Jellicoe:Controversy and Dismissal

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The Life of Admiral of the Fleet
John Rushworth Jellicoe,
First Earl Jellicoe
5 December, 1869 – 20 November, 1935
Jellicoe, 1920.JPG
Chapters
Background and Early Life • Service as Lieutenant • Commander • Command and China • Director of Naval Ordnance • Flag Rank and Controller • Sea Service and Second Sea Lord • Command of the Grand Fleet • The War at Sea, 1914-1916 • The Battle of Jutland • After Jutland • First Sea Lord and the Submarine Menace • Controversy and Dismissal • Empire Tour • Governor-General of New Zealand • The Jutland Controversy • Retirement • Death and Legacy

Health

Roskill has suggested "that a careful clinical examination would have produced a diagnosis of peptic ulcers."[1] Jellicoe's friend and subordinate at the Admiralty, Frederic Dreyer, maintained however that the First Sea Lord's health wasn't an issue at all. He wrote later Jellicoe "was physically very fit, running about a mile in the Mall every morning before breakfast."[2] There is a story that a minute by Jellicoe was "almost incoherent" with the result that Geddes was prompted to endorse it, "Better not use this argument."[3] The tale has been repeated elsewhere,[4][5] but the originator later noted that the negative endorsement was not written by Geddes, but probably by someone in Cabinet.[6] In the editor's opinion, the paper in question, "Remarks on a Scheme of an Imperial Air Policy" (dated 14 August, 1917),[7] makes perfect sense.

Friction with Geddes and Wemyss

On 7 August Vice-Admiral Wemyss had replaced Burney as Second Sea Lord.[8] Jellicoe wrote to Beatty on 4 August that, "I am very sorry for Burney. It is a great blow to any man's pride to be moved without any reason being assigned and he feels it greatly. I shall like Wemyss here of course. He is such a nice fellow to work with."[9] On 6 September Wemyss was appointed as Deputy First Sea Lord[10] in order to combine staff duties with personnel in his capacity as Second Sea Lord. This was done at Geddes's behest, but Wemyss realised the burden of staff work and departmental work as Chief of Naval Personnel would be too much for him, and at his request he was relieved, Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert L. Heath assuming office as Second Sea Lord on 27 September.[11]

Wemyss later recalled in his uncompleted memoirs:

Some time in December I had a conversation with him and told him that I feared I was not of as much assistance to him as I had hoped to be. I pointed out to him that he was giving me no responsibilities and that as matters stood I was merely giving an extra opinion on dockets which could be well dispensed with, and I asked him directly whether he trusted me or not.
His reply was to the effect that he entirely trusted me, but that he could see no way towards shifting any of his responsibilities on to me, since such would not be legal. My reply was that it was legally a matter for the First Lord, and that if he chose to appoint certain duties to me, the procedure would be constitutionally correct. Sir John did not agree with me and the matter was dropped for the time; but I seriously began to reconsider my position, and to wonder whether it was right or useful to remainunder such circumstances. I knew that to throw up my appointment would cause more difficulties.[12]

Dismissal

At 6 p.m. on December 24th I received Geddes's letter of dismissal. No reason was given, merely a statement that he considered a change desirable.[13]

In so many words Jellicoe described his dismissal as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. He supposedly had had a fourteen hour day,[14] punctuated by a deputation of Grand Fleet Captains presenting him with a silver model of Iron Duke as a token of their esteem for him.[15] Winton states that "at 6 p.m. on Christmas Ever a special messenger arrived with a blue envelope - what the girls always called afterwards the 'blue letter' - marked 'Personal and Strictly Private'.[16] Temple Patterson says much the same.[17] Roskill claims that Jellicoe "found" the letter "on his desk at the Admiralty."[18] The letter read:

My dear Sir John Jellicoe,
After very careful consideration I have come to the conclusion that a change is desirable in the post of First Sea Lord. I have not, I can assure you, arrived at this view hastily or without great personal regret and reluctance. I have consulted the Prime Minister and with his concurrence I am asking to see The King to make this recommendation to him.
The Prime Minister asks me to tell you that in recognition of your past very distinguished services he proposes to recommend to His Majesty that a peerage should be bestowed upon you. I have thought that you would prefer me to convey this decision to you in writing but, should you wish to see me, I shall of course be at your disposal at any time. My regret at having to convey this decision to you is the greater in view of the very cordial personal relations which have existed between us throughout.
Yrs Sincerely E.C. Geddes[19]

