Difference between revisions of "George Alexander Ballard"
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==Life & Career== | ==Life & Career== | ||
− | + | On 31 December, 1897 he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26924/pages/7854 no. 26924. p. 7854.] 31 December, 1897.</ref> | |
− | + | ==Captain== | |
+ | Ballard assumed the duties of Admiral of Patrols on 1 May, 1914, with the rank of {{Com1RN}}.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Friday, 1 May, 1914. Issue '''40512''', col B, pg. 6.</ref> | ||
==Great War== | ==Great War== |
Revision as of 09:31, 31 December 2010
Admiral George Alexander Ballard, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (7 March, 1862 – 16 September, 1948) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War, as well as a noted historian.
Contents
Life & Career
On 31 December, 1897 he was promoted to the rank of Commander.[1]
Captain
Ballard assumed the duties of Admiral of Patrols on 1 May, 1914, with the rank of Commodore, First Class.[2]
Great War
On 27 August, 1914, Ballard was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Carden.[3] On 12 October, a new command was carved out of his, that of the Dover Patrol under Rear-Admiral The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood.[4]
N. A. M. Rodger has witlessly opined that, "His reputation may have suffered from the German raids of 1914 and 1916; certainly there was no vacancy in the naval war staff under Sir Henry Jackson for so clever and independent an officer." Quite apart from the slur this statement casts on Sir Henry Jackson, it also denigrates the men already on the War Staff.
On 1 May, 1916, Ballard was succeeded as Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England by Stuart Nicholson. On 24 September he was appointed Senior Officer in Charge at Malta and Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard,[5] and assumed command on 28 September.[6] He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 11 February, 1919, he left Malta in September, and retired in June 1921. On 3 March, 1924 he was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List.[7]
Ballard occupied his retirement in historical research, writing a substantial study, The Influence of the Sea on the Political History of Japan (1921), followed by Rulers of the Indian Ocean (1927). He also published a long series of illustrated articles in the Mariner's Mirror on the warships of the mid-Victorian navy, combining serious research, skilful draughtsmanship, and his own evocative memories.
He died suddenly on 16 September, 1948, aged eighty-six, at his home, Hill House, Downton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire.[8]
Footnotes
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 1 May, 1914. Issue 40512, col B, pg. 6.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28881. p. 6794. 28 August, 1914.
- ↑ Corbett. Naval Operations. I. p. 224.
- ↑ Ballard Service Record. p. 65.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (June, 1918). p. 8.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 32919. p. 2323. 18 March, 1924.
- ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Saturday, 18 September, 1948. Issue 51180, col A, pg. 1.
Bibliography
Papers
- Unfinished memoirs in the possession of the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth. 1988.89.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/20.
Naval Offices | ||
Preceded by John M. de Robeck |
Admiral of Patrols 1914 – 1915 |
Succeeded by Title Changed |
Preceded by New Position |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England 1915 – 1916 |
Succeeded by Stuart Nicholson |
Preceded by Sir Arthur H. Limpus |
Senior Naval Officer and Admiral Superintendent, Malta 1916 – 1918 |
Succeeded by Brian H. F. Barttelot |