Back to the HMS Exeter crew list


Robert Rule Graham
Commander. DSO.

 

Service records:
14.06.1918 - 16.10.1918 Special entry cadet (8th Entry), RN College, Keyham - HMS Vivid
01.11.1918 - 01.02.1919 HMS Glorious (cruiser)
01.02.1919 - (03.)1921 HMS Queen Elizabeth (battleship)
03.1921 - 09.1922 HMS Spear (torpedo-boat destroyer)
10.1922 - (08.)1923 Short course of instruction for junior officers, Cambridge
10.1923 - 05.1924 HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier)
16.06.1924 - 11.11.1924 Pilots' course, No. 1 Flying Training School, Netheravon - attached to RAF
12.11.1924 - (06.)1925 Pilots' course, RAF Base, Gosport - attached to RAF
13.06.1925 - (06.)1928 No. 461 Flight, FAA -HMS Furious (aircraft carrier) - (Atlantic Fleet) - attached to RAF
10.08.1928 - 14.04.1930 Flight Commander, No. 460 Flight, FAA - HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier) - (Mediterranean) - attached to RAF
22.04.1930 - (01.)1932 HMS Ganges (training establishment, Shotley)
21.04.1932 - 02.04.1933 Flight Commander, No. 401 Flight, FAA - HMS Furious (aircraft carrier) - (Home Fleet) - attached to RAF
03.04.1933 - 07.05.1933 Commanding Officer, 801 Squadron FAA (Netheravon)
08.05.1933 - 28.07.1933 Tactical course, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth - HMS Dryad
29.07.1933 - 23.10.1933 Attached to RAF
24.10.1933 - 14.12.1934 Commanding Officer, Fighter Squadron 803, FAA - HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier) - (China) - attached to RAF
15.12.1934 - 03.1935 Commanding Officer, Spotter/Reconnaissance (S/R) Squadron 825, FAA - HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier) - (China) attached to RAF
03.1935 - 08.06.1935 Commanding Officer, S/R Squadron 825, FAA RAF Station Halfar, HMS St Angelo - attached to RAF
24.09.1935 - 29.03.1936 Squadron Commander, Torpedo/Bomber 811 Squadron, FAA - HMS Furious (aircraft carrier) - (Home Fleet) - attached to RAF
1936 - 1936 Naval Air Division, Admiralty - HMS President
11.01.1937 - (07.1937) HMS President (lent to Air Ministry) (Department of Research and Development) (seconded to Handley Page to help them develop the wing leading edge slot)
(02.1938) - (10.1938) Air Ministry (Department of Research and Development)
01.02.1939 - 04.1940 HMS Exeter (cruiser) (America and West Indies Station) - Awarded DSO for River Plate action
06.04.1940 - 03.05.1940 HMS Woolwich (destroyer) [- attached to French destroyer Bison as liaison officer - (Namsos campaign, Norway)


London Gazette Issue 35019 published on the 20 December 1940. Page 44 of 64 

FRIDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 1940
Admiralty, Whitehall.
2nd February, 1940.
The KING having already been graciously pleased, after the first phase of the Battle, to give orders in recognition of the gallant and successful action with the " Admiral Graf Spee " (to be dated the13th of December, 1939): —

His Majesty has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Distinguished Service Order for services in the same action:—
To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order:
Captain Douglas H. Everett, M.B.E., Royal Navy, H.M.S. Ajax; Commander Douglas M. L. Neame, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Achilles; Commander Robert R. Graham, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Exeter;
who, as Commanders of their Ships, having done all they could during the long months of waiting to perfect their Ships and Ships' companies, so that they stood the test of battle, when the day for action came, heartened all by their readiness, example and encouragement.

My grandfather Commander Robert Rule Graham was Commander on HMS Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate.

Kind regards
Caspar Graham 

Please contact Andy (webmaster) with any information.

Andy Wade (Webmaster)

Information provided by

Caspar Graham (Grandson), PRO and CWGC

Commonwealth War Graves Commission record:

Casualty Details
 ROBERT RULE GRAHAM
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Commander
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Woolwich
Secondary Unit Text: attd. to French Destroyer Bison
Age: 40
Date of Death: 03/05/1940
Awards: D S O
Additional information: Son of James Graham, C.B.E., and Louisa Graham; husband of Anne Graham, of Limpsfield, Surrey.
Served in H.M.S. Exeter at the Battle of the River Plate.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 34, 1.
Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL



.