Robert Archibald James Montgomerie

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Rear-Admiral Robert Archibald James Montgomerie, C.B., C.M.G., C.V.O., A.M., Royal Navy (11 September, 1855 – 1 September, 1908) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

On 15 June, 1877, Montgomerie was awarded the Albert Medal of the Second Class. An account of the action leading to the awarding of the medal reads:

At 3.10 on the morning of the 6th April, 1877, the "Immortalite," being under all plain sail, moving 4½ knots with the wind, two points abaft the starboard beam, the port gangway look-out reported a man overboard, who proved to be Thomas Hocken. Mr. MONTGOMERIE, who was on the bridge, working a star meridian altitude at the chart table, on hearing the cry, ran over to the lee side, saw the man in the water, and jumped after him. He made for Hocken, asking if he could swim, to which Hocken answered "Yes, sir," but did not seem to be moving vigorously. Mr. MONTGOMERIE then got hold of him, hauled him on his back, and towed him to where he supposed the life-buoy would be, but seeing no relief, he told Hocken to keep himself a float while he took his clothes off. While he was in the act of doing so, Hocken, evidently sinking, caught hold of him by the legs, and dragged him down a considerable depth. Mr. MONTGOMERIE, however, succeeded in getting clear, and swam to the surface, bringing the drowning man with him. Hocken was now insensible, and too great a weight to support any longer, and finding that his only chance of saving himself was to leave Hocken, Mr. MONTGOMERIE reluctantly gave up the hope of saving him, and struck out for the ship. In the meantime the ship's course was stopped, and two boats were lowered, by one of which Mr. MONTGOMERIE was picked up. The latitudes in which the occurrence took place abound with sharks; and though there was a half-moon, the sea was sufficiently disturbed to render small objects, even boats, difficult to discern. Had not Mr. MONTGOMERIE been a most powerful swimmer, he would have had little chance of life.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant from the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert with seniority of 13 September, 1878.[2]

Montgomerie was promoted to the rank of Commander on 24 August, 1887.[3]

On the occasion of the Queen's birthday, Montgomerie was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 25 May, 1892.[4]

Montgomerie was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1894.[5]

In March 1898, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Bonaventure. He remained in the ship until May 1900.[6]

He was appointed command of the battleship Prince George on 10 October, 1900.[7]

In February 1901, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Charybdis.[8]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII on 15 March, 1904, vice Foote.[9] On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) on 9 November.[10]

Flag Rank

Montgomerie was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 29 June, 1905, vice May.[11] He hoisted his flag as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Torpedo Boat and Submarine Craft Flotillas in Commission and Reserve, in the protected cruiser Sapphire on 1 January, 1907, replacing Rear-Admiral Alfred L. Winsloe.[12]

After the transfer of the First and Second Destroyer Flotillas from the Home Fleet to the Channel Fleet in August,[13] Montgomerie became Rear-Admiral (D) in that fleet. On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August.[14] It was decided in November that his appointment would lapse after his term of service was completed.[15] He struck his flag at sunset on 1 January, 1908.[16] Admiral Sir Sydney R. Fremantle, who had served with Montgomerie in Prince George, later recounted, "Unfortunately when in command of the Destroyer Service as a rear-admiral he fell out with the Admiralty over the allowance of fuel which he considered essential for their training, resigned his appointment, and was not re-employed."[17]

Bibliography

  • "Rear-Admiral R. A. J. Montgomerie" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 3 September, 1908. Issue 38742, col D, p. 9.

Service Records

  • The National Archives. ADM 196/86. Volume 1. f. 133.
  • The National Archives. ADM 196/39. Volume 2. ff. 920, 931.
  • The National Archives. ADM 196/19. Volume 7. ff. 343, 493.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John P. Pipon 		Captain of H.M.S. Sirius
8 Jul, 1896[18] – 19 Aug, 1896[19] 		Succeeded by
Leslie C. Stuart
Preceded by
H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg 		Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian
8 Apr, 1897[20] – 13 Jan, 1898[21] 		Succeeded by
Arthur J. Horsley
Preceded by
Frank H. Henderson 		Captain of H.M.S. Bonaventure
3 Mar, 1898[22] – 31 May, 1900[23] 		Succeeded by
Arthur H. Smith-Dorrien
Preceded by
Arthur Barrow 		Captain of H.M.S. Prince George
10 Oct, 1900[24] – 22 Nov, 1901[25] 		Succeeded by
Arthur C. Clarke
Preceded by
George A. Giffard 		Captain of H.M.S. Charybdis
23 Nov, 1901[26] – 20 Apr, 1904[27] 		Succeeded by
Alfred W. Paget
Preceded by
Edward H. Gamble 		Inspecting Captain of Boys' Training Ships
12 May, 1904[28][29] – 9 Jul, 1905[30] 		Succeeded by
Cecil Burney

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24474. p. 3724. 19 June, 1877.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24626. p. 5220. 20 September, 1878.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25735. p. 4778. 2 September, 1887.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26291. p. 3137. 25 May, 1892.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26471. p. 7580. 29 December, 1893.
  6. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  7. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.
  8. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27659. p. 1791. 18 March, 1904.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27732. p. 7256. 9 November, 1904.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27814. p. 4700. 7 July, 1905.
  12. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 2 June, 1907. Issue 38219, col A, p. 5.
  13. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 13 August, 1907. Issue 38410, col B, p. 10.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  15. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 25 November, 1907. Issue 38499, col C, p. 4.
  16. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 19 December, 1907. Issue 38520, col B, p. 10.
  17. ↑ Fremantle. My Naval Career. p. 91.
  18. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 343.
  19. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 343.
  20. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 343.
  21. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 343.
  22. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 343.
  23. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 343.
  24. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.
  25. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.
  26. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.
  27. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.
  28. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 13 May, 1904. Issue 37393, col D, p. 11.
  29. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.
  30. ↑ Montgomerie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 931.

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