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[[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''George Henry Baird''', K.C.B., Royal Navy (14 October, 1871 &ndash; 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 {{LieutRN}} with seniority of 14 November, 1892.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26356/pages/7551 no. 26356. p. 7551.] 23 December, 1892.</ref> He was appointed to the {{UK-Venerable|f=t}} on 15 March, 1906.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Friday, 9 March, 1906. Issue '''37963''', col A, p. 10.</ref> Baird was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1909.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28263/pages/4857 no. 28263. p. 4857.] 25 June, 1909.</ref> Baird was appointed in command of {{UK-KingGeorgeV}} on 7 March, 1913.{{NLDec14|p. 343}} Baird commanded the {{UK-1Ajax|f=t}}, part of the {{UK-BS|2}}, 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.{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 43, 377}} 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.{{GazSup|30451|80|1 January, 1918}} On 6 April 1918, Baird was appointed to {{UK-Egmont}} as Director of Shipping Movements on Staff of C-in-C Mediterranean as {{Com1RN}}, remaining there until 28 March, 1919<ref>Baird Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}. f. 249.</ref> ==Post-War== Baird was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 26 March, 1920, vice [[Thomas Jackson|Jackson]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31870/pages/4575 no. 31870. p. 4575.] 20 April, 1920.</ref> ==Assessment== Speaking to Captain [[Herbert William Richmond|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."<ref>Diary entry for 4 May, 1917. Quoted in Marder. ''Portrait of an Admiral''. p. 247.</ref> 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}} ==See Also== {{refbegin}} * [[H.M.S. Ajax at the Battle of Jutland]] {{refend}} ==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} *"Rear-Admiral Sir G. H. Baird" (Obituaries). ''The Times''. Thursday, 23 October, 1924. Issue '''43790''', col B, p. 17. {{refend}} ==Service Records== {{refbegin}} *{{TNA|ADM 196/89.|D8115586}} *{{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7576547}} {{refend}} <div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}} {{TabNaval}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Andrew Fergusson|James A. Fergusson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Shannon (1906)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Shannon'']]'''<br>9 Aug, 1910<ref>Baird Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}. f. 249.</ref>{{NLApr11|p. 374}} &ndash; Mar, 1912<ref>Baird Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}. f. 249.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Douglas Carpendale|Charles D. Carpendale]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Crawford Maclachlan|Crawford Maclachlan]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Indomitable (1907)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Indomitable'']]'''<br>21 Feb, 1912{{RobertsBattlecruisers|p. 122}} &ndash; 11 Nov, 1912<ref>Baird Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}. f. 249.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Francis William Kennedy|Francis W. Kennedy]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ronald Arthur Hopwood|Ronald A. Hopwood]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hercules (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hercules'']]'''<br>20 Jan, 1913{{NLMar13|p. 323}} &ndash; Jan, 1913|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Mark Edward Frederic Kerr|Mark E. F. Kerr]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Mark Edward Frederic Kerr|Mark E. F. Kerr]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. King George V (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''King George V'']]'''<br>7 Mar, 1913{{NLOct15|p. 395''h''}} &ndash; 16 Dec, 1915<ref>Baird Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}. f. 249.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Laurence Field|Frederick L. Field]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur John Henniker-Hughan, Sixth Baronet|Sir Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ajax (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ajax'']]'''<br>1 Feb, 1916{{NLNov17|p. 391''e''}} &ndash; 21 Mar, 1918<ref>Baird Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}. f. 249.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[David Murray Anderson|David M. Anderson]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edmond Hyde Parker|E. Hyde Parker]]'''|'''[[Mobilisation Department (Royal Navy)|Director of the Mobilisation Department]]'''<br>1921|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John William Leopold McClintock|John W. L. McClintock]]'''}} {{TabEnd}} </div name=fredbot:appts> ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Baird, George}} {{CatPerson|UK|1871|1924}} {{CatBritannia|January, 1885}} {{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}} {{CatRear|UK}}

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