Admirals of the British Navy Part 5

I

ADMIRAL SIR DAVID BEATTY, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., D.S.O.

ADMIRAL SIR DAVID BEATTY, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., was born on January 17th, 1871, and entered the "Britannia" in January, 1884. He became a Lieutenant in August, 1892. During the Egyptian War he served on the Nile in cooperation with the Egyptian Army, under the late Lord Kitchener. In the course of this campaign he rendered excellent service in getting gunboats over the Cataract, and, as second in command of the Flotilla, at the forcing of the Dervish batteries at Hafir under fire.

On Commander Colville being wounded, Lieutenant Beatty took command of the Flotilla and fought the gunboats in front of the enemy batteries with great persistence and success, eventually dismounting their guns.

For these services he was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in despatches.

He was also mentioned in despatches by the Sirdar for service with the gunboats employed during the Soudan operations on the Nile in 1898, which included the capture of Berber and the battles of Atbara and Khartoum. He subsequently accompanied Lord Kitchener in the advance to Fashoda, and was present at his meeting with Major Marchand. After the capture of Khartoum he was specially promoted to Commander.

When the Boxer outbreak occurred Admiral Beatty was Commander in the "Barfleur," second flagship on the China Station, and served in the Tientsin Concession throughout the siege. He showed exceptional tenacity in attempting with 200 bluejackets to capture two Chinese guns which were causing great trouble to the forces and inhabitants; after being twice wounded he continued to lead his men to the attack. He afterwards commanded the British Naval Brigade of the international force which relieved Admiral Seymour's expedition from a critical situation in Hsikon a.r.s.enal. Later he commanded the Naval Brigade at the capture of Tientsin City. For these services he was specially promoted to the rank of Captain at the early age of 29, in 1900.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL SIR DAVID BEATTY]

From November, 1908, to January 1st, 1910, Captain Beatty was Aide-de-Camp to the King.

On January 1st, 1910, although not 39 years old, he became Rear-Admiral, and two years later was appointed Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty, a post which he held until February, 1913. During the Naval Manoeuvres of 1912, Rear-Admiral Beatty commanded the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, flying his flag in H.M.S. "Aboukir."

In the following year he was appointed to command the First Battle Cruiser Squadron. In June, 1914, he was made a K.C.B., and on August 3rd was promoted Acting Vice-Admiral and given command of the Cruiser Forces of the Grand Fleet.

On August 28th, 1914, he was in command of the British Forces which proceeded into the Heligoland Bight in support of a Flotilla of Destroyers which was being hard pressed. In the action which resulted, three German Light Cruisers were sunk. No British ships were lost.

In January, 1915, he commanded the British Forces in the action off the Dogger Bank, which resulted in the sinking of the "Blucher." His flagship, "Lion," was severely damaged at a critical moment of the action and was towed back to port.

He was subsequently appointed to command the Battle Cruiser Fleet.

At the Battle of Jutland he succeeded, after very severe fighting, in drawing the enemy's fleet towards the British Battle Fleet and establishing touch between them.

For his services he was mentioned in despatches and received the G.C.B.

In November, 1916, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, with the acting rank of Admiral.

He is a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, Grand Officer of the Military Order of Savoy, and holds the j.a.panese Order of the Rising Sun, and the Russian Military Order of St. George (Fourth Cla.s.s).

II

ADMIRAL SIR HENRY BRADWARDINE JACKSON, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., F.R.S.

ADMIRAL SIR HENRY BRADWARDINE JACKSON, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., entered the Royal Navy in 1868, became a Lieutenant on October 27th, 1877, a Commander on January 1st, 1890, and a Captain on June 30th, 1896.

As Lieutenant of the "Active" he took part in the Zulu War in 1878-9, and for his services was awarded the South African Medal.

