Ernest Rice
Admiral SIR Ernest Rice, K.C.B., Royal Navy (24 February, 1840 – 15 April, 1927) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Early Life & Career
Rice's entry into the Royal Navy was later recounted by his son-in-law:
He drove with his parents in a carriage and pair from their home at Dane Court to Deal, a distance of some five miles: there he embarked in one of the Deal luggers (now, unhappily, extinct), and was taken out to H.M.S. Odin, lying in the Downs, on her way to the Baltic. He had no previous naval training, but within a few weeks of joining his ship he found himself in a sanguinary boat action, in which his life was in all probability saved by his being unable to extricate himself from beneath the dead body of a marine who had fallen upon him; and in this affair of Gamla Carleby he brought the boats out of action as the only surviving officer.[1]
Flag Rank
Rice was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 13 May, 1893, vice Adeane.[2] He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 13 July, 1899, vice Molyneux.[3]
On 21 May, 1903 Rice was appointed as Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves.[4] His Assistant, Captain (later Admiral Sir) George F. King-Hall, noted in his diary on 2 September: "To my surprise saw Admiral Rice's engagement to a Mrs Gunning. Sly dog. He has been shooting and gunning, with a purpose."[5]
He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 15 March, 1904, vice Bridge.[6] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, he was placed on the Retired List on 24 February, 1905.[7]
On the occasion of King George V's birthday Rice was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 22 June, 1914.[8]
Footnotes
- ↑ "Training in the Old Navy" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 19 April, 1927. Issue 44559, col B, p. 15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26405. p. 3001. 23 May, 1893.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27100. p. 4444. 18 July, 1899.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 9 May, 1903. Issue 37076, col D, p. 8.
- ↑ Diary entry for 2 September, 1903.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27659. p. 1791. 18 March, 1904.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27769. p. 1503. 28 February, 1905.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28842. p. 4876. 22 June, 1914.
Bibliography
- "Admiral Sir Ernest Rice" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 16 April, 1927. Issue 44557, col C, p. 12.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/86.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/37.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/14.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Position |
Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves 1903 – 1905 |
Succeeded by Reginald F. H. Henderson
|
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Charles G. Fane |
Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard 1 Feb, 1896 – ? |
Succeeded by Pelham Aldrich |
