Frederick Field (Royal Navy officer)

Foreign Office

to declare whether there was any risk of war during the next ten years.

Early career

Born the second son of Colonel Spencer Field, 6th

China Station in March 1888 and to the corvette HMS Constance also on the China Station in early 1889.^[1] Promoted to sub-lieutenant on 14 November 1890,^[2] he was posted to the battleship HMS Dreadnought in the Mediterranean Fleet in April 1892.^[1] Promoted again to lieutenant on 1 April 1893,^[3] he joined the corvette HMS Volage in the Training Squadron in October 1894 before attending the torpedo school HMS Vernon from November 1895.^[1]

After serving on the directing staff at the torpedo school

mentioned in despatches for leading a small raiding party which landed at Tianjin in response to the Boxer Rebellion tasked with repairing damaged trains under heavy fire:^[4] he was wounded during the action.^[1]

Promoted to commander on 26 June 1902,^[5] Field was on the same day posted to HMS Vernon, in command of the torpedo gunboat HMS Jaseur.^[6] He was posted to the battleship HMS Albion on the China Station in early August 1902,^[7] before rejoining the staff at HMS Vernon in 1904.^[1] Promoted to captain on 31 December 1907,^[8] he became commanding officer of HMS Defiance, the torpedo school at Devonport.^[9] He was given command of HMS Duncan as flag captain to Admiral Martyn Jerram, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in 1910 and then became superintendent of the Royal Navy signal schools in 1912.^[9]

First World War

Field saw service during the

Order of the Crown on 17 March 1919,^[15] and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on 17 July 1919.^[16] He was also awarded the United States Navy Distinguished Service Medal on 16 September 1919.^[17]

Flag officer

Promoted to the rank of

Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy in March 1920.^[9] Advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1923 New Year Honours,^[19] he was given the command of the Battlecruiser Squadron with his flag in the battlecruiser HMS Hood early that year.^[9] He took the squadron, comprising HMS Hood, the battlecruiser HMS Repulse and the light cruisers HMS Delhi, HMS Dauntless, HMS Danae, HMS Dragon and HMS Dunedin, on an "Empire Cruise" between November 1923 and September 1924.^[9] Promoted to vice admiral on 26 September 1924,^[20] he was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George three days later for his service on the Empire Cruise.^[21] He went on to be Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff in May 1925 and, having been promoted to admiral on 5 April 1928,^[22] he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in June 1928.^[9]

First Sea Lord

Field became

First Sea Lord in July 1930.^[9] The greatest crisis faced by Field at the Admiralty was the pay crisis that soon followed. With the ongoing effects of worldwide depression and budget restrictions, a 25% pay cut was introduced across the fleet and one shilling per day was taken from every naval man. It were these proposed measures which led to the Invergordon Mutiny in September 1931 when the sailors of the Atlantic Fleet at Invergordon left their ships and refused duty. At King George V's insistence, Admiral Sir John Kelly, who was popular with the fleet, was brought out of retirement to take command of the Atlantic Fleet, and the cabinet, acting on Field's advice, hurriedly reconsidered its budget: the pay cuts were restricted to 10% rather than 25%.^[23] During the early months of this crisis, Field suffered a perforated ulcer.^[23]

It was also primarily Field's work in the

Foreign Office to declare whether there was any risk of war during the next ten years.^[23]

Field retired as First Sea Lord in January 1933 and was promoted to

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1933 Birthday Honours,^[25] and was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785 (United 1889) for the years 1935 to 1937.^[26] He retired to his home at Escrick Park near Escrick in the East Riding of Yorkshire (now North Yorkshire) where he died from cancer on 24 October 1945.^[23]

Family

In 1902, Field married Annie Jackson (née Harris); there were no children.[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Heathcote, p. 74
^ "No. 26286". The London Gazette. 10 May 1892. p. 2704.
^ "No. 26388". The London Gazette. 4 April 1893. p. 2078.
^ "No. 27235". The London Gazette. 5 October 1900. p. 6104.
^ "No. 27448". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 June 1902. p. 4198.
^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36814. London. 8 July 1902. p. 11.
^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36826. London. 22 July 1902. p. 11.
^ "No. 28096". The London Gazette. 3 January 1908. p. 34.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Heathcote, p. 75
^ "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9064.
^ "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9070.
^ "No. 30116". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1917. p. 5591.
^ "No. 31000". The London Gazette. 8 November 1918. p. 13213.
^ "No. 31063". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 December 1918. p. 14683.
^ "No. 31236". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 March 1919. p. 3593.
^ "No. 31461". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 1919. p. 9107.
^ "No. 31553". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 September 1919. p. 11583.
^ "No. 31201". The London Gazette. 25 February 1919. p. 2738.
^ "No. 32782". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1922. p. 2.
^ "No. 32981". The London Gazette. 10 October 1924. p. 7327.
^ "No. 32978". The London Gazette. 30 September 1924. p. 7101.
^ "No. 33376". The London Gazette. 17 April 1928. p. 2740.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Heathcote, p. 76
^ "No. 33905". The London Gazette. 24 January 1933. p. 524.
^ "No. 33946". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1933. p. 3801.
^ "Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785 (United 1889)". Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2012.

Sources

Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd.
ISBN 0-85052-835-6
.

