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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''William Christopher Pakenham''', G.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (10 July, 1861 – 28 July, 1933) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
[[File:Pakenham, NPG x65817.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham, as Vice-Admiral, 1919.<br><small>© National Portrait Gallery, London.</small>]]


==Life & Career==
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''William Christopher Pakenham''', {{Post-Nominals|country=GBR-cats|G.C.B.m|K.C.M.G.|K.C.V.O.}}, R.N. (10 July, 1861 &ndash; 28 July, 1933) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
William Christopher Pakenham was born in London on 10 July, 1861, the second son of Rear-Admiral Thomas Alexander Pakenham, third son of the second Earl of Longford, by his wife, Sophia Frances, third daughter of Sir Tatton Sykes, Fourth Baronet, of Sledmere. He entered the [[H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship)|''Britannia'']] on 15 July, 1874 and having passed out on 21 July, 1876, he went to sea in the ''Monarch'' in the Mediterranean, being promoted {{MidRN}} in 1876.  He was transferred to the frigate ''Raleigh'' the following year.  Together with an Able Seaman he was highly commended for gallantry in plunging into the sea and rescuing a Coxswain who had fallen overboard as the ship was leaving Larnaka, Cyprus, in August, 1878.  In September, 1879 he joined the ''Alexandra'', Flag Ship of [[Geoffrey Phipps Hornby|Sir Geoffrey Hornby]], and remained in her when Sir F. B. P. Seymour (afterwards Lord Alcester) succeeded to the command until promoted to {{SubRN}} in October, 1880.  Having undergone the usual gunnery course in the [[H.M.S. Excellent (Gunnery Training School)|''Excellent'']] at Portsmouth he was in December, 1882 again appointed to the ''Alexandra'' (still Flag Ship of Lord Alcester); but soon after Lord John Hay had assumed the command he was transferred in April, 1883 to the corvette ''Canada'', destined to join the North America squadron. In this ship he was a strict though benevolent autocrat of the gun-room mess in which [[George V of the United Kingdom|Prince George]] (afterwards King George V) was serving as Midshipman. He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 21 October, 1883, and was soon brought home again, having been chosen as Flag Lieutenant by Rear-Admiral [[George Tryon]] (flag in the ''Nelson'') during the three years (1884–1887) of his command of the new Australia Station.


Pakenham's remaining nine years as lieutenant were spent mainly as gunnery officer of the small cruisers ''Calypso'', ''Garnet'', and ''Sybille'' in the Training Squadron, and on the Pacific and Mediterranean stations.  While in the ''Calypso'' he again distinguished himself by a brave attempt to save the life of a Petty Officer who had fallen into the sea from the foreyard during drill in Kiel Harbour.
==Early Life & Career==
William Christopher Pakenham was born in London on 10 July, 1861, the son of Captain the Honourable Thomas Alexander Pakenham, Royal Navy, and Sophia, daughter of Sir Tatton Sykes.  His paternal grandfather was Thomas Pakenham, Third Earl of Longford.  He entered the Royal Navy and was appointed to the training ship [[H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship)|''Britannia'']] on 15 July, 1874.  He was discharged to the {{UK-DukeOfWellington}} on 22 July, 1876, and appointed to the battleship ''Minotaur'' on 24 August.  On 4 October he was appointed to the turret ship ''Monarch'' on the [[Mediterranean Station]], and was rated {{MidRN}} on 21 October.  He was appointed to the frigate ''Raleigh'' on 19 May, 1877.  While in the ''Raleigh'' he, with a coxswain, saved the life of an able seaman who fell overboard as the ship was leaving Lanarca, Cyprus.  On 18 September, 1879 he was appointed to the sloop ''Cruiser''.  On 12 March, 1880 he was appointed to the Mediterranean flag ship {{UK-1Alexandra}}, in which he was senior midshipman, and on 21 October, 1880, he was appointed Acting {{SubRN}}, having obtained a First Class Certificate in Seamanship, with 940 marks.  He was appointed to [[H.M.S. Excellent (Gunnery Training School)|''Excellent'']] on 23 October to study for examinations for the rank of {{LieutRN}}.  He joined the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]] in December, and remained there until August, 1881.


Promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1896, Pakenham served for nine months in the old ''Galatea'' (coastguard ship at Hull) and for eighteen months in the ''Venus'' under [[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir Berkeley Milne]] in the Mediterranean. He had qualified as an interpreter in French while on half-pay in 1884, and was selected for duty in the [[Naval Intelligence Department (Royal Navy)|Naval Intelligence Department]] from August, 1899 until March, 1901.  Then he commanded the sloop ''Daphne'' on the China Station, and, after being lent to Rear-Admiral [[Harry Tremenheere Grenfell]]'s flagship ''Albion'' as Acting {{CaptRN}} early in 1902, returned home in June of that year.  He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1903.
On 28 January, 1882, he was appointed to the ''Lion'' for service in the training brig ''Liberty''.  On 8 December he was appointed to the ''Alexandra'' in the Mediterranean.<ref>ADM 196/20.  f. 238.</ref>


The outbreak of war between Russia and Japan was imminent and Pakenham's experience in intelligence work and his linguistic abilities (although he never learnt Japanese) marked him out as the officer to succeed Captain (afterwards Admiral Sir) [[Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge|Ernest Troubridge]], who was due for relief in 1904 as naval attaché in Japan.  War broke out on 6 February, 1904 and Pakenham relieved Troubridge in March, taking his place on board the battleship ''Asahi'' in which he remained continuously until after the final Japanese victory at Tsushima on 27 May, 1905.  His reports to the Admiralty throughout the war revealed a thorough appreciation of the strategic, tactical, and technical implications of the events and situations which he described.  His cool daring in exposing himself to danger in order more completely to observe the proceedings of the great battle much impressed the Japanese, and led the Emperor of Japan, on Admiral Togo's recommendation, to confer on him the Second Class of the Order of the Rising Sun.  He was specially appointed a Companion of the Bath (Military Division) soon after the battle.
Pakenham was appointed to the ''Canada'' on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] as senior member of the gun-room on 1 May, 1883.<ref>ADM 196/42.  f. 13.</ref> A junior midshipman in the mess, [[Sydney Robert Fremantle|Sydney R. Fremantle]], later suggested that Pakenham had been chosen for the task by the Reverend Canon Dalton on account of [[George V|H.R.H. Prince George]] being appointed to the ship.  Fremantle also wrote of Pakenham:


After returning to England in 1906 Pakenham commanded the cruiser ''Antrim'' for two years in the Atlantic Fleet, and then the ''Glory'' and ''Triumph'' (battleship bought from Chile in 1904) in the Mediterranean until January, 1910, when he came home to take command of the new battleship ''Collingwood'' in the Home Fleet, until December, 1911.  Mr. Winston Churchill, in reconstituting his Board soon after taking office, selected Pakenham to be [[Fourth Sea Lord]], being impressed by his reputation as an officer of strong character and his unique experience of modern naval warfare.  On 4 June, 1913, he was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, and in December he took command of the [[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Cruiser Squadron]], Home Fleet, with his flag in his old ship ''Antrim''.
<blockquote>He ruled us - one other sub-lieut., a clerk, & 7 midshipmen, as a benevolent autocrat, & very strictly as regards personal appearance, demeanour & good manners.  In the hottest West Indies weather we were not allowed in the mess without a jacket, while the midshipmen in the other corvettes wore, after working hours, a vest & a towel!<ref>Fremantle to [[Vincent Wilberforce Baddeley|Baddeley]].  Letter of 4 November, 1945.  Baddeley Papers.  National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth.  MSS 264.</ref></blockquote>


