Charles Carter Drury

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Admiral SIR Charles Carter Drury, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.S.I., F.R.G.S., Royal Navy (27 August, 1846 – 18 May, 1914) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Drury was promoted to the rank of Acting Lieutenant with seniority from 5 August, 1868.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander with seniority from 1 May, 1878.[2] He was appointed Commander of Excellent on 22 March, 1882.[3]

Drury was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1885.[4]

He was appointed command of Hood on 10 October, 1895.[Citation needed]

Drury was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria on 23 August, 1897, vice Beaumont.[5] On 20 January, 1898, he was appointed to the Rupert as Senior Naval Officer at Gibraltar.[6]

Flag Rank

Drury was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 13 July, 1899, vice Rice.[7]

On the occasion of the Durbar at Dehli, Drury was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (K.C.S.I.) on 1 January, 1903.[8] He later met with Captain (later Admiral Sir) George F. King-Hall (who referred to Drury as "my old friend"), and told him the circumstances of his being awarded the K.C.S.I.:

Drury then told me in strict confidence all about the Delhi Durbar and the Navy not being represented there and of all the telegrams and letters that passed between him and the Viceroy and Admiralty; and how he had to go to Aden on account of the Somali affair and telegraphed to Admiralty that he was quite prepared not to go to the Durbar, if Admiralty did not wish him to do so, to shew this disapprobation of the Navy not being represented.

The Admiralty telegraphed they wished him to go if he could. Next day, he had a telegram from the King, saying he had arranged that he should receive the K.C.S.I.

Being sent en clair, everyone knew of it. Next day a wire from Tyrwhitt [Private Secretary to the First Lord] saying it was to be kept secret, so Drury had some trouble in hushing it up.

He attended the Durbar as the Viceroy’s private guest, with his Flag Lieut. and on the morning of the 1st received a letter from Viceroy saying he had been made a K.C.S.I.

Drury much put out at the whole thing. The King is going to speak to Lord Curzon about the Navy being ignored and Lord Selborne is going to also.

Drury on leaving the station for the Board of Admiralty, wrote to Curzon, thanking him for his hospitality and saying he much regretted that during his command, the Viceroy and the Commander in Chief had never met to consult as to the policies to be pursued in war time. Thought that it would be a good thing they should do so sometimes.

On his arrival in England, he found a letter from Curzon, saying how much he regretted not having done so, and proposed doing so in the future. Altogether I think Drury behaved very well and stood up for the Navy very well.[9]

Drury was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 16 June, 1904, vice Oxley.[10]

On the occasion of the King's birthday, Drury 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 30 June, 1905.[11]

On the occasion of the King's visit to Malta Drury was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) on 15 April, 1907.[12]

He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 11 April, 1908, vice Holland.[13]

On the occasion of King George V's coronation he was appointed an Additional Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 19 June, 1911.[14] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 27 August.[15]

His widow, Lady Amy Gertrude Drury passed away in her sleep on 27 December, 1953 at the age of ninety.

See Also

  • [{{{1}}} Wikipedia]

Footnotes

  1. London Gazette: no. 23411. p. 4454. 11 August, 1868.
  2. London Gazette: no. 24588. p. 3363. 31 May, 1878.
  3. Navy List (December, 1884). p. 255.
  4. London Gazette: no. 25485. p. 3002. 30 June, 1885.
  5. London Gazette: no. 26885. p. 4726. 24 August, 1897.
  6. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 10 January, 1898. Issue 35409, col D, pg. 10.
  7. London Gazette: no. 27100. p. 4444. 18 July, 1899.
  8. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27511. p. 2. 1 January, 1903.
  9. King-Hall diary entry for 24 august, 1903.
  10. London Gazette: no. 27692. p. 4259. 5 July, 1904.
  11. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27811. p. 4548. 30 June, 1905.
  12. London Gazette: no. 28015. p. 2731. 23 April, 1907.
  13. London Gazette: no. 28128. p. 2850. 14 April, 1908.
  14. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28505. p. 4588. 19 June, 1911.
  15. London Gazette: no. 28526. p. 6372. 29 August, 1911.

Bibliography

  • "Death of Two Admirals" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 19 May, 1914. Issue 40527, col G, pg. 10.

Service Records


Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Day H. Bosanquet
Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station
1902 – 1903
Succeeded by
George L. Atkinson-Willes
Preceded by
Sir John A. Fisher
Second Sea Lord
1903 – 1907
Succeeded by
Sir William H. May
Preceded by
Lord Charles Beresford
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean
1907 – 1908
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Assheton G. Curzon-Howe