Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, Twelfth Laird of Freswick

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Admiral Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair, as a Rear-Admiral during the First World War.
Portrait: Francis Dodd.

Admiral THE MUCH HONOURED SIR Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, G.C.B., M.V.O, Royal Navy (12 December, 1865 – 13 November, 1945) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Edwyn Sinclair Alexander was born at Malta on 12 December, 1865, the second son of Captain John Hobhouse Inglis Alexander, C.B., Royal Navy, and Isabella Barbara. He entered the Royal Navy and joined the entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet, being appointed to the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth on 15 January, 1879. He left Britannia on 23 December, 1880, and on 24 December was appointed to the battleship Iron Duke, flagship on the China Station. He was rated Midshipman on 24 August, 1881, and on 19 December, 1882, he was appointed to her sister-ship Audacious. On 25 July, 1884, he was appointed to the battleship Sultan in the Channel Squadron, where he remained until 23 September, 1885, when he joined the corvette Active of the Training Squadron. He was appointed Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 6 January, 1886, and confirmed in the rank on 6 May.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 January, 1890.[2] On 18 February he was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Tracey, Rear-Admiral Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron.[3] On 12 September he was reappointed to the Alexandra as Flag Lieutenant to Tracey's successor, Rear-Admiral Loftus F. Jones.[4]

He was appointed to Victory on 3 August, 1897, as Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart.[5]

Alexander-Sinclair was promoted to the rank of Commander on 11 January, 1901.[6]

Captain

Alexander-Sinclair was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1905.[7]

He was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) dated 1 October, 1908.[8]

In February 1910, he assumed command of the scout cruiser Bellona.[9] With her as his flagship, he was acting as Captain (D) of the Second Destroyer Flotilla later that year.[10]

On 1 September, 1913, he was appointed in command of Temeraire.[11]

Great War

Although he was accorded blame in the affair, Alexander-Sinclair was able to live down the loss of confidential books from Temeraire some time in 1914 and remained in command until 8 February, 1915, when he was appointed Commodore, Second Class Commanding the First Light Cruiser Squadron, hoisting his broad pendant in the Galatea on 16 February.[12]

The Admiralty expressed "surprise and displeasure" that a Court of Enquiry of which Alexander-Sinclair was president did not assign blame for an explosion which occurred aboard H.M.S. Cordelia on 1 March, 1915.

Alexander-Sinclair commanded 1 L.C.S. at the Battle of Jutland, one of three such squadrons screening the Battle Cruiser Fleet.

In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, Alexander-Sinclair was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).[13]

On 5 December 1916, he was reappointed in command of First Light Cruiser Squadron, now as a Commodore, First Class.

On 26 April, 1917, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral,[14] and on 7 July he was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding, Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron with his flag in Cardiff.

The Admiralty issued the following: "Credit is due for the successful results of operations on the 31st October, to the 2nd November, 1917, when a German Auxiliary Cruiser and several Trawlers were sunk in the Kattegat. Their Lordships' appreciation expressed."[15]

Post-War Commands

Alexander-Sinclair was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1919.[16]

Alexander-Sinclair was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 4 April, 1922, vice Phipps Hornby.[17]

On 4 October, 1926, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral, vice Browning.[18]

Alexander-Sinclair was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V on 23 May, 1930.[19] He was placed on the Retired List on 12 December.[20] In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June of that year, Alexander-Sinclair was appointed an Ordinary member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.).[21]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 14 November, 1945. Issue 50299, col E, p. 7.