On 7 March, 1915 Pakenham was given command of the [[Second Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Second Battle Cruiser Squadron]], flying his flag in [[H.M.A.S. Australia (1911)|''Australia'']].  Through this appointment he became the Rear-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet.  In the [[Battle of Jutland]] (31 May, 1916) Pakenham's flag was flown in the [[H.M.S. New Zealand (1911)|''New Zealand'']], the ''Australia'' being under repair at Devonport after a collision with the ''New Zealand'' in a fog on 22 April.  His remaining ship the [[H.M.S. Indefatigable (1909)|''Indefatigable'']] was blown up and lost early in the battle.  Pakenham distinguished himself by able support of Vice-Admiral [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David (later Earl) Beatty]] and was rewarded by appointment as K.C.B. (1916), being personally decorated with that order and also as K.C.V.O. by the King on the occasion of his visit to the fleet at Rosyth in 1917.  In November, 1916 Beatty became Commander-in-Chief in succession to [[John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|Sir John (later Earl) Jellicoe]], and on his insistent recommendation Pakenham was appointed to succeed him in the command of the [[Battle Cruiser Force]] although there were many officers with strong claims senior to him but who had seen less service with battle cruisers.  He transferred his flag from the ''Australia'' to the ''Lion'' in January, 1917 and retained the command until April, 1919, having been promoted acting Acting {{ViceRN}} in June, 1917 and confirmed in that rank on 1 September, 1918.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30887/pages/10549 no. 30887.  p. 10549.]  6 September, 1918.</ref>
==Lieutenant==
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 21 October, 1883.{{Gaz|25282|5090|26 October, 1883}}


After a period on half pay Pakenham was appointed President of the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]], in August 1919, but at his own request was given another command afloat as Commander-in-Chief on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] in October, 1920.  After two and a half years he returned home. He was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 6 April, 1922, vice [[Robert Stewart Phipps Hornby|Phipps Hornby]],<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32672/pages/3030 no. 32672.  p. 3030.]  14 April, 1922.</ref> and retired at his own request on 1 March 1926.  He long maintained correspondence with his Japanese friends and made a great impression at Geneva in 1927 by travelling from England for the sole purpose of calling upon Admiral Viscount Saito who had been Minister of Marine in 1905.  He was appointed G.C.B. in 1925 and succeeded Sir C. C. Monro as Bath King of Arms in 1930.  He resigned from this post only a few days before his death, which took place at San Sebastian, 28 July 1933. He was unmarried.
On 12 November, 1884, Pakenham was appointed to ''Nelson'' as Flag Lieutenant to [[George Tryon]], Commander-in-Chief on the [[Australian Station]].{{NLSep85|p. 225}}


Pakenham was appointed K.C.M.G (1919), made commander of the Legion of Honour, and given the croix de guerre (bronze palms), the first class of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, the Grand Cordon of the Chinese Order of the Excellent Crop, and the D.S.M. of the United States of America in the post-war award of honours.
In the Jubilee Review of 1887, Pakenham was appointed to ''Vernon'' for command of {{UK-1TB29}}, commanding her on manoeuvres from 1 July.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Saturday, 2 July, 1887.  Issue '''32114''', col C, p. 12.</ref>


Pakenham was a strong-minded, somewhat austere, able, and well-read officer, wholeheartedly devoted to the service and something of a "character" with his faultless care of his personal appearance and dress, his quiet sense of caustic humour, and his studiously polite, if somewhat elaborate, manners. Mr. Churchill paid him a notable tribute in The World Crisis (1923).
Leaving the torpedo boat in September, Pakenham ended the year with a short course in gunnery at {{UK-Excellent|f=p}}.  He then applied that experience as gunnery officer in {{UK-1Calypso}} from April, 1888 to September, 1890 (loaned to {{UK-1Medusa}} for the annual manoeuvres in 1889) and finally four years in {{UK-Garnet}}, ending in September 1894.<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}}  f. 13.</ref>


Numerous stories are told of Pakenham, as that during the battle of Tsushima the casemate on which he was stationed was struck by a shell with resulting casualties, and his white uniform was splashed with blood. He quietly left the deck and returned in a few minutes with spotless attire and resumed his notes of the battle. It is also related that while in the Grand Fleet he always slept fully dressed as in day-time and that he had all the furniture of the admiral's quarters burnt, together with all inflammable articles in the ship including the deck corticine and the companion-ladder, in order to prevent the danger of fire during an action; and he kept only a chair in his bridge cabin.
Pakenham returned to ''Excellent'' to re-qualify in gunnery and torpedoes on 27 October, 1894, emerging on 7 January, 1895. He was then appointed to {{UK-1Sybille}}, though not as gunnery officer, from 8 January, 1895 to 6 August, 1896.<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}}  f. 238.</ref>


