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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|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.  
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[[File:Ballard, NPG Ax39039.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Admiral George A. Ballard, seen as a Commodore, Second Class.<br><small>Photograph: © National Portrait Gallery, London.</small>]]
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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''George Alexander Ballard''', C.B., Retired (7 March, 1862 &ndash; 15 September, 1948) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]] and a historian.  
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
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Ballard was the son of General John Archibald Ballard (1829–1880), and his wife, the daughter of Robert Scott-Moncrieff, was born at Bombay on 7 March 1862. After a few months at the well-known naval crammer, Dr Burney's academy, at Gosport, Hampshire, he entered the training ship Britannia in January 1875. He first went to sea in January 1877 in the ironclads Resistance and then Achilles, in the channel and Mediterranean, and was present at the forcing of the Dardanelles in February 1878. In September 1878 he joined the corvette Tourmaline, part of the ‘flying squadron’ which made a 21-month voyage round the world. He returned in July 1882 as an acting sub-lieutenant. He then trained as a torpedo specialist, and in August 1883 was appointed to the experimental torpedo boat depot ship Hecla, a converted merchant ship, which was presently dispatched with troops to the Red Sea, where Ballard, with many of his shipmates, was landed to campaign with the army in the Sudan. In March 1884 he was promoted lieutenant in the field. After returning to sea he served briefly in several ships in the Mediterranean before joining the gunboat Woodlark at Rangoon in May 1885, and serving up-country in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, where he became General Prendergast's naval aide-de-camp, and took part in the storming of Mandalay. Between 1887 and 1895 he had appointments at home, in the Mediterranean, and on the China station, and in October 1895 he received his first command, the destroyer Janus at Sheerness. From her he moved in May 1896 to the torpedo gunboat ''Renard''.  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>  The following year he married Mary Frances, daughter of James Paterson of Whitelee, Selkirk; they had two sons and one daughter, and his wife survived him.
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George Alexander Ballard was born on 7 March, 1862, at Malabar Hill, Bombay, the eldest child of Captain (later Lieutenant-General) John Archibald Ballard, C.B., of the Royal (Bombay) Engineers. Ballard was educated at Burney's Royal Academy, Gosport, and obtained a nomination for the [[Royal Navy]] from Captain (later Admiral Sir) Charles Fellowes. He went up to London for the examination at the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]] with ten others from Burney's, six of whom passed, one of whom was [[Christopher George Francis Maurice Cradock|Christopher Cradock]]. He entered the training ship [[H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship)|''Britannia'']] on 15 January, 1875, and left on 21 December, 1876. He later recalled:
  
