Humphrey Randle Upton COTTRELL-DORMER

BOND OF SACRIFICE: VOL. 2. A Biographical Record of British Officers who Fell in the Great War

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER HUMPHREY RANDLE UPTON COTRELL-DORMER, R.N., H.M.S. “PRINCESS IRENE,” the eighth son of Clement Upton and Florence Ann Cottrell-Dormer, of Rousham, Oxon., and Ingmire Hall, Sedbergh, Yorkshire, was born at Rousham Hall, Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, on the 29th April, 1881. He was educated at Stubbington House, Fareham, from which school he entered the Navy in July, 1895. He underwent the usual course of training in the “Brittania,” at Dartmouth, passing out in January, 1897, when he joined H.M.S. “Blenheim,” Channel Squadron, as a Naval Cadet. He was made Midshipman in June of the same year, and in January, 1898, was transferred to the “Flora,” the Senior Officer’s ship on the South-East coast of America. In December, 1900, Mr. Cottrell-Dormer was advanced to acting Sub-Lieutenant and sent home for instruction at Greenwich and Portsmouth. Passing his examinations in 1902, he was appointed Sub-Lieutenant to the torpedo-boat destroyer “Albatross,” in the Mediterranean, in June of that year, and while serving in her received his step to Lieutenant in March, 1903. In June, 1904, he was transferred to “Triumph,” in the Channel Fleet, and from June, 1907, to October, 1909, did duty as Lieutenant in command of H.M.S. “Woodcock” on the China Station. From April, 1910, to December, 1911, Lieutenant Cottrell-Dormer served on board H.M.S. “Brittania,” “Jupiter,” and “Hercules,” all of the Home Fleet, and from 1912 to 1914 commanded the “Thistle” in China, being promoted Lieutenant-Commander in 1913, with seniority of March, 1911. In July, 1914, he was appointed 1st Lieutenant of the “Euryalus,” cruiser, and on the outbreak of war in the following month was transferred to H.M.S. “Princess Irene.” He lost his life when his ship was destroyed by explosion in Sheerness Harbour on the 27th May, 1915.

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1915

DORMER-COTTRELL-UPTON Humphrey Randle of H.M.S. Princess Irene lieutenant-commander R.N. died 27 May 1915 at Sheerness Kent Probate London 26 June to Charles Walter Cottrell-Dormer captain H.M. Army. Effects £21745 17s. 10d.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (20 October 1917)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

IN MEMORIAM – SEDBERGH

On Sunday the vicar, the Rev. A.H. Walker, dedicated a bronze mural tablet which had been placed in the Vale of Lune Chapel to the memory of Lieut.-Commander Humphrey Ranle [Randall] Cotterell Dormer, who lost his life on H.M.S. Princess Irene, when she was blown up at Sheerness in June 1915. The tablet was covered with the Union Jack, and just before the sermon the vicar proceeded to the east end of the chapel and performed a short service of dedication. Major Upton, the elder brother of the deceased officer, removed the Union Jack, and the vicar afterwards preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion. The tablet had been given by Mrs. Humphrey Cotterell Dormer, the widow, and Major Upton.