Thomas_Oloff_de_Wet

Thomas Oloff de Wet

Thomas Oloff de Wet

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Captain Thomas Oloff de Wet CBE (26 February 1869 – 30 March 1940) was a Senior British Officer in the Royal Navy.[1][2] He was Principal Naval Transport Officer during the evacuation of Constantinople in 1923, Principal Sea Transport Officer in North China in 1927 and Officer in Charge of Sea Transport in Egypt between 1924 and 1926 and again between 1928 and 1933.[1]

Quick Facts CaptainThomas Oloff de Wet CBE, Born ...

Life

Thomas Oloff de Wet was born in Dublin on 26 February 1869, the son of Major G. Oloff de Wet.[1][3] He received his education at Bedford Modern School and thereafter on HMS Worcester.[4] In his final year on HMS Worcester a 'letter was read from Her Majesty presenting the usual gold medal for the cadet "likely to become the finest sailor," and this had been awarded to Thomas Oloff de Wet, who had also won the sextant given by the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House.'[5][6]

In 1887, de Wet was indentured in the Merchant Navy and in 1892 was made First Mate.[7][8] In 1895, he was made a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, rising to the rank of Lieutenant in 1896.[9][10] By 1911 de Wet was a retired Captain of the Royal Navy and in January 1914 he was granted Freedom of the City of London.[11]

At the outbreak of the first World War, de Wet returned to service; he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the CBE for valuable services as Divisional Naval Transport Officer in Vancouver.[12] Continuing in service, he was subsequently Principal Naval Transport Officer during the evacuation of Constantinople in 1923, Principal Sea Transport Officer in North China in 1927 and Officer in Charge of Sea Transport in Egypt between 1924 and 1926 and again between 1928 and 1933.[1]

De Wet married Elizabeth (née Bradstreet) in 1896 and they had a son (H W A O de Wet, educated at Monkton Combe School and imprisoned in Germany as a spy during World War 2) and two daughters.[1] He died on 30 March 1940 at Marlborough House in St Albans, England.[13]

References

  1. [1]
    "de Wet, Captain Thomas Oloff, (1869–30 March 1940), RN, retired". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U219011. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
  2. [2]
    "Page 8386 | Supplement 31432, 1 July 1919 | London Gazette | the Gazette".
  3. [3]
    Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958
  4. [4]
    Bedford Modern School (Bedford, England), VIPAN, Herbert Edwin (21 April 1901). A register of the old boys of the Bedford Modern School. Compiled and edited by H.E. Vipan ... Together with a few chapters on its history and institutions. W.J. Robinson. p. ix. OCLC 557698898 – via Open WorldCat.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. [5]
    The Times, July 30, 1887, p.6
  6. [6]
    The Morning Post, London, England, Issue 35915, July 29, 1887; p. 6
  7. [7]
    UK, Apprentices Indentured in Merchant Navy, 1824-1910 for Thomas Oloff De Wet. Piece 49: Surnames A-Z (1885-1888)
  8. [8]
    UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927 for Thomas Oloff De Wet
  9. [9]
    The London Gazette, October 15, 1895, p. 5640
  10. [10]
    UK, Navy Lists, 1888-1970 for Thomas Oloff Wet 1931, July
  11. [11]
    London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930 for Thomas Oloff De Wet
  12. [12]
    "Royal Navy Medals - Medal for Meritorious Medal MSM". www.naval-history.net.
  13. [13]
    Deaths, The Times, London, England. Issue 48579, April 2, 1940, p. 1
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