Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax

Admiral THE HONOURABLE SIR Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, K.C.B., D.S.O., Royal Navy (22 August, 1880 – 16 October, 1967) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Drax was born Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett in London on 28 August, 1880, the second son of John William Plunkett, later Seventeenth Baron of Dunsany, and his wife, Ernle Elizabeth Louisa Maria Grosvenor Burton. He was the younger brother of the future Eighteenth Baron of Dunsany and in 1916 on inheriting estates from his mother he assumed by Royal Licence the additional names of Ernle-Erle-Drax. Thenceforth he was usually known by the surname of Drax.

From Cheam School he joined the Britannia.

On 4 November, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, dated 15 January.

With superb conceit, Plunkett wrote in his diary in 1912:

I cannot help thinking that Richmond, Dewar, I and a few others must try to undertake the regeneration of the British Navy.

On 30 June, 1912, Plunkett was promoted to the rank of Commander.

Drax was appointed C.B. in 1928 and K.C.B. in 1934. In 1916 he married Kathleen (died 1980), daughter of Quintin Chalmers, MD, and sister of Lieutenant (later Rear-Admiral) W. S. Chalmers. Drax died in Poole on 16 October, 1967.

Bibliography

• "Sir Reginald Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 18 October, 1967. Issue 57075, col F, pg. 12.
• Davison, Robert L. (April 2003). "Striking a Balance Between Dissent and Discipline: Admiral Sir Reginald Drax". The Northern Mariner/Le Marin du nord XIII (2): pp. 43-57.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of Churchill Archives Centre, University of Cambridge.

Service Record

• The National Archives. ADM 196/45.