Who was he? Claude Dobson VC?
Dobson retired in 1935 and was promoted on the retired list in 1936, so I'm guessing he might be the man (he died relatively young, aged 55, in June 1940 and the Times carried an obit - not particularly detailed on post-VC career, or on reason for promotion - on 27th of that month).
Of course, if this isn't the right chap...