Gerard Henry Uctred Noel

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Admiral of the Fleet SIR Gerard Henry Uctred Noel, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., Royal Navy (5 March, 1845 – 23 May, 1918) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Noel was promoted to the rank of Captain on 11 January, 1881.[1]

Noel was appointed to the battle ship Temeraire on 26 October, 1889.[2] He was appointed to H.M.S. Nile in command on 30 June, 1891.[3]

According to his Flag Captain, The Hon. Maurice Bourke, Tryon once pointed to Noel's ship and said, "Oh I wish they were all like that!"[4]

Allegedly, when his Commander, Reginald C. Prothero, wished him a "Good morning, sir" when the ship was weighing anchor at three o'clock one morning, Noel replied, "Captain Prothero, this is no time for frivolous compliments."[5]

Noel was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 8 May, 1896, vice Fisher.[6]

Flag Rank

Noel allegedly sent what is perhaps the most entertaining—and threatening—signal made in British Naval History:

If you had reason to find fault with my orders, you should have made an appropriate signal to me, not vented your views on Theseus. I am on my way to see you in my frock coat and sword.[7]

Noel was appointed Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves on 21 May, 1900,[8] in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Compton E. Domvile.[9]

On 2 November, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, vice Fisher.[10]

Admiral Sir Sydney Fremantle, who had served under Noel as a Midshipman in Rover, later recalled of him:

He was a fine seaman, and had, as a younger man, shown his cultivated and progressive mentality by publishing an essay which was much discussed, the subject being naval tactics under the title, "The Gun, Ram and Torpedo". He had, unfortunately, a violent temper, was a stern disciplinarian, and was very difficult to please.[11]

He was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 2 December, 1908, in the place of Sir James E. Erskine.[12]

On 5 March, 1915, Noel was placed on the Retired List.[13]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ London Gazette: no. 24924. p. 180. 14 January, 1881.
  2. ↑ Navy List (March, 1891). p. 257.
  3. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 15 June, 1891. Issue 33351, col B, pg. 10.
  4. ↑ Bourke to Noel. Letter of 22 August, 1893. Quoted in Gordon. Rules of the Game. p. 207.
  5. ↑ Quoted in Lowis. Fabulous Admirals. p. 44.
  6. ↑ London Gazette: no. 26740. p. 2988. 19 May, 1896.
  7. ↑ Paymaster Rear-Admiral Martin Gilbert Bennett (father of Captain Geoffrey Bennett). Recollection quoted in Bennett. Charlie B. p. 235.
  8. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 9 May, 1900. Issue 36137, col C, pg. 12.
  9. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 27 April, 1900. Issue 36127, col C, pg. 5.
  10. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27373. p. 7223. 8 November, 1901.
  11. ↑ Fremantle. My Naval Career. p. 109.
  12. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28201. p. 9182. 1 December, 1908.
  13. ↑ London Gazette: no. 29094. p. 2365. 9 March, 1915.

Bibliography

Papers

Service Records


Naval Offices
Preceded by
Lord Walter Kerr 		Junior Naval Lord
1893 – 1898 		Succeeded by
Arthur W. Moore
Preceded by
Robert Hastings Harris 		Second-in-Command,
Mediterranean
1898 – 1900 		Succeeded by
Lord Charles Beresford
Preceded by
Sir Compton E. Domvile 		Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves
1900 – 1903 		Succeeded by
Position Abolished
Preceded by
Sir Cyprian A. G. Bridge 		Commander-in-Chief on the China Station
1904 – 1906 		Succeeded by
Sir Arthur W. Moore
Preceded by
Sir Hugo L. Pearson 		Commander-in-Chief at the Nore
1907 – 1908 		Succeeded by
Charles C. Drury
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