ON this Day 13 April 1918 Commander William Warren, DSO RAN, commander of the Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer Flotilla, was accidently drowned in Brindisi Harbour, Italy in 1918.
Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Warren joined the Royal Navy cadets at the age of 14 and later the Royal Navy Reserve before joining the permanent force in 1907. He was appointed to the Australian Naval Forces on 1 December 1908. He assumed temporary command of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Flotilla on 24 January 1916 which was confirmed in April 1917. He was awarded the DSO posthumously on 14 May 1918 in recognition of his war service.
