John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet
Admiral SIR John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., R.N. (10 June, 1862 – 20 January, 1928) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War. He is perhaps most notable for his command of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron during the abortive attempts to force the Dardanelles in 1915. He later commanded a battle squadron in the Grand Fleet, and after the war ended held the commands of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets.
Early Life & Career
De Robeck was the son of Baron de Robeck. Upon emerging from H.M.S. Britannia in July 1877, he was appointed to the armoured cruiser Shannon, which was operating on the Pacific Station. On 31 October 1881, he was appointed to the ironclad battleship Minotaur, which was assigned to the Channel Squadron. After only 2 months, he moved into the ironclad battleship Northumberland, operating with the same formation.[1]
De Robeck was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1885.[2]
De Robeck was promoted to the rank of Commander on 22 June, 1897.[3]
In mid-1899, he was in command of the destroyer Angler and commanding the destroyers of the Chatham Flotilla.[4]
Captain
De Robeck was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1902.[5]
He was appointed Captain of the armoured cruiser Carnarvon in August 1906.
He was appointed in command of the battleship Dominion on 25 January, 1908.[6]
Flag Rank
De Robeck was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 December, 1911, vice Savory.[7]
He struck his flag in the armoured cruiser Aboukir at Chatham on 26 July, 1914.[8]
Great War
He hoisted his flag in the first class protected cruiser Amphitrite of Cruiser Force I in August.
On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[9]
He was placed in command of the Second Battle Squadron on 3 December, 1916 and commanded this formation through 22 March, 1919.[10]
He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 17 May, 1917, vice Sturdee.[11]
He was chastised for sending a telegram protesting the appointment of his navigating Cdr. Schäfer to the convoy sloop Gaillardia in November 1917.[12]
Post-War & Retirement
On 24 March, 1920, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral, vice Grant.[13]
He 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.) on 1 January, 1921.[14]
He was advanced to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 24 November, 1925, vice Burney.[15] He died in London on 20 January, 1928 at his residence at 5 Southwick Crescent.[16]
There is a portrait-drawing of de Robeck by Francis Dodd in the Imperial War Museum, South Kensington.
Bibliography
- "Sir John de Robeck" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 21 January, 1928. Issue 44796, col B, p. 12.
Papers
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/87.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/20.
Footnotes
- ↑ De Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/123. ff. 127, 128.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25516. p. 4599. 2 October, 1885.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26865. p. 3443. 22 June, 1897.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1899. p. 63.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27393. p. 3. 3 January, 1902.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 301.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28562. p. 9446. 15 December, 1911.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, 27 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col B, p. 4.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29423. p. 80. 31 December, 1915.
- ↑ De Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/123. ff. 285.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30084. p. 4942. 22 May, 1917.
- ↑ De Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/123. f. 285.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 3186. p. 4474. 16 April, 1920.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32178. p. 4. 1 January, 1921.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33110. p. 7950. 1 December, 1925.
- ↑ De Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/123. ff. 285.
- ↑ "Naval Intelligence". The Times. Friday, 19 July, 1890. Issue 33068, col C, p. 12.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 346.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 224.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 8 Oct. 1897, p. 9.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64/128.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 296.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 296.
- ↑ Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 31.
- ↑ De Robeck Service Record ADM 196/42.
- ↑ De Robeck Service Record ADM 196/42.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64/128.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64/128.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 291.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 301.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ "Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 11 January, 1911. Issue 39496, col B, p. 8.
- ↑ de Robeck service record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 27 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col B, p. 4.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 5.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 4.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 3.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 32.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 285.
- ↑ "Flag Command Changes" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 21 December, 1921. Issue 42909, col D, p. 14.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 285.
- People
- People (UK)
- 1862 births
- 1928 deaths
- H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of July, 1875
- Flag Officers
- Flag Officers (UK)
- Admirals of the Fleet
- Admirals of the Fleet (UK)
- Knights Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
- Knights Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
- Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Served in R.N.