The British rear admiral Humphrey Walwyn was appointed as flag officer with the command over the Royal Indian Marine, the first commanding officer since was decided to establish this new navy. His appointment was for a period of 3 years while in the future instead of an officer of the Royal British Navy an own flag officer could be appointed. An remarkable change according to the journalist was the fact that now also Indian natives could be appointed as officers. The navy was in the beginning to consist of 4 gunboats, 2 patrol vessels, 4 trawlers, 2 survey vessels and a depot ship. (2)
Notes
1. Sir Humphrey Thomas Welwyn (25 January 1879-29 December 1957) was appointed to vice admiral and retired in 1934 as commanding officer of this navy. Between 1936-1946 he was governor of Newfoundland.
2. In fact had there all ready been navies in India since centuries for instance of the Maratha empire, the naval force of the English East Company since 1686 known as the Bombay Marine, since 1830 Her Majesty’s Indian Navy, between 1863-1877 again named Bombay Marine, than renamed Her Majesty’s Indian Marine, renamed Royal Indian Marine in 1892 and in 1934 renamed Royal Indian Navy the same year Walwyn retired.