A portrait of Pakenham in oils by (Sir) William Nicholson and a charcoal and water-colour drawing by Francis Dodd are in the Imperial War Museum, and he is represented in Sir A. S. Cope's picture ‘Some Sea Officers of the Great War’, painted in 1921, in the National Portrait Gallery.
Pakenham was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1896.{{Gaz|26757|3978|10 July, 1896}}


==Footnotes==
==Captain==
{{reflist}}
Pakenham was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1903.{{Gaz|27572|4187|3 July, 1903}}  On 30 September he was appointed to ''President'' for a [[Royal Naval War College|War Course]], for which he was awarded a First Class on 28 December.  That day he was appointed to the Naval Intelligence Department on Committee Pay & Allowances.  On 20 January, 1904 he was appointed to the battleship [[H.M.S. Glory (1899)|''Glory'']] on the China Station for Special Service, and on 14 March he became Naval Attaché for China and Japan.  In this capacity, he found himself present at the [[Battle of Tsushima]] aboard ''Asahi''.{{CN}}  His appointment as attaché ended on 1 January, 1906.
 
On 31 August, 1906, he was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser [[H.M.S. Antrim (1903)|''Antrim'']]<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/42.  f. 13.</ref> in the {{UK-CS|2}}.  He was superseded in command on 1 September, 1908, and on 8 September again took command of the his old ship ''Glory'' in the Mediterranean.{{NLOct08|p. 321}}  On 29 March, 1909 he was given command of the second-class battleship [[H.M.S. Triumph (1903)|''Triumph'']].{{CN}}  On 19 January, 1910, he was appointed to ''Vivid'' for command of the new dreadnought battleship [[H.M.S. Collingwood (1908)|''Collingwood'']],<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/42.  f. 13.</ref> building at [[Devonport Royal Dockyard]].  He commissioned her on 19 April, and was superseded in command on 1 December, 1911.  On 20 November of that year he had been offered the position of [[Fourth Sea Lord]] on the [[Board of Admiralty]] by [[Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill|Winston L. S. Churchill]], the [[First Lord of the Admiralty]].<ref>Churchill to Pakenham. Letter of 20 November, 1911. Pakenham papers. National Maritime Museum. PKM/4/2.</ref> He took up the position on 5 December. In March, 1913, he was so concerned by Churchill's refusal to support "adequate measures for safe-guarding the oil-fuel position" that he wrote out a letter of resignation.<ref>Pakenham to Churchill. Letter of 28 March, 1913. Pakenham papers. National Maritime Museum. PKM/4/4.</ref>
 
==Flag Rank==
Pakenham was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 4 June, 1913, vice [[Thomas Henry Martyn Jerram|Jerram]].{{Gaz|28726|3992|6 June, 1913}}  On 19 December he hoisted his flag in [[H.M.S. Boadicea (1908)|''Boadicea'']] as Rear-Admiral Commanding the [[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Cruiser Squadron]], and transferred it to [[H.M.S. Antrim (1903)|''Antrim'']] the following day.
 
==Great War==
As ordered by First Lord of the Admiralty,<ref>S-1320b Signal dated 3.6.15 in Jackson Papers at NMM.</ref> Pakenham assumed command of the {{UK-BCS|2}} on 7 March, 1915.{{UKCeased|f. 10}}
 
On 15 September, 1916 he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) dated 31 May.{{GazSup|29751|9070|15 September, 1916}}
 
He was appointed in command of the [[Battle Cruiser Force]] in November 1916, assuming command on the 29th.{{SMNLJan17|p. 6}}
 
He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 September, 1918.{{Gaz|30887|10549|6 September, 1918}}
 
==Post-War==
On 1 January, 1919, Pakenham was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.).  He struck his flag in command of the Battle Cruiser Fleet on 28 February and on 1 August was appointed President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.<ref>ADM 196/42.  f. 311.</ref>
 