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After service as commander of the cruiser Isis, Ballard joined the naval intelligence division in February 1902, and in December 1903 was promoted captain. In 1906 he attended the senior officers' war course at Portsmouth, from which he moved in June 1906 to command the large cruisers Terrible and Hampshire (August 1907), followed by the battleships Commonwealth (December 1909) and Britannia (December 1910), all four in home waters. In practice he spent five months from December 1906 ashore at Portsmouth presiding over a secret committee charged by Sir John Fisher with reviewing plans for amphibious landings against Germany—which it dismissed as impossible. Ballard was judged ‘a man of great intellectual power and character’ (Hankey, 1.33), ‘100% the ablest officer of his rank and standing now in the Service’ (Sir Charles Ottley, Esher MSS, quoted by Lambert, 265). Under Fisher he was used as an unofficial adviser, and when Winston Churchill took office in October 1911 he pressed for Ballard to be the next director of naval intelligence. He was considered too junior for this, but when the naval war staff was instituted in December Ballard became director of the operations division, where he remained until 1914. Rear-Admiral Troubridge, his new chief, did not take well to a subordinate with ‘more brains in his little finger than Troubridge has in his great woolly head’ (Major Grant-Duff of the imperial defence committee, Grant-Duff MSS, quoted by Lambert, 266), while Churchill likewise soon took against one who ruthlessly shot down his wilder schemes. Ballard's career was rescued by the approach of war. 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>
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<blockquote>Two years spent thus represented at that period the first stage of a naval officer's career.  Many months before it came to an end most of us were longing to finish it and get away to a seagoing life with all its anticipated excitements, although in point of fact very few had any but the vaguest idea of what sort of a life it would prove to be.  But I think nevertheless that to the majority in after years, the period spent at Dartmouth in the old ''Britannia'' remained on the whole a pleasant memory.  It certainly is to me.<ref>"Admiral Ballard's Memoirs: Part One."  p. 350.</ref></blockquote> 
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Ballard spent half a year in the {{UK-Resistance|f=tp}} before being sent to join {{UK-2Achilles|f=p}} in the [[Channel Squadron]] in May of 1877.  He remained in ''Achilles'' until being sent to {{UK-1Tourmaline}} for nearly two years.
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After examinations at the {{UK-Excellent|f=tp}} in 1882, Ballard served in the {{UK-Espoir|f=t}} and in {{UK-Hecla}} before being promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 March, 1884.{{Gaz|25329|1304|1 January, 1897}}
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On 31 December, 1897 he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.{{Gaz|26924|7854|31 December, 1897}}
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==Captain==
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Ballard was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1903.{{Gaz|27632|25|1 January, 1904}}
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On 15 May, 1906, Ballard was appointed in command of the {{UK-RoyalArthur|f=t}} in reserve.  On 3 July he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Terrible|f=t}}.  On 22 July, the ''Terrible'' left Portsmouth for China<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 23 July, 1906.  Issue '''38079''', col B, p. 6.</ref> with a relief crew for the {{UK-Astraea}}.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 7 July, 1906. Issue '''38066''', col C, p. 8.</ref>
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He recorded that on 27 December that he had been appointed "to preside over a Secret Committee at Admiralty, but retaining command of Terrible."<ref>Entry for 14 December, 1906.  "G A Ballard.  Record of business letters &c."  Ballard Papers.  National Maritime Museum.  MSS/80/200.  Box 1.</ref>  On 3 January, 1907, he met with the First Sea Lord, [[John Arbuthnot Fisher, First Baron Fisher|Sir John A. Fisher]], who made him an outstanding offer:
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<blockquote>At an interview with Sir J. Fisher was informed my name had been sent in as an alternative to Capt [[Charles Langdale Ottley|Ottley's]] for the position of Secretary of the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]] in succession to Sir George Clarke in case Ottley was not approved. Also that if Ottley was appointed I might succeed him as Director of Naval Intelligence if I chose.  Decided to accept the first if I got the chance, but refuse the second in order to get in my sea time.<ref>Entry for 3 January, 1907.  "G A Ballard.  Record of business letters &c."  Ballard Papers.  National Maritime Museum.  MSS/80/200.  Box 1.</ref></blockquote>
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He took command of the {{UK-Hampshire|f=t}} on 20 August, 1907.  Upon giving up command of the Channel Fleet in March, 1909, the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Charles Beresford, wrote of Ballard, "No defect, very zealous, sound physically. Recommended for advancement.  A very clever officer, hard working, and knows the Service.  Will make a good Admiral."  In November Rear-Admiral [[Paul Warner Bush|Paul W. Bush]] opined, with Vice-Admiral [[George Neville]]'s concurrence, that Ballard was "a very zealous Captain & handles his ship well."<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88}}.  f. 29.</ref>  On 31 December, 1909, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Commonwealth|f=t}}.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 65.</ref>  In May, 1910, a Court of Enquiry was held following the abandonment of ''Commonwealth's'' steam trial.  Their Lordships expressed Their "severe displeasure on account of the want of knowledge shewn in the preparation of the ship for sea under the weather conditions which prevailed at the time."<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88}}.  f. 29.</ref>  On 9 December he was given command of ''Commonwealth's'' sister-ship, {{UK-Britannia}}.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 65.</ref>
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Charles Ottley, now Secretary of the Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, wrote to Winston Churchill of Ballard in October, 1911, "I am in great hopes he may e'er long return to an important post at the Admiralty,"<ref>Letter of 17 October, 1911. {{TNA|CAB 1/31.}}  f. 28.</ref> and advocated he be associated with any committee on staff reform, writing, "He would approach the matter from the standpoint of one who knew the old system."<ref>Letter of 22 October, 1911.  {{TNA|CAB 1/31.}}  f. 103.</ref>
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Ottley also informed Churchill that Ballard wrote for ''The Contemporary Review'' magazine under the pseudonym "Master Mariner,"<ref>Letter of 17 October, 1911.  {{TNA|CAB 1/31.}}  f. 28.</ref> therefore contravening Article 12 of the ''King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' on communicating with the press on Service matters.<ref>''The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of His Majesty's Naval Service'' (1906).  p. 3.</ref>  Ottley also forwarded a number of Ballard's somewhat subversive memoranda to Churchill, in the knowledge that, "You will I know safeguard his anonymity."<ref>Letter of 3 November, 1911.  {{TNA|CAB 1/31.}}  f. 183.</ref>
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Churchill offered Ballard the post of Director of Naval Intelligence and on 22 November he accepted.<ref>Ballard to Churchill.  Letter of 22 November, 1911.  Churchill Papers.  Churchill Archives Centre.  CHAR 13/1/30.</ref>  He was appointed to ''President'', additional, for special service at the Admiralty on 1 December.  On leaving ''Britannia'' Vice-Admiral Callaghan described him as "A V.G. Captain of a ship.  Has intellectual qualities above the average & v.g. judgement."<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88}}.  f. 29.</ref>  On 8 January, 1912, he was appointed [[Operations Division (Royal Navy)|Director of the Operations Division]] on the newly-formed [[Admiralty War Staff]].<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 65.</ref>
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On 10 May, 1913, he was appointed a [[Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to King George V, vice [[John de Mestre Hutchison|Hutchison]].{{Gaz|28718|3438|13 May, 1913}}  On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June.{{GazSup|28724|3903|3 June, 1913}}
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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, p. 6.</ref>
  
