Difference between revisions of "Reginald Hugh Spencer Bacon"

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Having entered the navy in 1878 Bacon chose to specialise in a variety of areas dealing with innovations: from ship design to electricity to submarines (he conducted the first Royal Navy trials) to mining.   
 
Having entered the navy in 1878 Bacon chose to specialise in a variety of areas dealing with innovations: from ship design to electricity to submarines (he conducted the first Royal Navy trials) to mining.   
  
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He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1895.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26647/pages/4233 no. 26647.  p. 4233.]  26 July, 1895.</ref>  He was thirty-one years, nine months and twenty-four days old at promotion.  He later claimed that he was the youngest of the lieutenants promoted in that batch.<ref>Bacon.  ''From 1900 Onwards''.  p. 22.</ref>  However, he was the second-youngest, after [[Arthur William Waymouth|Arthur W. Waymouth]].
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He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1895.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26647/pages/4233 no. 26647.  p. 4233.]  26 July, 1895.</ref>  He was thirty-one years, nine months and twenty-four days old at promotion.  He later claimed that he was the youngest of the lieutenants promoted in that batch.<ref>Bacon.  ''From 1900 Onwards''.  p. 22.</ref>  However, he was the second-youngest, after [[Arthur William Waymouth|Arthur W. Waymouth]].
  
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For his services in Benin he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) on 25 May, 1897.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26856/pages/2928 no. 26856.  p. 2928.]  25 May, 1897.</ref>
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For his services in Benin he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) on 25 May, 1897.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26856/pages/2928 no. 26856.  p. 2928.]  25 May, 1897.</ref>
  
 
==Captain==
 
==Captain==
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Bacon was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1900.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27211/pages/4433 no. 27211.  p. 4433.]  17 July, 1900.</ref>
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Bacon was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1900.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27211/pages/4433 no. 27211.  p. 4433.]  17 July, 1900.</ref>
  
 
On 23 March, 1901, Bacon was appointed to ''President'' for "Special Service" at the Admiralty,<ref>Bacon Service Record.  ADM 196/42.  f. 166.</ref> for, in his own words, "service with the submarine boats, on which work had already been commenced."<ref>Bacon.  ''From 1900 Onwards''.  p. 50.</ref>  He served on the staff of the Controller, with an office at the Admiralty.<ref>Ibid.  f. 54.</ref>
 
On 23 March, 1901, Bacon was appointed to ''President'' for "Special Service" at the Admiralty,<ref>Bacon Service Record.  ADM 196/42.  f. 166.</ref> for, in his own words, "service with the submarine boats, on which work had already been commenced."<ref>Bacon.  ''From 1900 Onwards''.  p. 50.</ref>  He served on the staff of the Controller, with an office at the Admiralty.<ref>Ibid.  f. 54.</ref>
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He was appointed command of [[H.M.S. Dreadnought (1906)|''Dreadnought'']] on 2 July, 1906.<ref>John Roberts.  ''The Battleship Dreadnought''.  p. 18.</ref>
 
He was appointed command of [[H.M.S. Dreadnought (1906)|''Dreadnought'']] on 2 July, 1906.<ref>John Roberts.  ''The Battleship Dreadnought''.  p. 18.</ref>
  
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Bacon was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28048/pages/5390 no. 28048.  p. 5390.]  6 August, 1907.</ref>
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Bacon was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28048/pages/5390 no. 28048.  p. 5390.]  6 August, 1907.</ref>
  
 
===Director of Naval Ordnance===
 
===Director of Naval Ordnance===
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==Rear-Admiral & Retirement==
 
==Rear-Admiral & Retirement==
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On 12 July, 1909, he was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Charles Holcombe Dare|Dare]].<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28271/pages/5463 no. 28271.  p. 5463.]  16 July, 1909.</ref>  In accordance with the provisions of the [[Order in Council of 8 December, 1903]], he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 November.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28313/pages/9123 no. 28313.  p. 9123.]  30 November, 1909.</ref>
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On 12 July, 1909, he was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Charles Holcombe Dare|Dare]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28271/pages/5463 no. 28271.  p. 5463.]  16 July, 1909.</ref>  In accordance with the provisions of the [[Order in Council of 8 December, 1903]], he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 November.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28313/pages/9123 no. 28313.  p. 9123.]  30 November, 1909.</ref>
  
 
By the year of his resignation from the navy - 1909 - he had reached the rank of Rear-Admiral, and settled into an entirely appropriate civilian career as Managing Director of the [[Coventry Ordnance Works]], having served his last two years as [[Director of Naval Ordnance (Royal Navy)|Director of Naval Ordnance]].
 
