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| − | [[File:Admiral_Warrender_(LoC).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Vice-Admiral Sir George J. S. Warrender, Bart.]]
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| − | [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''George John Scott Warrender''', Seventh Baronet, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (31 July, 1860 – 8 January, 1917) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]]. He entered the Navy in 1873 and enjoyed an active sea-going career with relatively few periods of shore duty. He served ashore in the Anglo-Zulu War, qualified in gunnery duties and served in the Pacific and on the China Station. He commanded a Naval Brigade during the Boxer Rebellion, and later commanded the East Indies Squadron. He succeeded to his father's baronetcy in 1901. After command of a cruiser squadron he was given command of the [[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Second Battle Squadron]], which command he held for the first year of the [[First World War]]. He was elevated to [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]] in 1916, but was forced through ill-health to relinquish command and retire from the Navy in December of that year, dying early in 1917 at the age of fifty-six.
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| − | ==Career==
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| − | George John Scott Warrender was born on 31 July, 1860, the second son of Sir George Warrender, Sixth Baronet, of Lochend, Haddingtonshire, and of Helen, only child of Sir Hugh Hume-Campbell, Seventh Baronet, of Marchmont, Berwickshire.<ref>Bell. ''Dictionary of National Biography''. p. 556.</ref> Warrender entered the Training Ship ''Britannia'' on 15 January, 1873.<ref name=Record1383>ADM 196/39. p. 1383.</ref> He was rated a {{MidRN}} on 19 December, 1874<ref>''Navy List'' (June, 1875). p. 35.</ref> and appointed to the frigate ''Raleigh'' on 1 June, 1875.<ref>''Navy List'' (June, 1875). p. 166.</ref> He was appointed to the corvette ''Boadicea'' on 9 July, 1878.<ref>''Navy List'' (December, 1878). p. 199.</ref> While in the ''Boadicea'' he landed with the Naval Brigade in the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and accompanied the Eshowe Relief Column.<ref name=TimesObit>"Death of Sir George Warrender" (Obituaries). ''The Times''. Tuesday, 9 January, 1917. Issue '''41371''', col B, pg. 8.</ref> He was present at the Battle of Ginghilovo [Gingindlovu] on 2 April and received a service medal and clasp for his participation.<ref>''Who's Who, 1904''. p. 1599.</ref> The battle saw a Zulu ''impi'' of 11,000 men try and destroy an encamped British force of 6,000, in an attempt to repeat the Zulu success at the Battle of Isandlwana, when 1,300 British troops had been killed. At Ginghilovo, the British lost only eleven men killed, while the Zulus lost over a thousand. The battle allowed to raise the two-month long Siege of Eshowe by Zulu forces on 3 April. He served ashore from 19 March to 27 May. Another Midshipman from ''Boadicea'' who served with the column was [[Stanley Cecil James Colville|Stanley C. J. Colville]], later Admiral Sir Stanley Colville.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24780/pages/6314 no. 24780. p. 6314.] 7 November, 1879.</ref> On 31 July, 1879 he took a First Class certificate in his Seamanship examination and was promoted Acting {{SubRN}}. From October, 1879 to May, 1880 he was appointed to [[H.M.S. Excellent (Gunnery Training School)|H.M.S. ''Excellent'']] to study for his Lieutenancy examinations at the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]], which he passed on 26 May, 1880. He took three firsts and received a prize for his efforts,<ref name=Record1383/> and was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 7 September, 1880.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24881/pages/4847 no. 24881. p. 4847.] 10 September, 1880.</ref>
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| − | Warrender was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1893 in the half-yearly promotions, and was instructed to remain as First Lieutenant of ''Active'' until relieved.<ref name=Record1383/> On 26 October he was appointed Secretary to a Committee advising on the defence of the Medway. On 2 November it was confirmed that his secretarial service would "count as full service" in relation to his pay and benefits. He was superseded on 6 January, 1894.<ref name=Record1384>ADM 196/39. p. 1384.</ref> On 6 February, 1894 in St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, Warrender married Lady Ethel Maud Ashley-Cooper, daughter of the Eighth Earl of Shaftesbury.<ref>''The Complete Baronetage''. '''V'''. p. 29.