A half-length portrait to the left showing Usborne in his rear-admiral's full dress uniform with CB, CMG and foreign orders. Cecil Vivian Usborne entered ‘Britannia’ as a naval cadet in 1894. He was promoted lieutenant in 1900. Specializing in ordnance, Usborne invented a rapid-firing ‘pom-pom’ gun and a fall of shot indicator, which was patented in 1912 and used to assist precision gunnery at the Battle of Jutland. With Charles Dennistoun Burney (1888-1968), he also invented the paravane, a successful anti-mine device. In 1914, Usborne commanded the ‘Colossus’ and saw action at Jutland and elsewhere during the First World War. He commanded a naval brigade on the Danube, 1918-19 and was vice-president of the Chemical Warfare Committee in 1923. He was appointed rear-admiral in 1928 and was director of naval intelligence, 1930–32. He was recalled to the Admiralty for ‘special services’ developing anti-submarine weapons from 1941 to 1945. He attained the rank of vice-admiral, was a member of parliament and wrote a number of books, including history and fiction.