George Henry Baird

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Rear-Admiral SIR George Henry Baird, K.C.B., Royal Navy (14 October, 1871 – 22 October, 1924) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

He was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 14 May, 1891. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 14 November, 1892.[1]

He was appointed to the battleship Venerable on 15 March, 1906.[2]

Baird was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1909.[3]

Baird was appointed in command of King George V on 7 March, 1913.[4]

Baird commanded the battleship Ajax, part of the Second Battle Squadron, at the Battle of Jutland. His after-action report is a brief disappointment in which he bemourned visibility conditions that prevented the discharge of more than a single ineffective salvo in the fading light.[5]

He was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 1 January, 1918.[6]

On 6 April 1918, Baird was appointed to Egmont as Director of Shipping Movements on Staff of C-in-C Mediterranean as Commodore, First Class, remaining there until 28 March, 1919[7]

Post-War

Baird was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 26 March, 1920, vice Jackson.[8]

Assessment

Speaking to Captain Herbert W. Richmond in 1917, Baird apparently said of Jutland, "To wait all that time & then turn away from them instead of towards them, was sickening They gave us our chance & we weren't allowed to take it."[9] Accepting that this conversation took place, this writer has been unable to find among the Jutland papers any mention of Captain Baird hauling Ajax out of the line after the Germans, or of him signalling his immediate superior in the battle line, Vice-Admiral Jerram, suggesting that he do the same. Just because a junior officer is willing to risk his ship doesn't mean that it is necessary, or even advisable. — SIMON HARLEY, Co-editor.

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Rear-Admiral Sir G. H. Baird" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 23 October, 1924. Issue 43790, col B, p. 17.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
James A. Fergusson
Captain of H.M.S. Shannon
9 Aug, 1910[10][11] – Mar, 1912[12]
Succeeded by
Charles D. Carpendale
Preceded by
Crawford Maclachlan
Captain of H.M.S. Indomitable
21 Feb, 1912[13] – 11 Nov, 1912[14]
Succeeded by
Francis W. Kennedy
Preceded by
Ronald A. Hopwood
Captain of H.M.S. Hercules
20 Jan, 1913[15] – Jan, 1913
Succeeded by
Mark E. F. Kerr
Preceded by
Mark E. F. Kerr
Captain of H.M.S. King George V
7 Mar, 1913[16] – 16 Dec, 1915[17]
Succeeded by
Frederick L. Field
Preceded by
Sir Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan
Captain of H.M.S. Ajax
1 Feb, 1916[18] – 21 Mar, 1918[19]
Succeeded by
David M. Anderson
Preceded by
E. Hyde Parker
Director of the Mobilisation Department
1921
Succeeded by
John W. L. McClintock

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 26356. p. 7551. 23 December, 1892.
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 9 March, 1906. Issue 37963, col A, p. 10.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 28263. p. 4857. 25 June, 1909.
  4. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 343.
  5. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 43, 377.
  6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30451. p. 80. 1 January, 1918.
  7. Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  8. The London Gazette: no. 31870. p. 4575. 20 April, 1920.
  9. Diary entry for 4 May, 1917. Quoted in Marder. Portrait of an Admiral. p. 247.
  10. Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  11. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 374.
  12. Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  13. Roberts. Battlecruisers. p. 122.
  14. Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  15. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 323.
  16. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 395h.
  17. Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  18. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 391e.
  19. Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.