George Callaghan
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
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Callaghan became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet in November 1911 and was advised in December 1913 that his tenure would be extended for another twelve months. With increasing international tension he started preparing his fleet for war. At the outbreak of the First World War in July 1914, Callaghan set sail in his flagship for his war station at Scapa Flow. There he met his successor-designate Sir John Jellicoe who had received orders from First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill to relieve the ageing Callaghan of command of his fleet. Callaghan was bitterly disappointed not to command his fleet in the war he had completely readied it for. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Early career
Born the grandson of
He attended the gunnery school
Boxer rebellion
In April 1900, Callaghan became commander of a naval brigade sent ashore to form an element of a larger expedition under Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Gaselee as part of the British response to the Boxer Rebellion. The expedition entered Peking and successfully rescued the legations which had been held hostage there.[3] Callaghan was mentioned in dispatches and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 9 November 1900.[7]
Higher rank
Callaghan became commanding officer of the cruiser
Callaghan became Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, with his flag in the battleship HMS Neptune and with the acting rank of admiral in November 1911.[8] Following an inspection of his fleet by King George V he was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on 11 May 1912[16] and, after a separate visit by the President Raymond Poincaré of France in 1913, he was also awarded the Grand Cordon of the French Legion of Honour.[17] He was promoted to the substantive rank of full admiral on 17 May 1913[18] and was advised in December 1913 that his tenure would be extended for another twelve months. With increasing international tension he started preparing his fleet for war.[8]
The First World War
At the outbreak of the First World War in July 1914, Callaghan set sail in his flagship, the battleship HMS Iron Duke, for his war station at Scapa Flow. There he met his successor-designate Sir John Jellicoe, who had received orders from First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill to relieve the ageing Callaghan of command of his fleet. Jellicoe had resisted the order, believing it would cause tension in the fleet, but the order was confirmed by the Admiralty and Jellicoe was instructed to carry it out. Callaghan was bitterly disappointed not to command his fleet in the war he had completely readied it for.[8]
In Autumn 1914 Callaghan took part in a Court of Inquiry into the conduct of Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge for his failure to pursue the battlecruiser SMS Goeben and the light cruiser SMS Breslau. He referred the matter to a court-martial which ultimately found the case against Troubridge not proven.[8]
Callaghan was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 11 September 1914[19] and became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in January 1915.[8] He was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 3 June 1916[20] and was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 2 April 1917.[21]
Callahan retired in March 1918 and became King of Arms of the Order of the Bath in May 1919.[8] He died at 11 Cadogan Court, Chelsea, London on 23 November 1920 and was given a funeral at Westminster Abbey,[2] following which he was buried in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin at Bathwick, Somerset.[22]
Family
In 1876, Callaghan married Edith Saumarez; they had one son and three daughters.[3]
References
- ^ "Estate: Callaghan". Landed Estates. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32247. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Heathcote, p. 38
- ^ "No. 24204". The London Gazette. 30 April 1875. p. 2342.
- ^ "No. 25772". The London Gazette. 3 January 1888. p. 15.
- ^ "No. 26471". The London Gazette. 29 December 1893. p. 7580.
- ^ "No. 27246". The London Gazette. 13 November 1900. p. 6927.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Heathcote, p. 39
- ^ "No. 27676". The London Gazette. 13 May 1904. p. 3081.
- ^ "No. 27814". The London Gazette. 7 July 1905. p. 4700.
- ^ "No. 28048". The London Gazette. 6 August 1907. p. 5390.
- ^ "No. 28246". The London Gazette. 30 April 1909. p. 3277.
- ^ "No. 28599". The London Gazette. 16 April 1912. p. 2702.
- ^ "No. 28362". The London Gazette. 3 May 1910. p. 3063.
- ^ "No. 28388". The London Gazette (Supplement to the London Gazette Extraordinary). 23 June 1910. p. 4475.
- ^ "No. 28607". The London Gazette. 14 May 1912. p. 3475.
- ^ Walford, E., The county families of the United Kingdom vol. 59 (1919) page 59
- ^ "No. 28722". The London Gazette. 27 May 1913. p. 3753.
- ^ "No. 28902". The London Gazette. 15 September 1914. p. 7293.
- ^ "No. 29608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1916. p. 5553.
- ^ "No. 30008". The London Gazette. 3 April 1917. p. 3206.
- ^ "Sir George Callaghan". CWGC Casualty record. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
Sources
- Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-835-6.
External links
- The Dreadnought Project: George Callaghan