Page "David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty" Paragraph 32

A commander has some discretion as to choice of officers to serve under him.

The new command came with a competent Flag Lieutenant, Charles Dix, but Beatty was not happy with him, and anyway the former commander of the squadron wanted Dix to accompany him to his new command.

Beatty chose Lieutenant Ralph Seymour as his successor, despite Seymour being unknown to him.

Seymour had aristocratic connections, which may have appealed to Beatty since he sought connections in society, but it was also the case that Seymour's sister was a longstanding close friend of Churchill's wife.

Appointments by influence were common in the navy at this time, but the significance of Beatty's choice lay in Seymour's relative inexperience as a signals officer, which later resulted in difficulties in battle.