He was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station on 25 October, 1920, and was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 6 April, 1922, vice [[Robert Stewart Phipps Hornby|Phipps Hornby]].{{Gaz|32672|3030|14 April, 1922}}  He was superseded in command of the North American station on 1 January, 1923.<ref>ADM 196/42.  f. 311.</ref> He was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 1 March, 1926.{{Gaz|33139|1650|5 March, 1926}}


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*"Admiral Sir William Pakenham" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 31 July, 1933.  Issue '''46510''', col A, pg. 7.
*"Admiral Sir William Pakenham" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 31 July, 1933.  Issue '''46510''', col A, p. 7.
*Lowis, Commander Geoffrey L. (1959).  ''Fabulous Admirals and Some Naval Fragments''.  London: Putnam.
* {{LowisFabulousAdmirals}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


==Papers==
==Papers==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/archive/catalogue/record.cfm?ID=PKM Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.]
*[http://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/486188.html Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.] For a detailed list see [[Pakenham Papers at the National Maritime Museum]].
*Papers in the possession of the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


Line 45: Line 66:
==Service Records==
==Service Records==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7917445&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/42.]
*{{TNA|ADM 196/88.|D8115388}}
*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7905963&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/20.]
*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112165}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/20.|D7590486}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 29 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 29]]'''<br>1 Jul, 1887<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 2 July, 1887.  Issue '''32114''', col C, p. 12.</ref> &ndash; 19 Aug, 1887<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}} f. 238.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lionel Herbert Hordern|Lionel H. Hordern]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles William Winnington-Ingram|Charles W. Winnington-Ingram]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Daphne (1888)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Daphne'']]'''<br>15 May, 1901<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Warrington Hewett|William W. Hewett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Albion (1898)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Albion'']]'''<br>30 Jan, 1902<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Henry Martyn Jerram|Thomas H. M. Jerram]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Godfrey Harry Brydges Mundy|Godfrey H. B. Mundy]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Barham (1889)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Barham'']]'''<br>19 Jul, 1902<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 6 Dec, 1902<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Anthony Francis Gurney|Anthony F. Gurney]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Fitzmaurice Inglefield|Edward F. Inglefield]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Antrim (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Antrim'']]'''<br>31 Aug, 1906{{NLJan08|p. 278}}<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 1 Sep, 1908<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Francis Boyle|The Hon. Robert F. Boyle]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Stewart Phipps Hornby|Robert S. Phipps Hornby]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Glory (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Glory'']]'''<br>8 Sep, 1908{{NLOct08|p. 321}}<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 29 Mar, 1909<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmund Radcliffe Pears|Edmund R. Pears]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edmund Radcliffe Pears|Edmund R. Pears]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Triumph (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Triumph'']]'''<br>29 Mar, 1909<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 25 Dec, 1909<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Francis George Eyre|Francis G. Eyre]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Collingwood (1908)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Collingwood'']]'''<br>19 Jan, 1910<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>{{NLApr11|p. 294}} &ndash; 1 Dec, 1911<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Lionel Vaughan-Lee|Charles L. Vaughan-Lee]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|Charles E. Madden]]'''|'''[[Fourth Sea Lord|Fourth Sea Lord]]'''<br>5 Dec, 1911<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 1 Dec, 1913<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Foley Lambert|Cecil F. Lambert]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|Charles E. Madden]]'''|'''[[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>1 Dec, 1913<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 7 Mar, 1915<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Lowther Grant|William L. Grant]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron'''</small>}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Edwin Patey|Sir George E. Patey]]'''|'''[[Second Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>7 Mar, 1915{{UKCeased|f. 10}}<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref> &ndash; 29 Nov, 1916<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 13.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Arthur C. Leveson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Edwin Patey|George E. Patey]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet'''</small>|'''[[Australian Station|Rear-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet]]'''<br>1915{{CN}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Arthur C. Leveson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David R. Beatty]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet'''</small>|'''[[Battle Cruiser Force|Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Force]]'''<br>29 Nov, 1916{{UKCeased|f. 8}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Sir Henry B. Jackson]]'''|'''[[Royal Naval College, Greenwich|President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich]]'''<br>1 Aug, 1919<ref>Pakenham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}}  f. 619.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Charles Tudor Tudor|Sir Frederick C. T. Tudor]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Trevylyan Dacres Willes Napier|Sir Trevylyan D. W. Napier]]'''|'''[[North America and West Indies Station|Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station]]'''<br>16 Oct, 1920<ref>"Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 22 September, 1920.  Issue '''42522''', col F, p. 4.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Michael Culme-Seymour, Fourth Baronet|Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart.]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pakenham, William Christopher}}