By the year of his resignation from the navy - 1909 - he had reached the rank of Rear-Admiral, and settled into an entirely appropriate civilian career as Managing Director of the [[Coventry Ordnance Works]], having served his last two years as [[Director of Naval Ordnance (Royal Navy)|Director of Naval Ordnance]].
  
 
==Great War==
 
==Great War==
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The outbreak of [[First World War|war]] in August, 1914 brought Bacon's recall to active service and following a brief stint on the Western Front (using his own company's weaponry - a howitzer of his own design) as a [[Colonel, Second Commandant (Royal Marines)|Colonel, Second Commandant]] in the [[Royal Marine Artillery]] was handed command of the Dover Patrol the following April.  He relinquished his temporary commission as Colonel, Second Commandant on 13 April, 1915.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29136/pages/3828 no. 29136.  p. 3828.]  20 April, 1915.</ref>  On 15 July, 1915, he was advanced to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on the Retired List.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29236/pages/7073 no. 29236.  p. 7073.]  20 July, 1915.</ref>
+
The outbreak of [[First World War|war]] in August, 1914 brought Bacon's recall to active service and following a brief stint on the Western Front (using his own company's weaponry - a howitzer of his own design) as a [[Colonel, Second Commandant (Royal Marines)|Colonel, Second Commandant]] in the [[Royal Marine Artillery]] was handed command of the Dover Patrol the following April.  He relinquished his temporary commission as Colonel, Second Commandant on 13 April, 1915.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29136/pages/3828 no. 29136.  p. 3828.]  20 April, 1915.</ref>  On 15 July, 1915, he was advanced to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on the Retired List.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29236/pages/7073 no. 29236.  p. 7073.]  20 July, 1915.</ref>
 
Bacon's task was apparently simple: to prevent German U-boat access to the English Channel, and to facilitate the despatch of supplies, both men and materials, across to the Western Front in France.
 
Bacon's task was apparently simple: to prevent German U-boat access to the English Channel, and to facilitate the despatch of supplies, both men and materials, across to the Western Front in France.
  
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On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29423/supplements/80 (Supplement) no. 29423.  p. 80.]  31 December, 1915.</ref>  On 15 August he was appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) after the King visited the Army in France.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29711/pages/8149 no. 29711.  p. 8149.]  18 August, 1916.</ref>
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On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29423/supplements/80 (Supplement) no. 29423.  p. 80.]  31 December, 1915.</ref>  On 15 August he was appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) after the King visited the Army in France.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29711/pages/8149 no. 29711.  p. 8149.]  18 August, 1916.</ref>
  
 
The Chief of the Admiralty War Staff of the time, later [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]], [[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]], later recalled, "Bacon was most energetic and tireless, he slept in his Office and when anything happened at night in his command and I telephoned[,] the Secretary would tell me he had gone afloat.  He had the most exacting and arduous command of and Flag Officer in the War[,] and was very badly treated at the end of it.  Keyes intrigued against him and when Lord Westerwemyss [sic] became 1st Sea Lord[,] pushed him out and supplanted him."<ref>Oliver Memoirs.  '''II'''.  pp. 170-171.</ref>   
 
The Chief of the Admiralty War Staff of the time, later [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]], [[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]], later recalled, "Bacon was most energetic and tireless, he slept in his Office and when anything happened at night in his command and I telephoned[,] the Secretary would tell me he had gone afloat.  He had the most exacting and arduous command of and Flag Officer in the War[,] and was very badly treated at the end of it.  Keyes intrigued against him and when Lord Westerwemyss [sic] became 1st Sea Lord[,] pushed him out and supplanted him."<ref>Oliver Memoirs.  '''II'''.  pp. 170-171.</ref>   
  
