Cecil Thursby

Admiral Sir Cecil Fiennes Thursby KCB KCMG (1861 – May 1936) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.

Naval career
Thursby joined the Royal Navy in 1874. He was present during the engagement with the Peruvian rebel ship Huáscar in 1877 and also took part in the Niger expedition in 1882. Promoted Captain in 1901, he commanded the cruiser HMS King Alfred and then the battleship HMS Swiftsure. He commanded the International Squadron in Crete in 1910 and became Commodore at the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham in 1910. He went on to be Rear Admiral commanding the 3rd Battle Squadron in 1912.

He served in World War I initially as Commander of the 5th Battle Squadron in the Dardanelles and then as Commander of the 2nd Squadron landing ANZAC forces at Gaba Tepe in Gallipoli in 1915. He commanded the British Adriatic Squadron in 1916 before becoming Commander-in-Chief, East Mediterranean in 1916 and Commander of the Coastguards and Reserves in 1918.

After the War he became Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth and retired in 1920.