Arthur Pringle

Arthur Pringle was born in Kent in 1877 and a cadet aboard HMS BRITANNIA in 1891 at Dartmouth. He excelled during his time there both in his examinations and practical seamanship winning prizes for his work and competing against future Admirals Alfred Dudley Pound and William Rawdon Napier.

On completion of his training he joined the crew of HMS ROYAL ARTHUR in March 1893 as a midshipman on what would be his first seagoing ship. The meticulous log he kept of this voyage is registered in the ANMM collection as 00028329.

Arthur's naval career continued and he became a sub-lieutenant in 1896 and lieutenant in 1897 (after taking five first-class certificates). He later served on HMS CAMPERDOWN and in 1902 was gunnery lieutenant aboard the battleship HMS FORMIDABLE. It was while serving in the Mediterranean off Terranova Pausania on Sardinia, that Arthur was killed in an accident caused when the boom-boats were being hoisted in “and that either the derrick itself slipped and gave way, or that one of the shackles suspending the large iron purchase blocks burst, causing the steel derrick to fall on to the deck.” [page 190, Naval and Army Illustrated, 10 May 1902].

By all available accounts Arthur Pringle was a respected and promising officer and his loss was mourned by the navy and his family. One account of him read “he was beloved by all in the ship; keen on every sport, a cheerful messmate in all circumstances, and in my opinion, the smartest officer at his job among the many with whom I have sailed.” His funeral was held at Terranova Pausania and was attended by representatives of all British vessels in the region, by local civil authorities and representatives of the Italian navy. It was estimated that “practically the whole population of Terranova also attended to demonstrate their participation in the mourning of the British squadron, and after the service expressions of sympathy with Great Britain were heard on all sides.” [page 2, The Times, 30 April 1902].