Norman Wodehouse

Vice Admiral Norman Atherton Wodehouse CB (18 May 1887 – 4 July 1941) was a Royal Navy officer killed in the second World War. He had gained 14 caps for England at rugby union, including six as captain between 1910 and 1913.

Naval history

Wodehouse joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in the Atlantic Fleet in 1904. During World War I, Wodehouse served in the battleship HMS Revenge at the Battle of Jutland, as a gunnery officer. Although several other members of his team were killed in the battle, Wodehouse survived, and went on to secure the position of aide-de-camp to King George VI and as a result was presented with the Companion of the Order of the Bath. He commanded Royal Naval College, Dartmouth from 1931 to 1934.

Wodehouse was recalled to active service in May 1939 and became Rear Admiral, Gibraltar, a post he held until November 1939, shortly after the beginning of the Second World War, when he became a Convoy Commodore. He was killed when the merchant vessel Robert L. Holt was sunk by U-69 on 4 July 1941, after he had ordered the South Africa bound convoy he was commanding to scatter due to the attacks by German submarines.

Family

He married Mrs Theodosia Frances Swire, née Boyle (1890–1966), daughter of Commander Edward Boyle and Theodosia Ogilvie, and widow of Captain Douglas William Swire (d. 1920), on 22 October 1923.

By his wife Theodosia, he had two sons:

• Rev. Armine Boyle Wodehouse (1924-2017), who has been twice married (once widowed), and has had issue, one son and two daughters.
• Charles Norman Boyle Wodehouse, (1927-2011), who has married, and has issue, one son and two daughters.