 
==Great War==
 
==Great War==
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On 27 August, 1914, Ballard was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Sackville Hamilton Carden|Carden]].<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28881/pages/6794 no. 28881.  p. 6794.]  28 August, 1914.</ref>  On 12 October, a new command was carved out of his, that of the [[Dover Patrol]] under Rear-Admiral [[Horace Lambert Alexander Hood|The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood]].<ref>Corbett.  ''Naval Operations''.  '''I'''.  p. 224.</ref>
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On 27 August, 1914, Ballard was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Sackville Hamilton Carden|Carden]].{{Gaz|28881|6794|28 August, 1914}}
  
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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. 
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An interesting perspective on Ballard is offered by Admiral of the Fleet [[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]], who became [[Admiralty War Staff|Chief of the Admiralty War Staff]] at the end of 1914:
  
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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,<ref>Ballard Service Record.  p. 65.</ref> and assumed command on 28 September.<ref>''Supplement to the Monthly Navy List'' (June, 1918). p. 8.</ref> He was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} 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 {{AdmRN}} on the Retired List.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32919/pages/2323 no. 32919.  p. 2323.]  18 March, 1924.</ref>
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<blockquote>We had a useless R.A. on the East Coast of England and I could not get him shifted.  When the Germans bombarded Scarborough and Hartlepool [on 15-16 December, 1914] we knew from Room 40 the afternoon before that something was intended but not enough to know what.  He had definite orders to send out 2 submarines from Hartlepool to be at gun range, according to visibility, off the harbour at dawn.  He failed to send them out the night before and they did not start out till after the bombardment began[,] one was crossing the bar while the shells were falling.  We lost a fine chance of laming a battle cruiser and perhaps bringing on an engagement if her consorts delayed retiring to help her.  I could not get him shifted for that so I took bits of his command away at the north and south ends till there was none left.<ref>Oliver.  '''II'''.  ff. 117-118.</ref></blockquote>
  
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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.  
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On 6 November, 1915, Ballard became [[East Coast of England Station|Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England]].{{UKCeased|f. 29a}}
  
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He died suddenly on 16 September, 1948, aged eighty-six, at his home, Hill House, Downton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire.<ref>"Deaths" (Deaths). ''The Times''.  Saturday, 18 September, 1948.  Issue '''51180''', col A, pg. 1.</ref>
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N. A. M. Rodger has 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."<ref>Rodger.  "Ballard, George Alexander (1862–1948)."</ref> Quite apart from the slur this completely unsourced statement casts on Sir Henry Jackson, it also denigrates the men already on the War Staff.
  
