William George Elmhirst Ruck-Keene: Difference between revisions

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 22: Line 22:


==Great War==
==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."<ref>Jellicoe Papers.  British Library.  Add. MSS.  49009.  f. 1.</ref>
Jellicoe wrote to Sir Henry Jackson on 27 June, 1915:


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.<ref>The National Archives.  ADM 167/52.  Unnumbered folio.</ref>
<blockquote>I think I ought to tell you that the opinion of flag officers under whom Ruck Keene has lately served is that he is not the man he once was.  I did not say anything about him when you mentioned to me that he would make a good Captain of the Fleet vice Everett as I thought that my opinion of him (formed after ''Cochrane'' had been under me when I had 2<sup>nd</sup> Battle Squadron) is that he lacked energy, might be incorrect.  But when you mentioned his names as probably going to Admiralty in connection with anti submarine warfare, I made some enquiries.<br><br><u>Madden</u> says he has ability but is lazy, lacks energy & has run to seed & is nervous.<br><br><u>Calthorpe</u> says he has ability but is distinctly nervous.  (I fancy Calthorpe would not regret his departure).<br><br>I hope you won't mind my telling you this, but the appointment for which you had him in mind being one that requires great energy & go I felt it right to tell you.<ref>Jackson Papers.  National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth: 255/4/4.</ref></blockquote>
 
On 8 July Jackson replied 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."<ref>Jellicoe Papers.  British Library.  Add. MSS.  49009.  f. 1.</ref>
 
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 (by now First Sea Lord) and Paine ([[Fifth Sea Lord]]) voted that he be retired, while Burney (Second Sea Lord) wavered.<ref>The National Archives.  ADM 167/52.  Unnumbered folio.</ref>


Ruck-Keene was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 1 January, 1918, vice [[Charles Lionel Napier|Napier]].<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30457/pages/273 no. 30457.  p. 273.]  4 January, 1918.</ref>
Ruck-Keene was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 1 January, 1918, vice [[Charles Lionel Napier|Napier]].<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30457/pages/273 no. 30457.  p. 273.]  4 January, 1918.</ref>

Revision as of 09:42, 21 September 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

Jellicoe wrote to Sir Henry Jackson on 27 June, 1915:

I think I ought to tell you that the opinion of flag officers under whom Ruck Keene has lately served is that he is not the man he once was. I did not say anything about him when you mentioned to me that he would make a good Captain of the Fleet vice Everett as I thought that my opinion of him (formed after Cochrane had been under me when I had 2nd Battle Squadron) is that he lacked energy, might be incorrect. But when you mentioned his names as probably going to Admiralty in connection with anti submarine warfare, I made some enquiries.

Madden says he has ability but is lazy, lacks energy & has run to seed & is nervous.

Calthorpe says he has ability but is distinctly nervous. (I fancy Calthorpe would not regret his departure).

I hope you won't mind my telling you this, but the appointment for which you had him in mind being one that requires great energy & go I felt it right to tell you.[7]

On 8 July Jackson replied 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."[8]

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 (by now First Sea Lord) and Paine (Fifth Sea Lord) voted that he be retired, while Burney (Second Sea Lord) wavered.[9]

Ruck-Keene was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 January, 1918, vice Napier.[10]

Post-War

He was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 17 February, 1920.[11]

Ruck-Keene was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 7 October, 1923.[12] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 August, 1927.[13]

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. ↑ Jackson Papers. National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth: 255/4/4.
  8. ↑ Jellicoe Papers. British Library. Add. MSS. 49009. f. 1.
  9. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 167/52. Unnumbered folio.
  10. ↑ London Gazette: no. 30457. p. 273. 4 January, 1918.
  11. ↑ London Gazette: no. 31798. p. 2338. 27 February, 1920.
  12. ↑ London Gazette: no. 32871. p. 6966. 16 October, 1923.
  13. ↑ 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

Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=William_George_Elmhirst_Ruck-Keene&oldid=28814"