Hubert Edward Dannreuther

Hubert Edward Dannreuther
Hubert Edward Dannreuther
Born	12 December 1880
Died	12 August 1977 (aged 96)
Allegiance	Order of St. Anna

Rear-Admiral Hubert Edward Dannreuther, DSO (12 December 1880 – 12 August 1977) was a British admiral and one of six survivors of the sinking of HMS Invincible during the battle of Jutland

.

Early life

Hubert Dannreuther was born the son of the German pianist Edward Dannreuther and Chariclea Anthea Euterpe (Ionides) Dannreuther (1844–1923). He was a godson of Richard Wagner. His eldest brother Tristan Dannreuther (1872–1963) also served as an officer in the Royal Navy, and was an Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence after WWI.

He joined

Mediterranean Fleet

.

First World War

*Invincible* in the midst of the explosion that sank her at Jutland

During the

Battle of Heligoland Bight and the Battle of the Falkland Islands. For this he was mentioned in dispatches and promoted to commander.^[5]

At the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, HMS Invincible was the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. She was hit in her "Q" turret by a salvo from SMS Derfflinger, which blew the roof off the turret over the side. It was either this shell hit which caused a flash down the magazine or a second shell in the same salvo that penetrated the armour and exploded in the magazine, causing a massive explosion. The ship broke in two and sank with the loss of all but six of her crew of 1,021. Dannreuther was amongst those few rescued. After 20 minutes in the freezing waters of the North Sea, Dannreuther was rescued by the destroyer HMS Badger.

For his service at Jutland he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the DSO and the Russian

King George V and Queen Mary

.

From 1916 to 1918 Dannreuther served as commander on

French Croix de Guerre with palms

.

Later life

From 1919 to 1920, Dannreuther served on

Flinders Naval Depot. Dannreuther commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle from 1929 to 1930. Promoted to commodore

, from 1931 to 1932, he commanded the Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth and he was appointed Naval Aide-de Camp to the King from 23 September 1932 onwards. In 1932, he was promoted to Rear-Admiral and placed on the retired list. In 1939 he held the position of Assistant Director General, Control Division, Ministry of Information.

He married Janie Hay Thorborn in 1916 and they had three children, Hubert Harold (b. 1917), Ion Alexander (b. 1920) and Raymond Portal (b. 1923); Hubert and Raymond were both Captains in the Royal Navy, Hubert serving on

"Altmark incident". He died on 12 August 1977 in Leamington Spa.^[6]

References

Royal Navy Officers 20th Century (non-World War II)

^ "No. 27396". The London Gazette. 10 January 1902. p. 220.
^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36738. London. 10 April 1902. p. 11.
^ "No. 27486". The London Gazette. 21 October 1902. p. 6650.
^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36980. London. 17 January 1903. p. 9.
^ "HMS Invincible Survivors". The Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
^ The Times. No. 60081. 13 August 1977. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

Imperial War Museum interview

[1] "No. 27396". The London Gazette. 10 January 1902. p. 220.

[2] "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36738. London. 10 April 1902. p. 11.

[3] "No. 27486". The London Gazette. 21 October 1902. p. 6650.

[4] "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36980. London. 17 January 1903. p. 9.

[5] "HMS Invincible Survivors". The Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.

[6] The Times. No. 60081. 13 August 1977. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[5]

[6]