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


Royal NavyObituaries

The following obituary for William Frederick Stanley Mann appeared in the Times newspaper.

Obituary in the Times newspaper
DateObituary
26 April 1924

ADMIRAL W. F. S. MANN.

We regret to announce that Admiral W.F.S. Mann, whose long service in the Navy included the Ashanti and Egyptian Wars, died on Wednesday at his residence in London at the age of 77.
William Frederick Stanley Mann was the eldest son of the Rev. W.M. Mann, and was born on June 21, 1846. Entering the Navy on September 13, 1859, he became a sub-lieutenant in 1865 and a lieutenant in 1867. Electing to specialize in gunnery, he joined the Excellent, gunnery schoolship, to qualify. Among the officers serving there at the time was Commander (afterwards Lord) Fisher, with whom the late Admiral became friends, and the association was maintained throughout their careers. In 1873 Mann went to the south-east coast of America as first lieutenant of the Amethyst, corvette, but returned a year later on appointment to the Royal yacht Osborne. His service in the Amethyst was eventful, however, as the vessel was among those ordered to assist in the Ashanti War.
He served with, and was adjutant to, the Naval Brigade which was landed, and was present at the capture of Borborassi, the action of Amoaful, and the capture of Bekwa, as well as being with the rearguard during the advance from Amoaful to the Ordah River. He also took part in the action on crossing the Ordah, and the occupation of Kumassi.
In the Osborne he served as first lieutenant at the time of the tour of the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII.) to India, and on its successful termination he was promoted to commander with effect from May 15, 1876. Three months later he became commander of the iron screw ship Bellerophon, flagship of Admiral Sir Cooper Key on the North American Station. He was also commander of the Invincible in the Mediterranean, and in 1880 he received the command of the sloop Rapid on that station. Following periods in command of the Beacon, gun-vessel, during the Egyptian War, and the Bittern, a similar ship, also in the Mediterranean, he was promoted captain in 1885, and in accordance with custom was for some time afterwards on half-pay. On February 26, 1889, he was appointed to command the Naval Forces of the Colony of Victoria, as it then was, and served in Australia for three years. He then received command of the Audacious, coast-guard ship at Hull, and later of the EdinburghExternal link and the GalateaExternal link, on similar service.
From Hull he went to the Mediterranean in 1895 as captain of the battleship AnsonExternal link, and on his return in 1898 became flag-captain and in charge of the Naval Depôt at Sheerness. He was promoted to rear-admiral on July 6. 1899. and then relinquished the post of A.D.C. to Queen Victoria, which he had held since May, 1896. He did not serve as a flag officer but retired in 1901, his subsequent steps being on the retired list. He devoted himself to furthering the interests of various philanthropic and other societies connected with the Royal Navy and seafarers generally, and in 1903 became chairman of the Management Committee of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society. In the summer of 1909 there was much controversy over the publication of private letters written by Admiral Mann and Captain (now Admiral Sir Reginald) Bacon to Sir John Fisher. Admiral Mann's letter, which was written on April 4, 1906, began: "I have read The Times article of to-day’s date on naval training. Grand — it should settle the ignorant and suspicious," and demonstrated his entire sympathy with Fisher's policy.
Admiral Mann was twice married, first, in 1877, to a daughter of Mr. Joseph Parker, of Brettenham Park, Suffolk; and secondly, in 1892, to the eldest daughter of the Hon. Charles Mann, of Adelaide, South Australia.


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