George Astley Callaghan

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Admiral of the Fleet SIR George Astley Callaghan, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., 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 appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Division, or Companion, of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 9 November, 1900, "in recognition of services rendered during the recent disturbance in China."[4]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII on 25 April, 1904, vice Milne.[5]

Flag Rank

Callaghan was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 29 June, 1905.[6]

On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet Callaghan was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.[7]

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.[8]

Callaghan was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 27 April, 1910, vice Niblett.[9] 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.[10]

On 24 July, 1911 he transferred his Flag to the dreadnought Hercules.[11] That year he was made Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, with the acting rank of Admiral.

He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) on 11 May, 1912.[12]

He was confirmed in the rank of Admiral on 17 May, 1913.[13]

Although he never knew Callaghan closely, Admiral The Hon. Sir Reginald A. R. P.-E.-E.-Drax (a Commander on the staff of the First Battle Cruiser Squadron from 1912) later recalled him to Arthur Marder as being "of the old sea-dog type like Charlie Beresford and A.K. Wilson."[14]

Supersession and the Great War

Callaghan was ordered to strike his flag and hand over to Jellicoe on 4 August.

On 27 August he 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[15]

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.[16] This was followed on 1 January, 1915 by his appointment as Commander-in-Chief at the Nore.[17] 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.[18] On 2 April, 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the place of Sir Arthur D. Fanshawe.[19]

His funeral took place on Saturday, 27 November at Bathwick Cemetery, Bath.[20]

Commands

Footnotes

  1. ↑ London Gazette: no. 24204. p. 2342. 30 April, 1875.
  2. ↑ London Gazette: no. 25772. p. 15. 3 January, 1888.
  3. ↑ London Gazette: no. 26471. p. 7580. 29 December, 1893.
  4. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27245. p. 6853. 9 November, 1900.
  5. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27676. p. 3081. 13 May, 1904.
  6. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27814. p. 4700. 7 July, 1905.
  7. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  8. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28246. p. 3277. 30 April, 1909.
  9. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28362. p. 3063. 3 May, 1910.
  10. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28388. p. 4475. 24 June, 1910.
  11. ↑ "Exchange of Flagships" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 27 June, 1911. Issue 39622, col G, pg. 16.
  12. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28607. p. 3475. 14 May, 1912.
  13. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28722. p. 3753. 27 May, 1913.
  14. ↑ Notes on Marder's draft of chapter 14 of From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow, 11 November 1959, DRAX 6/18, Drax MSS., Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College.
  15. ↑ Letter of 27 August, 1914. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds. Egerton Papers. RNMN/EGERTON/3.
  16. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28902. p. 7293. 15 September, 1914.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (March, 1915). p. 3.
  18. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29608. p. 5553. 2 June, 1916.
  19. ↑ London Gazette: no. 30008. p. 3206. 3 April, 1917.
  20. ↑ "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


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, Bart. 		Commander-in-Chief at the Nore
1915 – 1918 		Succeeded by
Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee, Bart.
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