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
On 30 June 1854, Rice was gazetted for operations in "the Gulph of Bothnia."
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]
Promoted to Lieutenant on 9 February, 1860.
Promoted to Commander on 22 October, 1870.
As a Captain, in 1889, Rice wrecked the central battery ironclad Sultan by running around on an uncharted rock while conducting gun and torpedo exercises 600 yards off the coast of Malta. The ship sank eight days after running aground and Rice was reprimanded for operating so near the five fathom line.[2]
Flag Rank
Rice was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 13 May, 1893, vice Adeane.[3] He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 13 July, 1899, vice Molyneux.[4]
On 21 May, 1903 Rice was appointed as Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves.[5] 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."[6]
He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 15 March, 1904, vice Bridge.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9]
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 ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Iris 1 Jan, 1883[10] |
Succeeded by Arthur C. H. Paget |
| Preceded by Richard D. King |
Captain of H.M.S. Sultan 18 Aug, 1887[11] – 1914 |
Succeeded by Count F. C. Metaxa |
| Preceded by Henry F. Cleveland |
Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee 21 Nov, 1894[12] |
Succeeded by Archibald L. Douglas |
| Preceded by Charles G. Fane |
Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard 1 Feb, 1896[13] |
Succeeded by Pelham Aldrich |
| Preceded by New Position |
Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves 21 May, 1903[14] |
Succeeded by Sir Reginald F. H. Henderson |
Footnotes
- ↑ "Training in the Old Navy" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 19 April, 1927. Issue 44559, col B, p. 15.
- ↑ Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. pp. 13, 14.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1885). p. 219.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1888). p. 231.
- ↑ Rice Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/37. f. 1099.
- ↑ Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 6.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 9 May, 1903. Issue 37076, col D, p. 8.