Service Records

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Alfred B. Barker 		Captain of H.M.S. Violet
16 Jul, 1901[22] 		Succeeded by
Hugh J. Orr
Preceded by
Frederic W. Dean 		Captain of H.M.S. Albatross
24 Feb, 1902[23] – 19 Jan, 1904[24] 		Succeeded by
Godfrey M. Paine
Preceded by
Heathcoat S. Grant 		Captain of H.M.S. Surprise
19 Jan, 1904[25] – Feb, 1905 		Succeeded by
Edward F. Bruen
Preceded by
Rosslyn E. Wemyss 		Captain of H.M.S. Racer
1 May, 1905[26] – 16 Jul, 1908 		Succeeded by
Arthur H. Christian
Preceded by
Rosslyn E. Wemyss 		Captain of Royal Naval College, Osborne
1 May, 1905[27] – 5 Aug, 1908 		Succeeded by
Arthur H. Christian
Preceded by
Walter H. Cowan 		Captain of H.M.S. Sapphire
5 Jan, 1909[28][29] – 8 Feb, 1910[30] 		Succeeded by
Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court
Preceded by
? 		Captain (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla
5 Jan, 1909[31][32] – 7 Feb, 1911[33] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Hubert G. Brand
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Bellona
8 Feb, 1910[34] – 7 Feb, 1911[35] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Hubert G. Brand
Preceded by
John de M. Hutchison 		Flag Captain, Portsmouth Station
24 Mar, 1911[36] – 1 Sep, 1913 		Succeeded by
Richard G. A. W. Stapleton-Cotton
Preceded by
Richard F. Phillimore 		Captain of H.M.S. Victory
28 Mar, 1911[37] 		Succeeded by
Francis A. Marten
Preceded by
Cresswell J. Eyres 		Captain of H.M.S. Temeraire
1 Sep, 1913[38] – 8 Feb, 1915[39] 		Succeeded by
Allen T. Hunt
Preceded by
James R. P. Hawksley 		Captain of H.M.S. Galatea
8 Feb, 1915[40] – 7 Jul, 1917[41] 		Succeeded by
Ernest K. Loring
Preceded by
William E. Goodenough
as Commodore 2nd Class Commanding, First Light Cruiser Squadron 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Light Cruiser Squadron
8 Feb, 1915[42] – 7 Jul, 1917[43] 		Succeeded by
Sir Walter H. Cowan
Preceded by
New Command 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron
11 Jul, 1917[44] – 1 Feb, 1919 		Succeeded by
renamed as Third Light Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
Allen T. Hunt 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Light Cruiser Squadron
1 Feb, 1919[45][46] – 5 Aug, 1919[47] 		Succeeded by
Sir George P. W. Hope
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Light Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
Sir Charles L. Vaughan-Lee 		Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard
8 Apr, 1920[48] – 3 Oct, 1922[49] 		Succeeded by
Edmund P. F. G. Grant
Preceded by
Sir William C. M. Nicholson 		Vice-Admiral Commanding, First Battle Squadron
3 Oct, 1922[50] – 14 Oct, 1924[51] 		Succeeded by
Renamed as Second Battle Squadron
Preceded by
Sir Allan F. Everett 		Commander-in-Chief, China Station
22 Apr, 1925[52] – 8 Nov, 1926[53] 		Succeeded by
Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart.
Preceded by
Sir William E. Goodenough 		Commander-in-Chief at the Nore
16 May, 1927[54][55] 		Succeeded by
Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart.
Court Appointments
Preceded by
Sir William E. Goodenough 		First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
23 May, 1930[56] 		Succeeded by
Sir Walter H. Cowan, Bart.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26007. p. 7553. 31 December, 1889.
  3. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 8 February, 1890. Issue 32930, col B, p. 6.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 10 September, 1890. Issue 33113, col E, p. 7.
  5. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 27 July, 1897. Issue 35266, col F, p. 10.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27266. p. 310. 15 January, 1901.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27812. p. 4557. 30 June, 1905.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28184. p. 7295. 9 October, 1908.
  9. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  10. ↑ "The Mobilization of the Fleet" The Times. Monday, 27 June, 1910.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 384.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 6.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29608. p. 5553. 2 June, 1916.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30037. p. 3955. 27 April, 1917.
  15. ↑ User Sadsac.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31099. p. 106. 1 January, 1919.
  17. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32668. p. 2934. 11 April, 1922.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33209. p. 6440. 8 October, 1926.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33608. p. 3233. 23 May, 1930.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33670. p. 8076. 16 December, 1930.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33611. p. 3475. 3 June, 1918.
  22. ↑ "The Naval Manœuvres". The Times. Thursday, 11 July, 1901. Issue 36504, col C, p. 8.
  23. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  24. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1904). p. 380.
  26. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 364.
  27. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  28. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  29. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 372.
  30. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  31. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  32. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 372.
  33. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  34. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  35. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  36. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  37. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 393.
  38. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 384.
  39. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  40. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 394o.
  41. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  42. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 6.
  43. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 6.
  45. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  46. ↑ Hunt Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 354.
  47. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  48. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 195/42. f. 194.
  49. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 195/42. f. 194.
  50. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. p. 194.
  51. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  52. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 194.
  53. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 194.
  54. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 258.
  55. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. p. 194.
  56. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33608. p. 3233. 23 May, 1930.

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