Cecil Spencer Hickley

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Admiral Cecil Spencer Hickley, C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (22 January, 1865 – 1 May, 1941) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Cecil Spencer Hickley was born on 22 January, 1865, at Ashcott, Somerset, the son of Captain (later Admiral, Retired) Victor Grant Hickley, Royal Navy. He entered the training ship Britannia on 15 July, 1878.

Hickley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1888.[1]

He was appointed to the Raleigh on the Cape of Good Hope Station on 7 September, 1889. On 11 July, 1890, he was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Richard Wells, the Commander-in-Chief, and served as such until 9 October.[2] Wells recorded: "Zealous & shows judgement. Considerable physical capabilities. Recommended for advancement."[3] He remained in Raleigh until 31 October, 1891.[4] Captain Arthur Barrow wrote of him: "Good judgement, energetic & active."[5] During his time at the Cape Hickley played first-class cricket for the Western Province team.[6]

On 16 January, 1892, he was appointed to Boadicea as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral William R. Kennedy, Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station. He arrived home on 7 April, 1895.[7] Kennedy recorded of him:

Very active & zealous, capital Signal officer, good judgement, specially recommended for advancement. Has performed duties of Flag Lieut with great tact & ability & entirely to my satisfaction: is at all times courteous ... which has proved of great help in all social relations in India & the Colonies.[8]

On 12 December, 1895, Hickley was appointed to the new battleship Majestic.[9] In August, 1897, it was noted that "Lord W. Kerr speaks very highly of him in note to Pte. Secretary as candidate for Royal Yacht,"[10] and on 31 August Hickley was appointed to H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert.[11] He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 August, 1899.[12] While in the Royal Yacht, Hickley played first-class cricket for Somerset.[13]

Captain

Hickley was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1904.[14]

In August 1905, he assumed command of the armoured cruiser Roxburgh. He was to be in command for so short that he took command of his next vessel, the first class protected cruiser Amphitrite, later that same month.

On 7 December, 1906, Hickley was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Highflyer.[15]

He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Cochrane on 5 January, 1909.[16]

He was appointed to command the battleship Vanguard on 5 June, 1913.[17]

Great War

On 11 January, 1916, Hickley was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Smith.[18] He was superseded on 22 January, and on 25 May was appointed a member of the Committee on East Coast Bases. His appointment as Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force I on 4 December was cancelled owing to sickness, and on 6 December he was admitted to the Homeopathic Hospital, London, for treatment of toxæmia. On the 25th he was relieved on the East Coast Bases Committee by Captain E. Percy F. G. Grant. Following a number of surveys by the Medical Director-General he was found fit for shore service on 29 May, 1917, and was regularly resurveyed afterwards.[19]

Hickley was appointed Senior Naval Officer, Harwich, on 1 April, 1918.[20] He was also in charge of Shotley Training Establishment and Naval Barracks.[21]

Post-War

On 9 April, 1919, Hickley was appointed Admiral of the Training Service (A.T.S.).[22] He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 17 February, 1920, vice Hayes-Sadler, and was placed on the Retired List on 18 February.[23] On 5 June Hickley was appointed a Companion in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on the occasion of the King's birthday.[24]

He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1925.[25]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral C. S. Hickley" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 5 May, 1941. Issue 48917, col E, p. 6.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. Roxburgh
Aug, 1905[26] – Aug, 1905[27]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
Preceded by
Charles Windham
Captain of H.M.S. Amphitrite
Aug, 1905[28] – 7 Dec, 1906[29]
Succeeded by
Francis W. Kennedy
Preceded by
Norman C. Palmer
Captain of H.M.S. Highflyer
7 Dec, 1906[30] – 18 Sep, 1908[31]
Succeeded by
Edward F. Bruen
Preceded by
Dudley R. S. de Chair
Captain of H.M.S. Cochrane
5 Jan, 1909[32] – 3 Jan, 1911[33]
Succeeded by
William E. Goodenough
Preceded by
Charles L. Vaughan-Lee
Captain of H.M.S. Ganges
13 Feb, 1911[34] – 20 May, 1913[35]
Succeeded by
George C. Cayley
Preceded by
Arthur D. Ricardo
Captain of H.M.S. Vanguard
5 Jun, 1913[36] – 21 Jan, 1916[37]
Succeeded by
James D. Dick
Preceded by
Cecil F. Dampier
Admiral of the Training Service
9 Apr, 1919[38]
Succeeded by
Victor A. Stanley

Footnotes

  1. ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  2. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  3. ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  4. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  5. ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  6. Cricket Archive. Cecil Hickley.
  7. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  8. ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  9. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 18 November, 1895. Issue 34737, col E, p. 7.
  10. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  11. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 27117. p. 5692. 15 September, 1899.
  13. Cricket Archive. Cecil Hickley.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 27691. p. 4182. 1 July, 1904.
  15. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 3 December, 1906. Issue 38193, col C, p. 7.
  16. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  17. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 398t.
  18. The London Gazette: no. 29450. p. 999. 25 January, 1916.
  19. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  20. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 3.
  21. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  22. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  23. The London Gazette: no. 31802. p. 2463. 2 March, 1920.
  24. The London Gazette: "Supplement" no. 31931. p. 6315. 3 January, 1902.
  25. The London Gazette: no. 33049. p. 3445. 22 May, 1925.
  26. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  27. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  28. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 166/330.
  29. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 166/330.
  30. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  31. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  32. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  33. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  34. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  35. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  36. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  37. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  38. Hickley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 330.

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