{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center"
{{CatPerson|UK|1861|1933}}
|-
{{CatBritannia|July, 1874}}
| colspan="3" align="center" style="background:#CEDFF2" | '''Naval Offices'''
{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
|-
{{CatAdm|UK}}
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|Charles E. Madden]]'''
{{CatInterpreter|UK}}
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Fourth Sea Lord]]'''<br>1911 &ndash; 1913
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Foley Lambert|Cecil F. Lambert]]'''
|-
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|Charles E. Madden]]'''
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding,<br>Third Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>1913 &ndash; 1915
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Lowther Grant|William L. Grant]]'''
|-
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore|Sir A. Gordon H. W. Moore]]'''
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Second Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding,<br>Second Battle Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>1915 &ndash; 1916
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Arthur C. Leveson]]'''
|-
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[David Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David Beatty]]'''
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Battle Cruiser Force|Vice-Admiral Commanding,<br>Battle Cruiser Force]]'''<br>1916 &ndash; 1919
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]]'''
|-
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Sir Henry B. Jackson]]'''
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Royal Naval College, Greenwich|President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich]]'''<br>1919 &ndash; 1920
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Charles Tudor Tudor|Sir Frederick C. T. Tudor]]'''
|-
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Trevylyan Dacres Willes Napier|Sir Trevylyan D. W. Napier]]'''
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[North America and West Indies Station|Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station]]'''<br>1920 &ndash; 1923
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Michael Culme-Seymour, Fourth Baronet|Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart.]]'''
|-
|}


[[Category:1861 births|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Royal Navy Officers Educated at Stubbington House School]]
[[Category:1933 deaths|Pakenham]]
{{CatRN}}
[[Category:Personalities|Pakenham]]
[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of July, 1874|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Commmanding Officers of H.M.S. Antrim (1903)|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Commmanding Officers of H.M.S. Glory (1899)|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Commmanding Officers of H.M.S. Triumph (1903)|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Commmanding Officers of H.M.S. Collingwood (1908)|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Fourth Sea Lords|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Rear-Admirals Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Rear-Admirals Commanding, Second Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Vice-Admirals Commanding, Battle Cruiser Force|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Royal Navy Admirals|Pakenham]]
[[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Pakenham]]

Latest revision as of 15:58, 7 April 2022

Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham, as Vice-Admiral, 1919.
© National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR William Christopher Pakenham, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., R.N. (10 July, 1861 – 28 July, 1933) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

William Christopher Pakenham was born in London on 10 July, 1861, the son of Captain the Honourable Thomas Alexander Pakenham, Royal Navy, and Sophia, daughter of Sir Tatton Sykes. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Pakenham, Third Earl of Longford. He entered the Royal Navy and was appointed to the training ship Britannia on 15 July, 1874. He was discharged to the Duke of Wellington on 22 July, 1876, and appointed to the battleship Minotaur on 24 August. On 4 October he was appointed to the turret ship Monarch on the Mediterranean Station, and was rated Midshipman on 21 October. He was appointed to the frigate Raleigh on 19 May, 1877. While in the Raleigh he, with a coxswain, saved the life of an able seaman who fell overboard as the ship was leaving Lanarca, Cyprus. On 18 September, 1879 he was appointed to the sloop Cruiser. On 12 March, 1880 he was appointed to the Mediterranean flag ship Alexandra, in which he was senior midshipman, and on 21 October, 1880, he was appointed Acting Sub-Lieutenant, having obtained a First Class Certificate in Seamanship, with 940 marks. He was appointed to Excellent on 23 October to study for examinations for the rank of Lieutenant. He joined the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in December, and remained there until August, 1881.