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==Footnotes==
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On 1 May, 1916, Ballard was succeeded as Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England.  He then went on Half Pay until he was appointed Senior Officer in Charge at Malta and Admiral Superintendent of [[Malta Dockyard]] on 24 September,<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  Volume 4.  f. 65.</ref> and assumed command on 28 September.{{SMNLJun18|p. 8}}
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{{reflist}}
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In May, 1917, he was criticised by the Board of Admiralty for the torpedoing of S.S. ''Ivernia'' on 1 January, for allowing it to proceed through the Cerigotto Channel by day contrary to instructions.  On 17 September he was informed that orders appeared to have been given in a "haphazard" manner in regards to an operation where special service vessel ''Zeus'' was lost.<ref>ADM 196/88.  f. 29.</ref>  He relinquished duty as Admiral Superintendent at Malta on 16 November, 1918.<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  Volume 4.  f. 65.</ref>
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==Post-War==
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He was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 11 February, 1919, vice [[Robert Francis Boyle|Boyle]].{{Gaz|31201|2738|25 February, 1919}}  He was placed on the Retired List on 15 June, 1921 at his own request "in order to facilitate the promotion of younger officers."{{Gaz|32384|5486|8 July, 1921}}  On 3 March, 1924 he was advanced to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on the Retired List.{{Gaz|32919|2323|18 March, 1924}}
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He died suddenly on 15 September, 1948, aged eighty-six, at his home, Hill House, Downton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, from myocardial degeneration, arterio sclerosis and carcinoma of the prostate.<ref>"Deaths" (Deaths).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 18 September, 1948.  Issue '''51180''', col A, p. 1.</ref><ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 65.</ref>
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==See Also==
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{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Alexander_Ballard}}
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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*Ballard, Vice-Admiral G. A., C.B. (1921).  ''The Influence of the Sea on the Political History of Japan''.  London: John Murray.
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*Ballard, Vice-Admiral G. A., C.B. (1923).  ''America and the Atlantic''.  London: Duckworth & Co..
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*Ballard, Admiral G. A., C.B. (1927).  ''Rulers of the Indian Ocean''.  London: Duckworth & Co..
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*Ballard, Admiral G. A. (1980).  ''The Black Battlefleet''.  Lymington; Greenwich: Nautical Publishing Company Limited and The Society for Nautical Research.  ISBN 0245530304.
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
==Papers==
 
==Papers==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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*Unfinished memoirs in the possession of the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth.  1988.89.
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*Unfinished memoirs in the possession of the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth.  1988.89. Two copies ([http://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/512144.html one] and [http://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/471439.html two]) in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.
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*[http://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/463127.html Uncatalogued papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.]
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*[http://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/463128.html Uncatalogued papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.]
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
==Service Records==
 
