Capt Hubert George ALSTON R.N. C.B. [1540]

  General Notes:

Hubert was a seafaring man, he joined the P & O Navigation Co. but changed over to the Royal Navy in 1895, joining as a Lieutenant on H.M.S. Empress of India. He saw service throughout the First World War and commanded one of the Q Mystery Ships, camouflaged as a trawler. He was nearly sunk on one occasion. In the Second World War he was Commander in Chief of the Hebrides and was promoted to Captain R.N. and was decorated C.B. for his services.
Ref: Unattributed.

Alston, Hubert George
Catalogue reference ADM 196/137
Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces.
Extracts of Huberts record.
Hubert joined the Navy as a Lieutenant on 31st October 1895, gaining 2^nd class certificates in Gunnery and torpedo in 1897, and a 1^st class ships Class Certificate.
He served on some 15 ships between 1895 and 1909 when he retired.
Notes on his R.N. Service Record include:
"Conduct and ability very good"; "musical - plays banjo excellently"; "Capt Burney: Strongly recommended, navigation very good hard worker and has done well on Wanderer"; "Very good navigation, I consider him thoroughly competent and VG pilot";
"TL - appreciation expressed of care taken in preparing report on coast defences of Trebizond (Trabzon) and Samsun" (Turkey)
Sick bursitus - reported fit for service (not dated)
"A skilful navigating officer and painstaking astronomical observer, very good pilot and has shown zealous aptitude"
The above observations are often repeated in his record.
Placed on Retired list 6 November 1909, Hubert again went to sea at the start of World War I.
January 1916 "Has been most zealous and hard-working, and maintained the Shetlands Auxiliary Vessels Patrol in a high state of efficiency" Admiral Brock recommends for acting rank of Captain on retired list - not approved.
Mentioned in dispatches (Gazetted 27 June 1917)
Jan 1918 - now Acting Captain he was commended for good service in connection with the Scandinavian Convoy System.
Promoted to Captain Retired in recognition of his War Services April 1919.

His address in November 1919 was:
6 Claremont Place
Newcastle upon Tyne

Hubert was in command of the Shetland Is during the 1914-18 war (incorrect). A keen salmon fisherman he tied his own flies - memories from Mary Burn 1999.

St Edwards School Roll. 1863-1939.
Easter Term 1877.
Alston Hubert George, s Rev Geo. Alston; b 1866; left m 1880; Choir. m 1894; Royal Navy, retired 1910; Capt. training ship Empress, 1914; Snr Naval Officer Shetland Is., Regional Dir., Ministry of Pensions, 1919-26; Mentioned in dispatches. C.B. address, Capt., H G Alston, CB RN Broome Cottage, West Town, Somerset.
NZSOG.

Royal Navy List 1908.
Alston Hubert G. Lieut, HMS Grafton, 7500 tons, HP 10,000.
http://www.worldnavalships.com/navy_list_1908_ship_d_to_g.htm

The Crisis of the Naval War
By ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa.
The following have been appointed or lent for temporary service during the War: . . . . . TRADE DIVISION. . . . . . Hubert G. Alston, C.B. . . . . .
http://www.archive.org/stream/crisisofnavalwar00jelluoft/crisisofnavalwar00jelluoft_djvu.txt

ALSTON, Hubert George b.Studland, Dorset (Devon sic vol.43) 1866 016073 London 1893 vol.43 Extra folio no.6 1893-1895; vol.58 no voyages listed
Ref: http://www.crewlist.org.uk/findingonindexes.html#online

Medals earned: 1914-15 Star, Victory & British War Medals. His C.B. was gazetted 3 June 1918. Kings Birthday Honours List. Page 6527.

ALSTON, Captain Hubert George (1866-1939) [Who Was Who May 2003]
Categories: Biography
Summary: Details: ALSTON, Captain Hubert George, CB 1918; RN; born 15 July 1866; son of Rev. George Alston, Studland, Dorset; married 1894, Mabel, eldest daughter of William Crabbe, Hove; one daughter. Education: St Edwards, Oxford; HMS Worcester. Work: Lieutenant Royal Navy, 1895; served European War (despatches, CB); Captain, 1919 (retired). Recreations: gardening. Address: Broome Cottage, West Town, Somerset. Telegraphic Address: West Town, Somerset. Died: 5 July 1939
Ref: Know UK CD Colin Fenn

Alston CB Hubert George of Broome Cottage West Town Blackwell Somerset died 5 July 1939 Probate granted 14 Aug 1939, Bristol to Mabel Mary Alston (Crabb).
Effects L1246.0s.4d. National Probate Calendar.

  Research Notes:

Studland Parish Baptism Record no. 5 pg 1.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, Rectory Studland Dorset. Hubert is described as a son aged 4 scholar born Studland

2. Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Jesmond Northumberland. Hubert is recorded as head of house married aged 44 Retired Commander R.N. working as an Assistant Manager Sir William Armstrong Co. Ship Builders. born Studland Dorset

Hubert married Mabel Mary CRABB [2441] [MRIN: 117], daughter of William Joseph CRABB of Hove. [4853] and Mary Jane GROVER [9703], on 29 Nov 1894 in St Paul Knightsbridge MDX. (Mabel Mary CRABB [2441] was born Apr Qtr 1863 in Brighton SSX, baptised on 24 Jun 1863 in Chapel Royal Brighton and died in 1947 in Western Supermare SOM.)