admiral-Superintendent of Devonport Dockyard, being promoted meanwhile to vice-admiral in 1890. During 1893 and 1894 he was one of the umpires for the naval manoeuvres, and in 1894 was made President of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. In 1897 he was placed on the retired list for age. The G.C.B. was conferred on him in 1890, and two years later he was awarded a good service pension. The late admiral thenceforward lived chiefly at Sea View, Isle of Wight. He married, in 1867, Mary Ann, the daughter of William Codrington, of Wroughton, Wilts, by whom he had two sons and two daughters, the former of whom served in the Army. Lady Hunt-Grubbe died in 1908. The funeral will be at Sea View on April 19. |
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