Gerard Henry Uctred Noel
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
He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 March, 1874.[1]
Noel was promoted to the rank of Captain on 11 January, 1881.[2]
Noel was appointed to the battle ship Temeraire on 26 October, 1889.[3] He was appointed to H.M.S. Nile in command on 30 June, 1891.[4]
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!"[5]
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."[6]
Noel was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 8 May, 1896, vice Fisher.[7]
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.[8]
Noel was appointed Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves on 21 May, 1900,[9] in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Compton E. Domvile.[10]
On 2 November, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, vice Fisher.[11]
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.[12]
He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 24 May, 1905, vice Dale.[13]
He was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 2 December, 1908, in the place of Sir James E. Erskine.[14]
On 5 March, 1915, Noel was placed on the Retired List.[15]
Footnotes
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 24082. p. 1923. 31 March, 1874.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 24924. p. 180. 14 January, 1881.
- ↑ Navy List (March, 1891). p. 257.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 15 June, 1891. Issue 33351, col B, pg. 10.
- ↑ Bourke to Noel. Letter of 22 August, 1893. Quoted in Gordon. Rules of the Game. p. 207.
- ↑ Quoted in Lowis. Fabulous Admirals. p. 44.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26740. p. 2988. 19 May, 1896.
- ↑ Paymaster Rear-Admiral Martin Gilbert Bennett (father of Captain Geoffrey Bennett). Recollection quoted in Bennett. Charlie B. p. 235.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 9 May, 1900. Issue 36137, col C, pg. 12.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 27 April, 1900. Issue 36127, col C, pg. 5.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27373. p. 7223. 8 November, 1901.
- ↑ Fremantle. My Naval Career. p. 109.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27801. p. 4032. 6 June, 1905.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28201. p. 9182. 1 December, 1908.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 29094. p. 2365. 9 March, 1915.
Bibliography
- "Death of Sir Gerard Noel" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 24 May, 1918. Issue 41798, col B, pg. 8.
- Template:BibFremantleMyNavalCareer
- Template:BibGordonRules2005
Papers
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/37.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/15.
| 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 |
- 1845 births
- 1918 deaths
- Personalities
- Commanding Officers of H.M.S. Temeraire (1876)
- Junior Naval Lords
- Seconds-in-Command, Mediterranean Station
- Admirals Superintendent of Naval Reserves
- Commanders-in-Chief on the China Station
- Commanders-in-Chief at the Nore
- Royal Navy Admirals of the Fleet
- Royal Navy Flag Officers