External links

Biographical article on the HMS Hood website
The Dreadnought Project: Frederick Field

Military offices
Preceded by Sir William Nicholson	Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy 1920–1923	Succeeded by Sir Cyril Fuller
Preceded by Sir Walter Cowan	Commander, Battlecruiser Squadron 1923–1925	Succeeded by Sir Cyril Fuller
Preceded by Sir Roger Keyes	Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff 1925–1928	Succeeded by Sir William Fisher
Preceded by Sir Roger Keyes	Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 1928–1930	Succeeded by Sir Ernle Chatfield
Preceded by Sir Charles Madden	First Sea Lord 1930–1933	Succeeded by Sir Ernle Chatfield

[heath74-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Heathcote, p. 74

[2] "No. 26286". The London Gazette. 10 May 1892. p. 2704.

[3] "No. 26388". The London Gazette. 4 April 1893. p. 2078.

[4] "No. 27235". The London Gazette. 5 October 1900. p. 6104.

[5] "No. 27448". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 June 1902. p. 4198.

[6] "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36814. London. 8 July 1902. p. 11.

[7] "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36826. London. 22 July 1902. p. 11.

[8] "No. 28096". The London Gazette. 3 January 1908. p. 34.

[heath75-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Heathcote, p. 75

[10] "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9064.

[11] "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9070.

[12] "No. 30116". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1917. p. 5591.

[13] "No. 31000". The London Gazette. 8 November 1918. p. 13213.

[14] "No. 31063". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 December 1918. p. 14683.

[15] "No. 31236". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 March 1919. p. 3593.

[16] "No. 31461". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 1919. p. 9107.

[17] "No. 31553". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 September 1919. p. 11583.

[18] "No. 31201". The London Gazette. 25 February 1919. p. 2738.

[19] "No. 32782". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1922. p. 2.

[20] "No. 32981". The London Gazette. 10 October 1924. p. 7327.

[21] "No. 32978". The London Gazette. 30 September 1924. p. 7101.

[22] "No. 33376". The London Gazette. 17 April 1928. p. 2740.

[heath76-23] Heathcote, p. 76

[24] "No. 33905". The London Gazette. 24 January 1933. p. 524.

[25] "No. 33946". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1933. p. 3801.

[26] "Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785 (United 1889)". Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2012.

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First Sea Lords of the Royal Navy
Senior Naval Lords (1689–1771)	Arthur Herbert Sir John Chicheley Edward Russell Henry Priestman Earl of Orford Sir George Rooke Sir John Leake Sir George Byng Sir John Leake Sir George Byng Matthew Aylmer Sir George Byng Sir John Jennings Sir John Norris Sir Charles Wager Lord Archibald Hamilton Lord Harry Powlett Lord Archibald Hamilton Lord Vere Beauclerk Lord Anson Sir William Rowley Edward Boscawen Sir William Rowley Edward Boscawen John Forbes Earl Howe Sir Charles Saunders Augustus Keppel Sir Peircy Brett Sir Francis Holburne
First Naval Lords (1771–1904)	Augustus Hervey Sir Hugh Palliser Robert Man George Darby Sir Robert Harland Sir Hugh Pigot John Leveson-Gower Lord Hood Sir Charles Middleton James Gambier Sir Thomas Troubridge James Gambier John Markham James Gambier Sir Richard Bickerton William Domett Sir Joseph Yorke Sir Graham Moore Sir William Johnstone Hope Sir George Cockburn Sir Thomas Hardy The Hon. George Dundas Charles Adam Sir George Cockburn Sir Charles Adam Sir George Cockburn Sir William Parker Sir Charles Adam Sir James Dundas The Hon. Maurice Berkeley Hyde Parker The Hon. Maurice Berkeley The Hon. Sir Richard Dundas William Martin The Hon. Sir Richard Dundas The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey Sir Alexander Milne Sir Sydney Dacres Sir Alexander Milne Sir Hastings Yelverton Sir George Wellesley Sir Astley Key Sir Arthur Hood Lord John Hay Sir Arthur Hood Sir Richard Hamilton Sir Anthony Hoskins Sir Frederick Richards Lord Walter Kerr
First Sea Lords (1904–present)	Sir John Fisher Sir Arthur Wilson Sir Francis Bridgeman Prince Louis of Battenberg The Lord Fisher Sir Henry Jackson Sir John Jellicoe Sir Rosslyn Wemyss The Earl Beatty Sir Charles Madden, Bt Sir Frederick Field The Lord Chatfield Sir Roger Backhouse Sir Dudley Pound The Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope Sir John Cunningham The Lord Fraser of North Cape Sir Rhoderick McGrigor The Earl Mountbatten of Burma Sir Charles Lambe Sir Caspar John Sir David Luce Sir Varyl Begg Sir Michael Le Fanu Sir Peter Hill-Norton Sir Michael Pollock Sir Edward Ashmore Sir Terence Lewin Sir Henry Leach Sir John Fieldhouse Sir William Staveley Sir Julian Oswald Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir Jock Slater Sir Michael Boyce Sir Nigel Essenhigh Sir Alan West Sir Jonathon Band Sir Mark Stanhope Sir George Zambellas Sir Philip Jones Sir Antony Radakin Sir Ben Key

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