George Astley Callaghan
Admiral of the Fleet SIR George Astley Callaghan, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Royal Navy (21 December, 1852 – 23 November, 1920) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Early Life & Career
George Astley Callaghan was born in London 21 December 1852, the third son of Captain Frederic Marcus Callaghan, J.P., of Lotabeg, co. Cork, by his wife, Georgina Frances, daughter of Captain James Hodgson, of the East India Company's service. He entered the royal navy in January 1866 in H.M.S. Britannia, and was promoted sub-lieutenant in April 1872 and to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 April, 1875.[1] His first appointment as lieutenant was to the Ruby, East Indies station. During this commission one of the ship's boats capsized in the Irrawady, and Callaghan earned the commendation of the Admiralty by his gallant behaviour, which saved the lives of several of the crew. In 1880 he returned home in order to qualify in gunnery, and was afterwards on the staff of the port gunnery schools. In 1885 he was again appointed to the Ruby, this time as first and gunnery lieutenant on the South-East coast of America station. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1887,[2] and in 1888 was appointed to the Bellerophon, the flagship on the North American station, in which ship he returned home in 1892. In the same year he was given the command of the Alacrity, yacht of the commander-in-chief, China station. On 1 January, 1894, he was promoted to the rank of Captain.[3]
Captain
He was mentioned in dispatches and received the Companionship of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 9 November, 1900.[4]
He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII on 25 April, 1904, vice Milne.[5]
Flag Rank
Callaghan was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.[6]
On the occasion of the visit of the King to Malta Callaghan was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) on 24 April, 1909.[7]
Callaghan was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 27 April, 1910, vice Niblett.[8] He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 24 June.[9]
On 24 July, 1911 he transferred his Flag to the dreadnought Hercules.[10] That year he was made Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, with the acting rank of Admiral. He was confirmed in the rank on 17 May, 1913.[11]
Supersession and the Great War
On 27 August Callaghan wrote to Sir George Egerton at Plymouth:
- My dear Egerton,
- Thankyou very much for your letter & sympathy.
- As you say I was treated abominally.
- However, one must not let personal grievances come to the front just now.
- I have a clear conscience in having left the Home Fleet ready —
- Meanwhile I am doing what I can to help here.
- Please remember me very kindly to Lady Egerton.
- Yrs Very Sincerely,
- George A. Callaghan[12]
Callaghan was immediately appointed for special service at the Admiralty and on 11 September, 1914 was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp, vice Admiral Sir Edmund Poë.[13] This was followed on 1 January, 1915 by his appointment as Commander-in-Chief at the Nore.[14] On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 3 June, 1916.[15] On 2 April, 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the place of Sir Arthur D. Fanshawe.[16]
His funeral took place on Saturday, 27 November at Bathwick Cemetery, Bath.[17]
Commands
- Rear-Admiral, Channel Fleet, 16 November, 1906 – 4 April, 1907.
- Rear-Admiral Commanding, Fifth Cruiser Squadron, 5 April, 1907 – 26 November, 1908.
- Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet, 27 November, 1908 – 8 August, 1910.
- Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Division Home Fleet, 9 August, 1910 – 4 December, 1911.
- Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, 5 December, 1911 – 4 August, 1914.
- Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, 1 January, 1915 – 1 March, 1918.
Footnotes
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 24204. p. 2342. 30 April, 1875.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 25772. p. 15. 3 January, 1888.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26471. p. 7580. 29 December, 1893.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27245. p. 6853. 9 November, 1900.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27676. p. 3081. 13 May, 1904.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28246. p. 3277. 30 April, 1909.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28362. p. 3063. 3 May, 1910.
- ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28388. p. 4475. 24 June, 1910.
- ↑ "Exchange of Flagships" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 27 June, 1911. Issue 39622, col G, pg. 16.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28722. p. 3753. 27 May, 1913.
- ↑ Letter of 27 August, 1914. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds. Egerton Papers. RNMN/EGERTON/3.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28902. p. 7293. 15 September, 1914.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (March, 1915). p. 3.
- ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29608. p. 5553. 2 June, 1916.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 30008. p. 3206. 3 April, 1917.
- ↑ "Funerals" (Deaths). The Times. Monday, 29 November, 1920. Issue 42580, col D, pg. 17.
Bibliography
- "Death of Admiral Callaghan" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 24 November, 1920. Issue 42576, col E, pg. 14.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/18.
Naval Offices | ||
Preceded by Sir Francis C. B. Bridgeman |
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets 1911 – 1914 |
Succeeded by Sir John R. Jellicoe |
Preceded by Sir Edmund S. Poë |
First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp 1914 – 1917 |
Succeeded by Sir Henry B. Jackson |
Preceded by Sir Richard Poore |
Commander-in-Chief at the Nore 1915 – 1918 |
Succeeded by Sir Doveton Sturdee |
- 1852 births
- 1920 deaths
- Personalities
- H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1866
- Rear-Admirals in the Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)
- Rear-Admirals Commanding, Fifth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)
- Seconds-in-Command, Mediterranean Station
- Vice-Admirals Commanding, Second Division, Home Fleet (Royal Navy)
- Commanders-in-Chief, Home Fleets
- First and Principal Naval Aides-de-Camp to King George V
- Commanders-in-Chief at the Nore
- Royal Navy Admirals of the Fleet
- Royal Navy Flag Officers