Charles W R Royds

Born in Rochdale, Royds began his naval career as a cadet on the HMS Conway. In 1898, he received early promotion to Lieutenant for his skilled command of a boat that rescued a man who had fallen overboard in the Baltic. Immediately before joining the Discovery he had been aboard H.M.S. Crescent the Royal Navy’s flagship in North America.

In 1900 he was appointed the first lieutenant on the Discovery Expedition. His duties related to the everyday running of the ship, dealing with the crew, ensuring they knew what their work was and that they did it correctly.He also served as meteorologist on the expedition having trained in meteorology at the Ben Nevis Observatory in the winter of 1900.

Royds rose to become a Director of Physical Training and Sports in the Royal Navy, then Commodore of the Royal naval Barracks at Devonport and Rear-Admiral in 1926. At this time he retired from the Navy to become a Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, London. He held this position until his sudden death of a heart attack during a rehearsal for the Strauss ball at the Savoy Hotel. He was knighted in 1929 and promoted to Vice-Admiral, retired in 1930.