Jellicoe later recalled his reaction:

The letter was marked "Personal and Strictly Private" and I felt a difficulty in consulting anyone as to my line of action, but I decided I must speak to someone, and saw Halsey (3rd Sea Lord), told him what had occurred, and that I felt I could hardly carry on in the circumstances, and proposed going on leave, telling Wemyss (Deputy 1st Sea Lord) to carry on. I asked if he thought this course justified and he agreed. I then wrote accordingly to Geddes, saying however that of course I would do what was best for the Service.[13]

His reply to Geddes ran thus:

Dear Sir Eric Geddes,
I have received your letter. You do not assign a reason for your action, but I assume that it is due to a want of confidence in me.
Under these conditions you will realise that it is difficult for me to continue my work, as action taken by me may commit my successor and may be contrary to your own views. I shall therefore be glad to be relieved as soon as possible, and if you prefer that Admiral Wemyss should take my place temporarily I am ready to go on leave to facilitate matters.
Yours sincerely
J.R. Jellicoe
I am of course ready to do what is best for the service without regard to any personal feelings. That I am sure you will understand.[19]

Geddes responded promptly, it still being Christmas Eve:

Dear Sir John Jellicoe,
Thank you for your letter. I am obliged to you for your assurance that whatever is best for the Service is acceptable to you. You suggest going on leave and I think that will be quite satisfactory. I am asking Admiral Wemyss to arrange accordingly.
Yours sincerely
E.C. Geddes

Aftermath

On 27 December Hankey sent Jellicoe a letter of sympathy:

My dear Admiral,
I was most awfully sorry to read in the newspaper this morning that you were leaving the Admiralty, and I should like to say how much I have admired the way you have tackled the difficult problems with which you were confronted, and literally put a new face on the submarine warfare.
May I at the same time offer my congratulations on the well-earned peerage?[20]

Jellicoe replied the following day:

My dear Hankey,
Thank you very much for your letter and when you hear of the manner of my dismissal you will be surprised, of one can ever be surprised at the deeds of those in power nowadays. I am very sorry our association is at an end.[20]

Revolt of the Admirals

According to the memoirs of then Vice-Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, "None of them [the Sea Lords] would speak to Wemyss after his dirty work, as he must have known that Jellicoe was to be dismissed when the time came, and that he was to succeed him."[21]

Commander-in-Chief at the Nore

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Roskill. "The Dismissal of Admiral Jellicoe". p. 69.
  2. ↑ Dreyer. The Sea Heritage. p. 224.
  3. ↑ Roskill. "The Dismissal of Admiral Jellicoe". p. 69.
  4. ↑ Temple Patterson. Jellicoe. p. 193.
  5. ↑ Winton. Jellicoe. p. 252.
  6. ↑ Documents Relating to the Naval Air Service. I. p. 497.
  7. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 116/1606. Reproduced in Documents Relating to the Naval Air Service. I. pp. 497-499.
  8. ↑ Keyes Papers. I. p. 404.
  9. ↑ Beatty Papers. Reproduced in Jellicoe Papers. II. p. 192.
  10. ↑ Wester Wemyss. ed. The Life and Letters of Lord Wester Wemyss. p. 506.
  11. ↑ Marder. From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow. IV. p. 223.
  12. ↑ Wester Wemyss. ed. The Life and Letters of Lord Wester Wemyss. p. 364.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 British Library. Add. MSS. 49009. Reproduced in Jellicoe Papers. II. p. 244.
  14. ↑ Gibson; Harper. The Riddle of Jutland. p. 325.
  15. ↑ Marder. From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow. IV. p. 341.
  16. ↑ Winton. Jellicoe. p. 259.
  17. ↑ Temple Patterson. Jellicoe. p. 203.
  18. ↑ Roskill. "The Dismissal of Admiral Jellicoe". p. 72.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Quoted in Roskill. "The Dismissal of Admiral Jellicoe". p. 73.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Quoted in Roskill. Hankey: Man of Secrets. I. p. 473.
  21. ↑ de Chair. The Sea is Strong. p. 237.

Bibliography

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