On 28 January, 1882, he was appointed to the Lion for service in the training brig Liberty. On 8 December he was appointed to the Alexandra in the Mediterranean.[1]

Pakenham was appointed to the Canada on the North America and West Indies Station as senior member of the gun-room on 1 May, 1883.[2] A junior midshipman in the mess, Sydney R. Fremantle, later suggested that Pakenham had been chosen for the task by the Reverend Canon Dalton on account of H.R.H. Prince George being appointed to the ship. Fremantle also wrote of Pakenham:

He ruled us - one other sub-lieut., a clerk, & 7 midshipmen, as a benevolent autocrat, & very strictly as regards personal appearance, demeanour & good manners. In the hottest West Indies weather we were not allowed in the mess without a jacket, while the midshipmen in the other corvettes wore, after working hours, a vest & a towel![3]

Lieutenant

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 21 October, 1883.[4]

On 12 November, 1884, Pakenham was appointed to Nelson as Flag Lieutenant to George Tryon, Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station.[5]

In the Jubilee Review of 1887, Pakenham was appointed to Vernon for command of T.B. 29, commanding her on manoeuvres from 1 July.[6]

Leaving the torpedo boat in September, Pakenham ended the year with a short course in gunnery at H.M.S. Excellent. He then applied that experience as gunnery officer in Calypso from April, 1888 to September, 1890 (loaned to Medusa for the annual manoeuvres in 1889) and finally four years in Garnet, ending in September 1894.[7]

Pakenham returned to Excellent to re-qualify in gunnery and torpedoes on 27 October, 1894, emerging on 7 January, 1895. He was then appointed to Sybille, though not as gunnery officer, from 8 January, 1895 to 6 August, 1896.[8]

Pakenham was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1896.[9]

Captain

Pakenham was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1903.[10] On 30 September he was appointed to President for a War Course, for which he was awarded a First Class on 28 December. That day he was appointed to the Naval Intelligence Department on Committee Pay & Allowances. On 20 January, 1904 he was appointed to the battleship Glory on the China Station for Special Service, and on 14 March he became Naval Attaché for China and Japan. In this capacity, he found himself present at the Battle of Tsushima aboard Asahi.[Citation needed] His appointment as attaché ended on 1 January, 1906.

On 31 August, 1906, he was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Antrim[11] in the Second Cruiser Squadron. He was superseded in command on 1 September, 1908, and on 8 September again took command of the his old ship Glory in the Mediterranean.[12] On 29 March, 1909 he was given command of the second-class battleship Triumph.[Citation needed] On 19 January, 1910, he was appointed to Vivid for command of the new dreadnought battleship Collingwood,[13] building at Devonport Royal Dockyard. He commissioned her on 19 April, and was superseded in command on 1 December, 1911. On 20 November of that year he had been offered the position of Fourth Sea Lord on the Board of Admiralty by Winston L. S. Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty.[14] He took up the position on 5 December. In March, 1913, he was so concerned by Churchill's refusal to support "adequate measures for safe-guarding the oil-fuel position" that he wrote out a letter of resignation.[15]

Flag Rank

Pakenham was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 4 June, 1913, vice Jerram.[16] On 19 December he hoisted his flag in Boadicea as Rear-Admiral Commanding the Third Cruiser Squadron, and transferred it to Antrim the following day.

Great War

As ordered by First Lord of the Admiralty,[17] Pakenham assumed command of the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron on 7 March, 1915.[18]

On 15 September, 1916 he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) dated 31 May.[19]

He was appointed in command of the Battle Cruiser Force in November 1916, assuming command on the 29th.[20]

He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 September, 1918.[21]

Post-War

On 1 January, 1919, Pakenham was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.). He struck his flag in command of the Battle Cruiser Fleet on 28 February and on 1 August was appointed President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.[22]

He was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station on 25 October, 1920, and was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 6 April, 1922, vice Phipps Hornby.[23] He was superseded in command of the North American station on 1 January, 1923.[24] He was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 1 March, 1926.[25]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir William Pakenham" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 31 July, 1933. Issue 46510, col A, p. 7.
  • 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.