==Service Records==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7917489&queryType=1&resultcount=3 ADM 196/42.]
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*{{TNA|ADM 196/88.|D8115404}}
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*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7906027&queryType=1&resultcount=3 ADM 196/20.]
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*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D7602003}}
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*{{TNA|ADM 196/20.|D7590550}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
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{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
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|-
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{{TabNaval}}
−
| colspan="3" align="center" style="background:#CEDFF2" | '''Naval Offices'''
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Janus (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Janus'']]'''<br>12 Dec, 1895{{NLMar96|p. 235}} &ndash; 27 May, 1896|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Clark Soady (b)|John C. Soady]]'''}}
−
|-
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Edward Kellett|Henry E. Kellett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Renard (1892)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Renard'']]'''<br>27 May, 1896{{NMI|Wednesday, May 20, 1896; pg. 10; Issue 34895}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frank Henry Peyton|Frank H. Peyton]]'''}}
−
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet|John M. de Robeck]]'''
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Herbert Leopold Heath|Herbert L. Heath]]'''|'''[[Naval Intelligence Department (Royal Navy)|Head of War Division]]'''<br>1 Jan, 1904<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref><ref>''Naval Intelligence Department.  Distribution of Work.&mdash;March 1905''.  {{TNA|ADM 231/45.}}  p. 2.</ref> &ndash; 15 Jan, 1906<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref><ref>''Naval Intelligence Department.  Distribution of Work.&mdash;March 1905''.  {{TNA|ADM 231/45.}}  p. 2.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harry Jones|Harry Jones]]'''}}
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| '''[[Admiral of Patrols]]'''<br>1914 &ndash; 1915
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Lionel Napier|Charles L. Napier]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Euryalus (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Euryalus'']]'''<br>15 Jan, 1906<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore|A. Gordon H. W. Moore]]'''}}
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''Title Changed'''
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore|A. Gordon H. W. Moore]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Royal Arthur (1891)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Royal Arthur'']]'''<br>15 May, 1906<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref> &ndash; 3 Jul, 1906<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Norman Craig Palmer|Norman C. Palmer]]'''}}
−
|-
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Hervey Campbell|Henry H. Campbell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Terrible (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Terrible'']]'''<br>3 Jul, 1906<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref> &ndash; 20 Aug, 1907<ref>Ballard Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Morden Harbord-Hamond, Tenth Baron Suffield|Richard M. Harbord]]'''}}
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''New Position'''
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Keith Arbuthnot, Fourth Baronet|Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart.]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hampshire (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hampshire'']]'''<br>20 Aug, 1907{{NLJan10|p. 323}}<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref> &ndash; 31 Dec, 1909<ref>Ballard Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stanhope Hawke|The Hon. Stanhope Hawke]]'''}}
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| '''[[East Coast of England Station|Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England]]'''<br>1915 &ndash; 1916
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Horace Lambert Alexander Hood|The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Commonwealth (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Commonwealth'']]'''<br>31 Dec, 1909<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref> &ndash; Dec, 1910<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Oswald William Ormsby|Oswald W. Ormsby]]'''}}
−
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stuart Nicholson]]'''
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Montague Edward Browning|Montague E. Browning]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Britannia (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Britannia'']]'''<br>9 Dec, 1910<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>{{NLApr11|p. 287}} &ndash; 1 Dec, 1911<ref>Ballard Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Frederick Thorp|Charles F. Thorp]]'''}}
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|-
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Appointment'''|'''[[Operations Division (Royal Navy)|Director of Operations Division]]'''<br>8 Jan, 1912{{UKNavalStaff|p. 121}} &ndash; 1 May, 1914<ref>Ballard Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Arthur C. Leveson]]'''}}
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Henry Limpus|Sir Arthur H. Limpus]]'''
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet|John M. de Robeck]]'''|'''[[Admiral of Patrols|Admiral of Patrols]]'''<br>1 May, 1914<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 1 May, 1914.  Issue '''40512''', col B, p. 6.</ref> &ndash; 6 Nov, 1915|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Alexander Ballard|George A. Ballard]] as [[Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England|East Coast of England Station]]'''}}
−
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard|Senior Naval Officer and Admiral Superintendent, Malta]]'''<br>1916 &ndash; 1918
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Alexander Ballard|George A. Ballard]] as [[Admiral of Patrols]]'''|'''[[East Coast of England Station|Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England]]'''<br>6 Nov, 1915{{UKCeased|f. 29a}} &ndash; 1 May, 1916<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stuart Nicholson|Stuart Nicholson]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England'''</small>}}
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Brian Herbert Fairbairn Barttelot|Brian H. F. Barttelot]]'''
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Henry Limpus|Sir Arthur H. Limpus]]'''|'''[[Malta Dockyard|Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard]]'''<br>24 Sep, 1916<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 65.</ref> &ndash; 25 Oct, 1918<ref>Ballard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 65.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Brian Herbert Fairbairn Barttelot|Brian H. F. Barttelot]]'''}}
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==Footnotes==
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[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1875|Ballard]]
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Latest revision as of 18:03, 6 April 2022

Admiral George A. Ballard, seen as a Commodore, Second Class.
Photograph: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral George Alexander Ballard, C.B., Retired (7 March, 1862 – 15 September, 1948) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War and a historian.

