George Henry Cherry
Vice-Admiral George Henry Cherry, Royal Navy, Retired (11 December, 1850 – 29 September, 1926) was an officer of the Royal Navy, best known for his notorious command of first class protected cruiser Argonaut from 1900 to 1904.
Life & Career
He was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Argonaut on 19 April, 1900.[1]
A junior midshipman in the Argonaut later recalled:
As midshipman of a duty cutter. I had probably as good touch as anybody with the lower deck. The men were not unhappy; there was no feeling of frustration or resentment. Captain Cherry was what we called a "nut"; he was severe but just and fair. Every defaulter knew exactly what he had coming to him. He was not capricious.[2]
Admiral Sir William M. James, an officer whom this editor will confess to holding in contempt, and who never served in Argonaut or under Cherry, took issue with the above and claimed that if the officers suffered then the men must have as well; a spurious claim at best.[3] Also based on nothing but second-hand information James also damned Cherry as "utterly incompetent."[4]
See Also
Bibliography
- "Vice-Admiral Cherry" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 2 October, 1926. Issue 44392, col C, p. 12.
- Lowis, Commander Geoffrey (1959). Fabulous Admirals and Some Naval Fragments: Being a Brief Account of some of the Froth on those Characters who Enlivened the Royal Navy a Generation or Two Ago. London: Putnam.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/87
- The National Archives. ADM 196/38
- The National Archives. ADM 196/18
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Juno Oct, 1898[5] |
Succeeded by Henry B. Jackson |
| Preceded by Archibald J. Pocklington |
Captain of H.M.S. Argonaut 19 Apr, 1900[6] |
Succeeded by Evelyn R. Le Marchant |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 225.
- ↑ "The Cherry Medal." The Naval Review. Vol. XXXVI. No. 4. p. 41.
- ↑ "The Cherry Medal." The Naval Review. Vol. XL. No. 1. p. 95.
- ↑ "Fabulous Admirals." The Naval Review. Vol. XLVI. No. 2. p. 257.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 27 March, 1900. Issue 36100, col E, p. 7.
