Admirals of the British Navy: Portraits in Colours with Introductory and Biographical Notes
History
Admirals of the British Navy: Portraits in Colours with Introductory and Biographical Notes
Admirals -- Great Britain; World War, 1914-1918 -- Biography
No biographical notice of Sir John Jellicoe would be complete without a
mention of his father, who was, in his day, a well-known and
distinguished Captain in the Merchant Service. It is pleasant to
remember that Captain Jellicoe lived to see his son in command of the
Grand Fleet during the greatest war in history. This close connection
between the two branches of sea service is also peculiarly happy and
appropriate. Admiral Patton, a great-grandfather on his mother's side,
was Second Sea Lord during the Trafalgar campaign.
II
ADMIRAL SIR CECIL BURNEY, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.
ADMIRAL SIR CECIL BURNEY, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., was born in 1858 and
received his education at the Royal Naval Academy, Gosport; he served as
a Lieutenant of the "Carysfoot" during the Egyptian war, and also in the
Naval and military operations near Suakin in the Eastern Soudan. For
these services he received the Egyptian Medal, Khedive's Bronze Star and
Suakin Clasp.
As a Lieutenant of the "Hecate" Admiral Burney performed a singularly
gallant action. His ship having gone outside Plymouth Breakwater for gun
trials, a carpenter's mate engaged in some work on the outside of a
turret slipped overboard, striking his head as he fell. Lieutenant
Burney and Mr. Berridge, gunner, at once plunged to the rescue and
succeeded in supporting the man till one of the boats, which
unfortunately were stowed inboard owing to gun practice, could be got
ready to go to their assistance.
In 1906-7 Admiral Burney was Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII. He was
Rear-Admiral of Plymouth Home Fleet, 1909-10, a member of the Admiralty
Submarine Committee, 1910-11; Rear-Admiral Commanding Fifth Cruiser
Squadron, February, 1911; Acting Vice-Admiral Commanding Third Battle
Squadron (formerly Atlantic Fleet), in December of the same year and
Vice-Admiral in September, 1912.
In April, 1913, he became second in command in the Mediterranean and
Senior Officer of the International Squadron ordered to blockade the
coast of Montenegro, and in May of the same year he was appointed Chief
to the Commission to administer the affairs of Scutari on behalf of the
Powers.
[Illustration: ADMIRAL SIR CECIL BURNEY]
Vice-Admiral Burney received the K.C.B. on King George's Birthday in
1913, and the K.C.M.G. in October of the same year, in which he also
received the command of the Second and Third Fleets.
At the Battle of Jutland he was second in command of the Grand Fleet and
was mentioned in despatches. He became a G.C.M.G. and Admiral in 1916,
being decorated Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour for his war
services in the same year. In 1916 he was also appointed Second Sea Lord
of the Admiralty. He also holds the Order of St. Vladimir (Second Class)
with swords, the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Maurice and St.
Lazarus, and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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