William George Elmhirst Ruck-Keene: Difference between revisions

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==Captain==
==Captain==
He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1906.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27927/pages/4466 no. 27927.  p. 4466.]  29 June, 1906.</ref>
He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1906.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27927/pages/4466 no. 27927.  p. 4466.]  29 June, 1906.</ref>
On the occasion of the King's cruise in the Mediterranean Ruck-Keene was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 4 May, 1909.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/12141/pages/517 no. 12141.  p. 517.]  11 May, 1909.</ref>


Ruck-Keene was appointed in command of the [[H.M.S. Bacchante (1901)|''Bacchante'']], and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[Henry Deacon Barry|Sir Henry D. Barry]], on 8 January, 1907.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 10 January, 1907.  Issue '''38226''', col D, pg. 5.</ref>  From 16 October, 1908, he served as Flag Captain to [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Sir Henry B. Jackson]], who took over from Barry.
Ruck-Keene was appointed in command of the [[H.M.S. Bacchante (1901)|''Bacchante'']], and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[Henry Deacon Barry|Sir Henry D. Barry]], on 8 January, 1907.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 10 January, 1907.  Issue '''38226''', col D, pg. 5.</ref>  From 16 October, 1908, he served as Flag Captain to [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Sir Henry B. Jackson]], who took over from Barry.

Revision as of 13:54, 2 August 2011

Admiral William George Elmhirst Ruck-Keene, M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (30 January, 1867 – 30 January, 1935) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Ruck-Keene (right) as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Arthur H. Alington, Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron, 1895-1896.
Photograph: Navy and Army Illustrated. Reproduced by courtesy of Rob Brassington.

William George Elmhirst Ruck-Keene was born at Henley on Thames on 30 January, 1867, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Ruck-Keene. He was educated at Stubbington House.

Ruck-Keene was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 26 August, 1890.[1]

He was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Edward H. Seymour on 8 July, 1896, for the Annual Manœuvres.[2]

Upon the return of Ophir, Ruck-Keene was specially promoted to the rank of Commander on 6 November.[3]

Captain

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1906.[4]

On the occasion of the King's cruise in the Mediterranean Ruck-Keene was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 4 May, 1909.[5]

Ruck-Keene was appointed in command of the Bacchante, and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral Sir Henry D. Barry, on 8 January, 1907.[6] From 16 October, 1908, he served as Flag Captain to Sir Henry B. Jackson, who took over from Barry.

On 4 April, 1911, Ruck-Keene was appointed in command of the Admiralty yacht Enchantress.

Great War

In a letter of 8 July, 1915, we find Sir Henry Jackson writing to Jellicoe, "I'm sorry Ruck Keene has deteriorated. I expect he is stale. At any rate there will be nothing to affect his nerves at the Admiralty."[7]

His future in the Navy had been touched upon at a meeting of the Board of Admiralty on 15 June, 1917, when two of the five Sea Lords voted that he be retired on promotion to Flag Rank under Section III of the Order-in-Council of 9 March, 1914. Jellicoe (First Sea Lord) and Paine (Fifth Sea Lord) voted that he be retired, while Burney (Second Sea Lord) wavered.[8]

Ruck-Keene was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 January, 1918, vice Napier.[9]

Post-War

He was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 17 February, 1920.[10]

Ruck-Keene was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 7 October, 1923.[11] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 August, 1927.[12]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ London Gazette: no. 26084. p. 4773. 2 September, 1890.
  2. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 3 July, 1896. Issue 34933, col B, pg. 12.
  3. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27372. p. 7147. 5 November, 1901.
  4. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27927. p. 4466. 29 June, 1906.
  5. ↑ London Gazette: no. 12141. p. 517. 11 May, 1909.
  6. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 10 January, 1907. Issue 38226, col D, pg. 5.
  7. ↑ Jellicoe Papers. British Library. Add. MSS. 49009. f. 1.
  8. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 167/52. Unnumbered folio.
  9. ↑ London Gazette: no. 30457. p. 273. 4 January, 1918.
  10. ↑ London Gazette: no. 31798. p. 2338. 27 February, 1920.
  11. ↑ London Gazette: no. 32871. p. 6966. 16 October, 1923.
  12. ↑ London Gazette: no. 33300. p. 5105. 5 August, 1927.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Ruck Keene" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 31 January, 1935. Issue 46976, col D, pg. 16.

Service Record

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