Henry Blackett

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Admiral Henry Blackett, C.B.E. (28 November, 1867 – 1 December, 1952) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Blackett was born in Staines, Surrey. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant dated 1 October, 1890.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 31 December, 1902.[2]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1907.[3]

In March 1910, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Eclipse.

He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Duke of Edinburgh in July, 1914,[4] and commanded her at the Battle of Jutland, where his ship was the only of the First Cruiser Squadron to survive the battle. He was recommended for commendation for service in the battle in Sir John Jellicoe's despatch,[5] and commended on 15 September.[6]

However, something was seemingly fraying thin in Blackett. In May, he had penned a devastatingly negative S.206 report on his new executive officer in Duke of Edinburgh, Commander Godfrey F. W. Grayson. Grayson was discharged from the ship after just eighteen days aboard, and Blackett seemed to reserve still greater rage for Grayson's replacement (whom we have yet to identify). On 27 October, 1916, a Court Martial was convened to judge whether the new executive officer in Duke of Edinburgh had acted on 11 August "with contempt to his Captain". The Court found that his the junior officer had "acted under considerable provocation. Captain Blackett had threatened to place his Commander in irons." The Board ordered that Blackett be superseded and "question of employment to be considered before again appointing him."[7]

Apparently, the need for Captains was enough that this did not spell a total end to Blackett's career; he was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Cumberland on 29 May, 1917.[8]

Flag Rank

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral dated 21 February, 1919, vice Gaunt, and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 22 February.[9] On 27 May he was appointed a Commander of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.), "For valuable services in command of H.M.S. "Cumberland " whilst employed on Ocean Escort duties."[10]

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 1 January, 1925,[11] and to Admiral on 27 February, 1929.[12]

His wife, The Hon. Pamela Blackett, died on 22 November, 1949.[13]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Henry Blackett" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 11 December, 1952. Issue 52492, col E, p. 8.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M.S. Handy
14 Jan, 1896[14] – 18 Aug, 1896[15] 		Succeeded by
Alexander Gillespie
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M.S. Hardy
18 Aug, 1896[16] – 3 Mar, 1897[17] 		Succeeded by
Edward H. F. Heaton-Ellis
Preceded by
Vivian H. G. Bernard 		Captain of H.M.S. Topaze
3 Sep, 1906[18] – 20 Jan, 1908[19] 		Succeeded by
Lewis Bayly
Preceded by
William F. Slayter 		Captain of H.M.S. Eclipse
31 Mar, 1910[20][21] – 1 Apr, 1912[22] 		Succeeded by
Eric V. F. R. Dugmore
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Dublin
12 Nov, 1912[23][24] – 21 Jul, 1914[25] 		Succeeded by
John D. Kelly
Preceded by
Cecil I. Prowse 		Captain of H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh
Aug, 1914[26] – Sep, 1916[27] 		Succeeded by
Richard Hyde
Preceded by
Claude Hamilton 		Captain of H.M.S. Cumberland
29 May, 1917[28][29] – 1 Jan, 1919[30] 		Succeeded by
Gordon Campbell

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26093. p. 5268. 3 October, 1890.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27512. p. 4. 2 January, 1903.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28096. p. 34. 3 January, 1908.
  4. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393n.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9068. 15 September, 1916.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9071. 15 September, 1916.
  7. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  8. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 392x.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31223. p. 3295. 11 March, 1919.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31360. p. 6502. 27 May, 1919.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33010. p. 219. 9 January, 1925.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33474. p. 1575. 5 March, 1929.
  13. ↑ *"Obituaries" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 28 November, 1949. Issue 52550, col F, p. 7.
  14. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Friday, 10 January, 1896. Issue 34783, col D, p. 8.
  15. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  16. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  17. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  18. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  19. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  20. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  21. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 307.
  22. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1913). p. 305.
  24. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  25. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  26. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  27. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  28. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 392x.
  29. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  30. ↑ Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.

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