Papers

Images

  • 1920 William Nicholson portrait in the possession of the Imperial War Museum. Catalogue Number 3142.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 29
1 Jul, 1887[26] – 19 Aug, 1887[27] 		Succeeded by
Lionel H. Hordern
Preceded by
Charles W. Winnington-Ingram 		Captain of H.M.S. Daphne
15 May, 1901[28] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
William W. Hewett 		Captain of H.M.S. Albion
30 Jan, 1902[29] 		Succeeded by
Thomas H. M. Jerram
Preceded by
Godfrey H. B. Mundy 		Captain of H.M.S. Barham
19 Jul, 1902[30] – 6 Dec, 1902[31] 		Succeeded by
Anthony F. Gurney
Preceded by
Edward F. Inglefield 		Captain of H.M.S. Antrim
31 Aug, 1906[32][33] – 1 Sep, 1908[34] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Robert F. Boyle
Preceded by
Robert S. Phipps Hornby 		Captain of H.M.S. Glory
8 Sep, 1908[35][36] – 29 Mar, 1909[37] 		Succeeded by
Edmund R. Pears
Preceded by
Edmund R. Pears 		Captain of H.M.S. Triumph
29 Mar, 1909[38] – 25 Dec, 1909[39] 		Succeeded by
Francis G. Eyre
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Collingwood
19 Jan, 1910[40][41] – 1 Dec, 1911[42] 		Succeeded by
Charles L. Vaughan-Lee
Preceded by
Charles E. Madden 		Fourth Sea Lord
5 Dec, 1911[43] – 1 Dec, 1913[44] 		Succeeded by
Cecil F. Lambert
Preceded by
Charles E. Madden 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
1 Dec, 1913[45] – 7 Mar, 1915[46] 		Succeeded by
William L. Grant
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
Sir George E. Patey 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Cruiser Squadron
7 Mar, 1915[47][48] – 29 Nov, 1916[49] 		Succeeded by
Arthur C. Leveson
Preceded by
George E. Patey
as Vice-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet 		Rear-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet
1915[Citation needed] 		Succeeded by
Arthur C. Leveson
Preceded by
Sir David R. Beatty
as Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet 		Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Force
29 Nov, 1916[50] 		Succeeded by
Sir Henry F. Oliver
Preceded by
Sir Henry B. Jackson 		President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
1 Aug, 1919[51] 		Succeeded by
Sir Frederick C. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Sir Trevylyan D. W. Napier 		Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station
16 Oct, 1920[52] 		Succeeded by
Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ ADM 196/20. f. 238.
  2. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  3. ↑ Fremantle to Baddeley. Letter of 4 November, 1945. Baddeley Papers. National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. MSS 264.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25282. p. 5090. 26 October, 1883.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1885). p. 225.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  7. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 13.
  8. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 238.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26757. p. 3978. 10 July, 1896.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27572. p. 4187. 3 July, 1903.
  11. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 321.
  13. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  14. ↑ Churchill to Pakenham. Letter of 20 November, 1911. Pakenham papers. National Maritime Museum. PKM/4/2.
  15. ↑ Pakenham to Churchill. Letter of 28 March, 1913. Pakenham papers. National Maritime Museum. PKM/4/4.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28726. p. 3992. 6 June, 1913.
  17. ↑ S-1320b Signal dated 3.6.15 in Jackson Papers at NMM.
  18. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 10.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 6.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30887. p. 10549. 6 September, 1918.
  22. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 311.
  23. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32672. p. 3030. 14 April, 1922.
  24. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 311.
  25. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.
  26. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  27. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 238.
  28. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  29. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  30. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  31. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  32. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 278.
  33. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  34. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  35. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 321.
  36. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  37. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  38. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  39. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  40. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  41. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 294.
  42. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  43. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  44. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  45. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  46. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 13.
  47. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 10.
  48. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  49. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 13.
  50. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  51. ↑ Pakenham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 619.
  52. ↑ "Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 22 September, 1920. Issue 42522, col F, p. 4.

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