Life & Career

George Alexander Ballard was born on 7 March, 1862, at Malabar Hill, Bombay, the eldest child of Captain (later Lieutenant-General) John Archibald Ballard, C.B., of the Royal (Bombay) Engineers. Ballard was educated at Burney's Royal Academy, Gosport, and obtained a nomination for the Royal Navy from Captain (later Admiral Sir) Charles Fellowes. He went up to London for the examination at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich with ten others from Burney's, six of whom passed, one of whom was Christopher Cradock. He entered the training ship Britannia on 15 January, 1875, and left on 21 December, 1876. He later recalled:

Two years spent thus represented at that period the first stage of a naval officer's career. Many months before it came to an end most of us were longing to finish it and get away to a seagoing life with all its anticipated excitements, although in point of fact very few had any but the vaguest idea of what sort of a life it would prove to be. But I think nevertheless that to the majority in after years, the period spent at Dartmouth in the old Britannia remained on the whole a pleasant memory. It certainly is to me.[1]

Ballard spent half a year in the ironclad H.M.S. Resistance before being sent to join H.M.S. Achilles in the Channel Squadron in May of 1877. He remained in Achilles until being sent to Tourmaline for nearly two years.

After examinations at the gunnery training school H.M.S. Excellent in 1882, Ballard served in the gunboat Espoir and in Hecla before being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1884.[2]

On 31 December, 1897 he was promoted to the rank of Commander.[3]

Captain

Ballard was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1903.[4]

On 15 May, 1906, Ballard was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Royal Arthur in reserve. On 3 July he was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Terrible. On 22 July, the Terrible left Portsmouth for China[5] with a relief crew for the Astræa.[6]

He recorded that on 27 December that he had been appointed "to preside over a Secret Committee at Admiralty, but retaining command of Terrible."[7] On 3 January, 1907, he met with the First Sea Lord, Sir John A. Fisher, who made him an outstanding offer:

At an interview with Sir J. Fisher was informed my name had been sent in as an alternative to Capt Ottley's for the position of Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence in succession to Sir George Clarke in case Ottley was not approved. Also that if Ottley was appointed I might succeed him as Director of Naval Intelligence if I chose. Decided to accept the first if I got the chance, but refuse the second in order to get in my sea time.[8]

He took command of the armoured cruiser Hampshire on 20 August, 1907. Upon giving up command of the Channel Fleet in March, 1909, the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Charles Beresford, wrote of Ballard, "No defect, very zealous, sound physically. Recommended for advancement. A very clever officer, hard working, and knows the Service. Will make a good Admiral." In November Rear-Admiral Paul W. Bush opined, with Vice-Admiral George Neville's concurrence, that Ballard was "a very zealous Captain & handles his ship well."[9] On 31 December, 1909, he was appointed in command of the battleship Commonwealth.[10] In May, 1910, a Court of Enquiry was held following the abandonment of Commonwealth's steam trial. Their Lordships expressed Their "severe displeasure on account of the want of knowledge shewn in the preparation of the ship for sea under the weather conditions which prevailed at the time."[11] On 9 December he was given command of Commonwealth's sister-ship, Britannia.[12]

Charles Ottley, now Secretary of the Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, wrote to Winston Churchill of Ballard in October, 1911, "I am in great hopes he may e'er long return to an important post at the Admiralty,"[13] and advocated he be associated with any committee on staff reform, writing, "He would approach the matter from the standpoint of one who knew the old system."[14]

Ottley also informed Churchill that Ballard wrote for The Contemporary Review magazine under the pseudonym "Master Mariner,"[15] therefore contravening Article 12 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions on communicating with the press on Service matters.[16] Ottley also forwarded a number of Ballard's somewhat subversive memoranda to Churchill, in the knowledge that, "You will I know safeguard his anonymity."[17]

