John Gaimes
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Lieutenant-Commander John Austin Gaimes, DSO, was a submarine commander for the Royal Navy. He died 20 January 1921, at the age of 33, when HMS K5 sank with the loss of all hands during a mock battle in the Bay of Biscay.
Born1887
DiedJanuary 1921 (aged 33–34)
Lost at sea with HMS K5
Burial place
Bay of Biscay.Allegiance
British Empire
British EmpireJohn Gaimes | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 1887 |
| Died | January 1921 (aged 33–34) Lost at sea with HMS K5 |
Burial place | Bay of Biscay. |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
Branch |  Royal Navy |
Service years | 1901–1921 |
Rank | Commander |
| Commands | HMS A9 HMS B9 HMS C37 HMS K5 |
Conflicts | World War I |
| Awards | DSO |
History of service
- 1901, posted to the training ship HMS Britannia.
- Served as second-in-command of the destroyer HMS Syren for a year.
- Volunteered for British submarine command in 1908, appointed January 1909.
- Served on the C-class submarines.
- Appointed command of HMS A9 on 5 October 1911.
- A year later, appointed command of HMS B9.
- March 1913, captained HMS C37 in Hong Kong.
- 10 April 1917, commanded submarine in Harwich flotilla.
- Located the secret Heligoland passage, marked out by buoys for German warships to follow.
- June 1918, awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for war services.
- After World War I, commanded submarines attached to depot ship HMS Dolphin at Portsmouth.
- November 1919, appointed to cruiser HMS Inconstant for steam-driven vessels of the K-class in the First Flotilla.
- 1 April 1920, appointed command of HMS K5.
References
- "The Lost Commander". The Times. 24 January 1921. p. 12.