</ref> He was promptly appointed to the battleship ''Centurion'' heading for the [[China Station (Royal Navy)|China Station]] on 14 February, where he remained until he was appointed to the Royal Yacht [[H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert (1855)|''Victoria and Albert'']] on 13 May, 1896. During his service in ''Centurion'', he was described by Admiral Sir [[Edmund Robert Fremantle]] as, "A smart, energetic + efficient senior executive." He returned to Britain on 3 June.<ref name=Record1384/> The Warrenders' first child, Violet Helen Marie Warrender, was born on 20 November, 1896.<ref>''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage''. '''III'''. p. 3232.</ref> According to historian [[Paul G. Halpern]], "The family connections of both Warrender and his wife gave them the entrée into society and they were well known in the London social world."<ref name=Halpern>Halpern. ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''.</ref> On 23 June, 1893 the Warrenders' second child, Victor Alexander George Anthony Warrender (later First Baron Bruntisfield), was born.<ref>''The Complete Peerage''. '''XIV'''. p. 751.</ref> Queen Victoria acted as godmother.<ref>Warrender. ''My First Sixty Years''. p. 69.</ref> On 13 May Warrender had been promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}}, and on 11 July he was appointed to command the protected cruiser [[H.M.S. Brilliant (1891)|''Brilliant'']] for the annual manœuvres.<ref name=Record1384/>
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| − | On 26 October, Warrender was appointed to command the battleship [[H.M.S. Barfleur (1892)|''Barfleur'']], again on the China Station.<ref name=Record1384/> When the [[Boxer Rebellion]] broke out, Warrender was serving as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[James Andrew Thomas Bruce|James A. T. Bruce]], second-in-command of the China Squadron.<ref>Clowes. ''The Royal Navy''. '''VII'''. p. 561.</ref>
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| − | For his services during the Boxer Rebellion, Warrender was awarded a gratuity.<ref>Clowes. ''The Royal Navy''. '''VII'''. p. 561.</ref>
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| − | On 29 November, 1910 Warrender was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding the [[Second Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Second Cruiser Squadron]]. He struck his flag on 11 December, 1912. On 16 December, Warrender was appointed to command the [[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Second Battle Squadron]] of the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Home Fleets]], with the rank of Acting {{ViceRN}}.<ref name=Record=1385>ADM 196/39. p. 1385.</ref> He was confirmed in the rank on 4 June, 1913, vice [[Arthur Archibald Campbell Galloway|Galloway]], placed on the Retired List.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28729/pages/4307 no. 28729. p. 4307.] 17 June, 1913.</ref> When the Naval Society was formed in 1913 with the intent of publishing the independent journal, ''The Naval Review'', Warrender offered financial help and was listed among those who were "very sympathetic."<ref>"The Naval Society and Review" (August, 1922). ''Naval Review''. p. 399.</ref> Warrender was at Kiel when the news of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination in Belgrade was announced. He foretold, "This crime will mean war between Serbia and Austria. Russia will be drawn in and thus Germany and France cannot remain lookers-on."<ref>Hawkins. ''Starvation Blockades''. p. 7.</ref>
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| − | ==Great War Service==
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| − | On 16 June, Jellicoe confided to Sir Henry Jackson that, "My Vice-Admirals are always a little shaky. Warrender gets awfully deaf at times [a complaint Jellicoe himself suffered from] and is inclined to be absent-minded, but on the other hand he has had unique experience in command and is excellent as a squadron admiral in peace. I am not always quite happy about him."<ref>(Jackson MSS.) ''Jellicoe Papers''. '''I'''. p. 167.</ref>
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| − | Jellicoe wrote to Beatty on 23 November, "George Warrender is relieved by Jerram 16th December. I shall feel his departure most keenly. He is the soul of his squadron and the most loyal of comrades."<ref>(Beatty MSS.) ''Jellicoe Papers''. '''I'''. p. 189.</ref> Warrender struck his flag on 16 December and assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth on 20 March, 1916. On 11 November he was granted six weeks leave after an attack of Pleurisy. On the 30th he was found unfit for further service, and on 3 December he was asked whether he wanted to retire. On 5 December, 1916 he was superseded in the Plymouth command and went on the Retired List at his own request the following day.