Churchill offered Ballard the post of Director of Naval Intelligence and on 22 November he accepted.[18] He was appointed to President, additional, for special service at the Admiralty on 1 December. On leaving Britannia Vice-Admiral Callaghan described him as "A V.G. Captain of a ship. Has intellectual qualities above the average & v.g. judgement."[19] On 8 January, 1912, he was appointed Director of the Operations Division on the newly-formed Admiralty War Staff.[20]

On 10 May, 1913, he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V, vice Hutchison.[21] On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June.[22]

Ballard assumed the duties of Admiral of Patrols on 1 May, 1914, with the rank of Commodore, First Class.[23]

Great War

On 27 August, 1914, Ballard was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Carden.[24]

An interesting perspective on Ballard is offered by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry F. Oliver, who became Chief of the Admiralty War Staff at the end of 1914:

We had a useless R.A. on the East Coast of England and I could not get him shifted. When the Germans bombarded Scarborough and Hartlepool [on 15-16 December, 1914] we knew from Room 40 the afternoon before that something was intended but not enough to know what. He had definite orders to send out 2 submarines from Hartlepool to be at gun range, according to visibility, off the harbour at dawn. He failed to send them out the night before and they did not start out till after the bombardment began[,] one was crossing the bar while the shells were falling. We lost a fine chance of laming a battle cruiser and perhaps bringing on an engagement if her consorts delayed retiring to help her. I could not get him shifted for that so I took bits of his command away at the north and south ends till there was none left.[25]

On 6 November, 1915, Ballard became Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England.[26]

N. A. M. Rodger has 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."[27] Quite apart from the slur this completely unsourced 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. He then went on Half Pay until he was appointed Senior Officer in Charge at Malta and Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard on 24 September,[28] and assumed command on 28 September.[29]

In May, 1917, he was criticised by the Board of Admiralty for the torpedoing of S.S. Ivernia on 1 January, for allowing it to proceed through the Cerigotto Channel by day contrary to instructions. On 17 September he was informed that orders appeared to have been given in a "haphazard" manner in regards to an operation where special service vessel Zeus was lost.[30] He relinquished duty as Admiral Superintendent at Malta on 16 November, 1918.[31]

Post-War

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 11 February, 1919, vice Boyle.[32] He was placed on the Retired List on 15 June, 1921 at his own request "in order to facilitate the promotion of younger officers."[33] On 3 March, 1924 he was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List.[34]

He died suddenly on 15 September, 1948, aged eighty-six, at his home, Hill House, Downton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, from myocardial degeneration, arterio sclerosis and carcinoma of the prostate.[35][36]

See Also

Bibliography

  • Ballard, Vice-Admiral G. A., C.B. (1921). The Influence of the Sea on the Political History of Japan. London: John Murray.
  • Ballard, Vice-Admiral G. A., C.B. (1923). America and the Atlantic. London: Duckworth & Co..
  • Ballard, Admiral G. A., C.B. (1927). Rulers of the Indian Ocean. London: Duckworth & Co..
  • Ballard, Admiral G. A. (1980). The Black Battlefleet. Lymington; Greenwich: Nautical Publishing Company Limited and The Society for Nautical Research. ISBN 0245530304.

