Royal Navy obituary in the Times newspaper
Royal Navy obituary in the Times newspaper


Royal NavyObituaries

The following obituary for Nathaniel Bowden-Smith appeared in the Times newspaper.

Obituary in the Times newspaper
DateObituary
30 April 1921

ADMIRAL SIR N. BOWDEN-SMITH

The death occurred on Thursday, after an operation, of Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith, in his 84th year.

The son of Nathaniel Bowden-Smith, of Careys, Brockenhurst, Hants, Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith entered the Navy in 1862, and served as a 14-year-old cadet in the Winchester during the Burmese War of that year. During the Crimean War he was a midshipman in the Royal George in the Baltic. In the China War of 1858-59 he served as mate of the Fury and the Calcutta, and took part in the boat actions at Escape Creek and Fatshan, and in the capture of the Taku Forts, where he was severely wounded. Thus, at the age of 21, Nathaniel Bowden-Smith was already the possessor of three war medals and several clasps, won during seven years of continuous active service. In 1864, when he was lieutenant of the Pelican, he was also awarded the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society for jumping overboard and rescuing a drowning seaman.

After service as flag-captain in a detached squadron and on the Mediterranean and East Indian Stations, and as senior officer on the S.E. coast of America, Bowden-Smith was in command of the Britannia from 1883 to 1886, in which year he was awarded a captain’s good service pension. For the International Maritime Conference at Washington in 1889 Rear-Admiral Bowden-Smith was selected as one of the British representatives. Three years later he was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, where he remained until 1895. On his return he served as a member of the International Code of Signals Committee, and was created a K.C.B. on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The last appointment of his long naval career was that of Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, which he held in 1899 and 1900. He was placed on the retired list in 1903, and had recently lived in London.

Admiral Bowden-Smith married, in 1873, Emily Cecilia, daughter of George Glas Sandeman, of Hayling Island, Hants, and leaves three daughters.

The funeral service will be held at St. Mary Abbot's, Kensington, at. 12.45 p.m. on Tuesday.



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