Ernest Sausmarez Carey

Captain Ernest Sausmarez Carey (12 March, 1872 – 2 September, 1927) was an officer in the Royal Navy who distinguished himself as a young officer in handling logistics of the landing of the Somaliland Expedition in 1903.

Carey's middle name was first recorded in the Navy as "Saumarez" until he sent a letter on 18 December, 1903 offering the proper, if unusual, spelling.

Life & Career

Carey was being raised by his mother in Malvern when he joined the Royal Navy. He gained eight months' time on passing out of Britannia in December, 1886.

Carey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1893.

Carey was commander of the second-class torpedo boat T.B. 8 in May, 1894.

On 27 December, 1900, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Cynthia.

On 19 March, 1901, Carey was appointed to Naiad as first lieutenant. He was lent by the Senior Naval Officer as Provost Marshal of Somaliland Field Force in 1903.

In January, 1903 Carey assisted in the disembarkation of the Somaliland Expedition at Obbia. The Commander-in-Chief reported that, "I consider that this officer has contributed to the success of the operations, more perhaps than any officer. He has been in charge of the work afloat, & the discharging of the transports for the greater part of the time, & his good organization, untiring energy & never failing tact in dealing with the numberless officers he has been brought in contact with has kept the wheels of the machinery well greased all the time." The Admiralty expressed its satisfaction at the report, which was echoed in a report from Brigadier General Manning. Carey returned to Naiad on 4 April, 1903 but may have continued as Provost Marshal for some time further, by special request, due to his aptitude.

Carey left Naiad when he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1903. He was appointed to Bedford as executive officer on 12 September, 1904.

In April, 1906 Carey passed a preliminary examination in French. Further work granted him a qualification as Acting Interpreter in French in October.

Carey was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1909.

On 23 December, 1910, Carey gained a first class certificate on completing a War Course. In 1911, he passed a preliminary examination in German and in January, 1912 passed as an Interpreter in German, lower standard.

Carey was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Boadicea in July, 1912 and was placed in charge of the Third Destroyer Flotilla. In November of 1912, Beagle collided with the Portland Breakwater and Carey was told he should have made it clear to the flotilla what order he intended them to leave the harbour.

On February, 1913 Carey asked to be placed on Half Pay due to ill health. He was to enter Osborne Convalescent Home on 7 April, but this was delayed until 5 May. He was discharged on 26 June and, in September, asked that someone replace him on a Committee on Training of Young Seamen and Boys in Seagoing Ships and outright resigned this committee work in late September.

On 17 March, 1914, Carey was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Cressy.

Carey was retired on 2 January, 1915 as medically unfit. He applied to winter in South Africa in August of 1916.

Carey died in 1927 of pneumonia and "general paralysis of the insane."

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M. T.B. 8 May, 1894	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Mark E. F. Kerr	Captain of H.M.S. Bittern 28 Aug, 1900 – 27 Dec, 1900	Succeeded by John P. Irven
Preceded by Reginald A. Norton	Captain of H.M.S. Cynthia 27 Dec, 1900 – 19 Mar, 1901	Succeeded by James W. G. Innes
Preceded by Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt	Captain of H.M.S. Sprightly 14 Jul, 1904 – c. Aug, 1904	Succeeded by Norman H. Carter
Preceded by Douglas L. Dent	Captain of H.M.S. Blenheim 2 Apr, 1912 – 31 Jul, 1913	Succeeded by Vernon H. S. Haggard
Preceded by Vernon H. S. Haggard	Captain of H.M.S. Boadicea 31 Jul, 1912 – 3 Apr, 1913	Succeeded by Cecil H. Fox
Preceded by Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart.	Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla 31 Jul, 1912 – 3 Apr, 1913	Succeeded by Cecil H. Fox
Preceded by Herbert J. T. Marshall	Captain of H.M.S. Cressy 17 Mar, 1914 – 1 Aug, 1914	Succeeded by Robert W. Johnson