Papers

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M.S. Janus
12 Dec, 1895[37] – 27 May, 1896 		Succeeded by
John C. Soady
Preceded by
Henry E. Kellett 		Captain of H.M.S. Renard
27 May, 1896[38] 		Succeeded by
Frank H. Peyton
Preceded by
Herbert L. Heath 		Head of War Division
1 Jan, 1904[39][40] – 15 Jan, 1906[41][42] 		Succeeded by
Harry Jones
Preceded by
Charles L. Napier 		Captain of H.M.S. Euryalus
15 Jan, 1906[43] 		Succeeded by
A. Gordon H. W. Moore
Preceded by
A. Gordon H. W. Moore 		Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur
15 May, 1906[44] – 3 Jul, 1906[45] 		Succeeded by
Norman C. Palmer
Preceded by
Henry H. Campbell 		Captain of H.M.S. Terrible
3 Jul, 1906[46] – 20 Aug, 1907[47] 		Succeeded by
Richard M. Harbord
Preceded by
Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart. 		Captain of H.M.S. Hampshire
20 Aug, 1907[48][49] – 31 Dec, 1909[50] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Stanhope Hawke
Preceded by
The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood 		Captain of H.M.S. Commonwealth
31 Dec, 1909[51] – Dec, 1910[52] 		Succeeded by
Oswald W. Ormsby
Preceded by
Montague E. Browning 		Captain of H.M.S. Britannia
9 Dec, 1910[53][54] – 1 Dec, 1911[55] 		Succeeded by
Charles F. Thorp
Preceded by
New Appointment 		Director of Operations Division
8 Jan, 1912[56] – 1 May, 1914[57] 		Succeeded by
Arthur C. Leveson
Preceded by
John M. de Robeck 		Admiral of Patrols
1 May, 1914[58] – 6 Nov, 1915 		Succeeded by
George A. Ballard as East Coast of England Station
Preceded by
George A. Ballard as Admiral of Patrols 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England
6 Nov, 1915[59] – 1 May, 1916[60] 		Succeeded by
Stuart Nicholson
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, East Coast of England
Preceded by
Sir Arthur H. Limpus 		Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard
24 Sep, 1916[61] – 25 Oct, 1918[62] 		Succeeded by
Brian H. F. Barttelot

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Admiral Ballard's Memoirs: Part One." p. 350.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25329. p. 1304. 1 January, 1897.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27632. p. 25. 1 January, 1904.
  5. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 23 July, 1906. Issue 38079, col B, p. 6.
  6. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 7 July, 1906. Issue 38066, col C, p. 8.
  7. ↑ Entry for 14 December, 1906. "G A Ballard. Record of business letters &c." Ballard Papers. National Maritime Museum. MSS/80/200. Box 1.
  8. ↑ Entry for 3 January, 1907. "G A Ballard. Record of business letters &c." Ballard Papers. National Maritime Museum. MSS/80/200. Box 1.
  9. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 29.
  10. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  11. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 29.
  12. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  13. ↑ Letter of 17 October, 1911. The National Archives. CAB 1/31. f. 28.
  14. ↑ Letter of 22 October, 1911. The National Archives. CAB 1/31. f. 103.
  15. ↑ Letter of 17 October, 1911. The National Archives. CAB 1/31. f. 28.
  16. ↑ The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of His Majesty's Naval Service (1906). p. 3.
  17. ↑ Letter of 3 November, 1911. The National Archives. CAB 1/31. f. 183.
  18. ↑ Ballard to Churchill. Letter of 22 November, 1911. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/1/30.
  19. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 29.
  20. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28718. p. 3438. 13 May, 1913.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28724. p. 3903. 3 June, 1913.
  23. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 1 May, 1914. Issue 40512, col B, p. 6.
  24. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28881. p. 6794. 28 August, 1914.
  25. ↑ Oliver. II. ff. 117-118.
  26. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 29a.
  27. ↑ Rodger. "Ballard, George Alexander (1862–1948)."
  28. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. Volume 4. f. 65.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 8.
  30. ↑ ADM 196/88. f. 29.
  31. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. Volume 4. f. 65.
  32. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31201. p. 2738. 25 February, 1919.
  33. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32384. p. 5486. 8 July, 1921.
  34. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32919. p. 2323. 18 March, 1924.
  35. ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Saturday, 18 September, 1948. Issue 51180, col A, p. 1.
  36. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  37. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1896). p. 235.
  38. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, May 20, 1896; pg. 10; Issue 34895.
  39. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  40. ↑ Naval Intelligence Department. Distribution of Work.—March 1905. The National Archives. ADM 231/45. p. 2.
  41. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  42. ↑ Naval Intelligence Department. Distribution of Work.—March 1905. The National Archives. ADM 231/45. p. 2.
  43. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  44. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  45. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  46. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  47. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  48. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 323.
  49. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  50. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  51. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  52. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  53. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  54. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 287.
  55. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  56. ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 121.
  57. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  58. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 1 May, 1914. Issue 40512, col B, p. 6.
  59. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 29a.
  60. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  61. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.
  62. ↑ Ballard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 65.

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