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| − | Warrender died on 8 January, 1917, at his home in London. His eldest son, Victor Alexander Anthony George Warrender, succeeded to the title as Eighth Baronet.<ref name=TimesObit/>
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| − | ==Editor's Assessment==
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| − | Halpern, in his overview of Warrender's life, concludes: "Warrender remains one of the prime examples of a naval leader who, whatever his personal qualities and distinguished record in time of peace, did not rise to the very different demands of war."<ref name=Halpern/> By Halpern's own admission, of the mistakes made on 16 December, 1914, "the most egregious probably were not made by Warrender". Beatty, Goodenough and other flag officers were given second chances to prove themselves. Through no fault of his own, Warrender never received his second chance, being relieved of command afloat six months before the Battle of Jutland, when in all probability he would have led the British line of battle. Gordon slates Jellicoe's defence of Warrender, "excellent as a squadron admiral in peace", as "incredible grounds" for keeping him in post.<ref>Gordon. ''Rules of the Game''. p. 565.</ref> This editor is not convinced that Gordon has satisfactorily identified the pre-requisites for command of a Battle Squadron in war, let alone in peace, a criticism which can also be leveled at Halpern. No doubt Gordon would have preferred a Beatty, "apt to be rash in conclusion",<ref>Jones. ''The Making of the Royal Navy Officer Corps''. p. 208.</ref> rather than someone perceived to be a reliable stalwart, like Warrender.<br>{{SIMON}}
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| − | ==Footnotes==
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| − | {{reflist}}
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| − | ==Bibliography==
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| − | <small>
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| − | *"Death of Sir George Warrender" (Obituaries). ''The Times''. Tuesday, 9 January, 1917. Issue '''41371''', col B, pg. 8.
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| − | *Bell, A. C. (1927). ''Dictionary of National Biography''. '''Third Supplement'''. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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| − | *Hawkins, Nigel (2002). ''The Starvation Blockades: Naval Blockades of WW1''. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 9780850529081.
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| − | *Warrender, Lady Maud Ashley (1933). ''My First Sixty Years''. London: Cassell & Company Ltd.
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| − | </small>
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| − | ==Service Record==
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| − | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7917375&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/39]
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| − | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7905898&queryType=1&resultcount=2 ADM 196/20]
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| − | {| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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| − | | colspan="3" align="center" style="background:#CEDFF2" | '''Naval Office''' | + | | align="center" colspan="8" bgcolor="crimson"| [[First Sea Lord|<span style="color:white;">First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff</span>]] |
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| − | | width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center" | Preceded by<br>'''[[John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|Sir John Jellicoe]]''' | + | | align="center" width=40% colspan="3"| [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]] |
| − | | width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center" | '''[[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron]]'''<br>1912 – 1915
| + | | align="center" width=20% rowspan="2"| [[Intelligence Division (Royal Navy)|Intelligence Division]] |
| − | | width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center" | Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Henry Martyn Jerram|Sir Martyn Jerram]]''' | + | | align="center" width=40% colspan="4"| [[Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff]] |
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| − | | width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center" | Preceded by<br>'''[[George Le Clerc Egerton|Sir George Egerton]]'''
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| − | | width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center" | '''[[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]]'''<br>1916 | + | |
| − | | width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center" | Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alexander Edward Bethell|Sir Alexander Bethell]]'''
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| | + | | align="center"| [[Operations Division (Royal Navy)|Operations Division]] |
| | + | | align="center"| [[Signals Division (Royal Navy)|Signals Division]] |
| | + | | align="center"| [[Plans Division (Royal Navy)|Plans Division]] |
| | + | | align="center"| [[Trade Division (Royal Navy)|Trade Division]] |
| | + | | align="center"| [[Anti-Submarine Division (Royal Navy)|Anti-Submarine Division]] |
| | + | | align="center"| [[Minesweeping Division (Royal Navy)|Minesweeping Division]] |
| | + | | align="center"| [[Mercantile Movements Division (Royal Navy)|Mercantile Movements Division]] |
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| − | [[Category:1860 births|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:1917 deaths|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Personalities|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Royal Navy Gunnery Officers|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Brilliant (1891)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Barfleur (1892)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Hawke (1891)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Lancaster (1902)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Carnarvon (1903)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Commanders-in-Chief on the East Indies Station|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Rear-Admirals Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Vice-Admirals Commanding, Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Commanders-in-Chief, Plymouth|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Royal Navy Vice-Admirals|Warrender]]
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| − | [[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Warrender]]
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