Arthur Rullion Rattray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Rullion Rattray
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Rear-Admiral Rattray, c.1945
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| Born | 2 May 1891 Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland |
| Died | 10 August 1966 (aged 75) Camberley, Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Indian Navy British Army |
| Years of service | 1912–1946 |
| Rank | Rear-Admiral |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Mesopotamian campaign • Western Front World War II |
| Awards | Order of the British Empire Order of the Bath Order of the Indian Empire |
Rear-Admiral Sir Arthur Rullion Rattray (born May 2, 1891 – died August 10, 1966) was a British naval officer. He served in the Royal Indian Marine and later the Royal Indian Navy. During World War I, he was an air observer, flying planes to gather information. He rose to a very high rank in the navy during World War II.
Early Life and Training
Arthur Rattray was born in Gatehouse of Fleet, a town in Scotland. He was one of five children. His parents had lived in Bengal, India, before he was born. His father was a judge there.
When he was 15, Arthur went to a special training ship called HMS Conway in Liverpool. He trained there from 1906 to 1907. After that, he went to another training base, HMS Ganges, near Ipswich.
Before joining the navy, he worked for a shipping company called George Milne & Co. in the Merchant Service. In 1912, he joined the Royal Indian Marine (RIM). This was a naval force that protected British interests in India.
World War I Service
When World War I began, Arthur Rattray was still serving in the Royal Indian Marine. In 1917, he became a temporary lieutenant. He also became a "flying officer (observer)." This meant he flew in planes to observe enemy movements.
He joined the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force at the time. He was part of No. 30 Squadron. He flew in a type of plane called a BE2c. His job was to fly over Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) to gather information.
During one mission in 1917, his plane was hit by enemy fire from the ground. Arthur was wounded in the leg. After this, he transferred back to the Royal Navy. He then helped with minesweeping duties in England.
In 1920, Arthur returned to the Royal Indian Marine. This force later became the Royal Indian Navy in 1934. In 1934, he was promoted to the rank of Commander.
World War II and Later Career
Arthur Rattray continued to rise through the ranks. In 1940, he became a Captain. By 1943, he was a Commodore. This is a senior naval rank.
By 1945, he had been promoted to Rear-Admiral. This is a very high rank in the navy. During this time, he was in charge of the naval base in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He was serving there during a naval mutiny in 1946.
Arthur Rattray retired from the navy in January 1948. He was given several important awards for his service:
Family Life
Arthur Rattray married Doris Gertrude Muir in 1917. They had one son together. Arthur Rattray passed away at his home in Camberley, England, in 1966.