In 1882 he received the Royal Naval College prize when qualifying for Torpedo Lieutenant. He served as Senior Staff Officer of the "Vernon"

from 1886 until promoted to Commander. As a Captain he was Naval Attache from 1897-1899. In May, 1901, he was nominated a Fellow of the Royal Society for his researches in electrical physics. In February, 1902, he was appointed a.s.sistant Director of Torpedoes, and, after further services at sea, Controller of the Navy in February, 1905.

From September 12th, 1905, to October 18th, 1906, he was Aide-de-Camp to the King, being promoted Rear-Admiral on the latter date.

On November 9th, 1906, he received the K.C.V.O., and from October 16th, 1908, to October 10th, 1910, he was in command of the Third, afterwards known as the Sixth, Cruiser Squadron.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL SIR HENRY B. JACKSON]

On June 23rd, 1910, he became a K.C.B., and on the 21st December of the same year was Admiralty representative at the International Conference on Aerial Navigation at Paris.

He was in command of the Royal Naval War College from February, 1911, to January, 1913, becoming a Vice-Admiral on March 15th of the first mentioned year.

During the Naval Manoeuvres in July, 1912, he temporarily commanded the Seventh Squadron, hoisting his flag in H.M.S. "Ill.u.s.trious." He was Chief of the War Staff in January, 1913, and was promoted to Admiral on February 10th, 1914.

He was nominated Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean in August, 1914, but on the outbreak of war was retained for special service at the Admiralty.

He was First Sea Lord from May 27th, 1915, to December 3rd, 1916, and was then appointed President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

He became a G.C.B. on December 4th, 1916, and First and Princ.i.p.al Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on April 2nd, 1917.

III

ADMIRAL THE HONOURABLE SIR STANLEY CECIL JAMES COLVILLE, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.

ADMIRAL THE HONOURABLE SIR STANLEY CECIL JAMES COLVILLE, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., became a Midshipman on October 21st, 1876, a Lieutenant on November 18th, 1882, a Commander on August 25th, 1892, and a Captain on October 31st, 1896.

As a Midshipman of the "Boadicea" he landed with the Naval Brigade during the Zulu War and accompanied the Ekowe Relief Column. He was present at the battle of Ginghilovo, April 2nd, 1879, and accompanied the Brigade to Port Durnford. He received the South African Medal and clasp. As Sub-Lieutenant of the "Alexandra," during the Egyptian War, he was awarded the Egyptian Medal and Khedive's Bronze Star.

As Lieutenant of the "Alexandra" he served with the Naval Brigade landed for service in the Sudan and with the Nile Expedition for the relief of General Gordon at Khartum, 1884-5, receiving the Nile Medal and clasp.

Employed on the Nile and in the Sudan in co-operation with the Egyptian Army under the Sirdar (the late Lord Kitchener), he rendered excellent service in connection with the construction of gunboats. He commanded the Flotilla on the advance of the Egyptian Army on Dongola, at the forcing of the pa.s.sage of Hafir on September 19th, 1896, when he was severely wounded, and at the taking of Dongola.

For these services he was mentioned in despatches, promoted to Captain, and made a C.B.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL THE HON. SIR STANLEY COLVILLE]

He was Naval Adviser to the Inspector General of Fortifications in 1897 and 1898; Chief of Staff, Mediterranean Station, May 1st, 1902, on June 6th of which year he received the C.V.O.

From December 4th, 1905, to November 11th, 1906, he was Aide-de-Camp to the King, being promoted Rear-Admiral on the latter date. From January, 1908, to January, 1909, he was in command of the Nore division, Home Fleet, and from February, 1909, to March, 1911, he was in command of the First Cruiser Squadron.

On April 12th, 1911, he became a Vice-Admiral, and was made a K.C.B. on June 14th of the following year.

From June 22nd, 1912, to June 22nd, 1914, he was Vice-Admiral commanding the First Battle Squadron, and on September 5th, 1914, he was appointed for special service. On September 14th, 1914, he became Admiral. In December, 1914, he was temporarily in command of the First Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet. He received the G.C.V.O. on July 9th, 1915, and was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, on February 17th, 1916.