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Bacon was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on the Retired List on 1 September, 1918.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30887/pages/10549 no. 30887.  p. 10549.]  6 September, 1918.</ref>
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Bacon was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on the Retired List on 1 September, 1918.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30887/pages/10549 no. 30887.  p. 10549.]  6 September, 1918.</ref>
  
 
==Aftermath==
 
==Aftermath==

Revision as of 22:10, 24 September 2012

Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, portrayed as a Vice-Admiral.
Portrait: Francis Dodd, 1917.

Admiral SIR Reginald Hugh Spencer Bacon, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., D.S.O., Royal Navy, Retired (6 September, 1863 – 9 June, 1947) commanded the Dover Patrol from 1915-17 and embarked on a post-retirement career as a naval historian.

Early Life

Bacon was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 20 August, 1883.

Having entered the navy in 1878 Bacon chose to specialise in a variety of areas dealing with innovations: from ship design to electricity to submarines (he conducted the first Royal Navy trials) to mining.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1895.[1] He was thirty-one years, nine months and twenty-four days old at promotion. He later claimed that he was the youngest of the lieutenants promoted in that batch.[2] However, he was the second-youngest, after Arthur W. Waymouth.

For his services in Benin he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) on 25 May, 1897.[3]

Captain

Bacon was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1900.[4]

On 23 March, 1901, Bacon was appointed to President for "Special Service" at the Admiralty,[5] for, in his own words, "service with the submarine boats, on which work had already been commenced."[6] He served on the staff of the Controller, with an office at the Admiralty.[7]

He was appointed command of Dreadnought on 2 July, 1906.[8]

Bacon was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.[9]

Director of Naval Ordnance

In May, 1907, it was announced that Bacon would succeed Jellicoe as D.N.O.[10] He was appointed to the Admiralty for temporary service on 12 August, 1907, and became D.N.O. on 25 August.[11]

Rear-Admiral & Retirement

On 12 July, 1909, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Dare.[12] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 November.[13]

By the year of his resignation from the navy - 1909 - he had reached the rank of Rear-Admiral, and settled into an entirely appropriate civilian career as Managing Director of the Coventry Ordnance Works, having served his last two years as Director of Naval Ordnance.

Great War

The outbreak of war in August, 1914 brought Bacon's recall to active service and following a brief stint on the Western Front (using his own company's weaponry - a howitzer of his own design) as a Colonel, Second Commandant in the Royal Marine Artillery was handed command of the Dover Patrol the following April. He relinquished his temporary commission as Colonel, Second Commandant on 13 April, 1915.[14] On 15 July, 1915, he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List.[15] Bacon's task was apparently simple: to prevent German U-boat access to the English Channel, and to facilitate the despatch of supplies, both men and materials, across to the Western Front in France.

On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[16] On 15 August he was appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) after the King visited the Army in France.[17]

The Chief of the Admiralty War Staff of the time, later Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Sir Henry F. Oliver, later recalled, "Bacon was most energetic and tireless, he slept in his Office and when anything happened at night in his command and I telephoned[,] the Secretary would tell me he had gone afloat. He had the most exacting and arduous command of and Flag Officer in the War[,] and was very badly treated at the end of it. Keyes intrigued against him and when Lord Westerwemyss [sic] became 1st Sea Lord[,] pushed him out and supplanted him."[18]

Bacon was promoted to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 1 September, 1918.[19]

Aftermath

In September, 1918 Bacon was made full Admiral; he retired six months later in the wake of the armistice. It was at this stage that Bacon determined to try his hand as a naval historian. Aside from his Dover Patrol memoir he also published biographies of controversial Admirals Fisher and Jellicoe (whose conduct at the Battle of Jutland Bacon resolutely supported; the former also happened to be a close friend).

Bacon died in 1947.

Assessment

In his 1946 memoirs, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry F. Oliver wrote that, "Bacon was about the ablest and cleverest Officer I have ever known."[20]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26647. p. 4233. 26 July, 1895.
  2. ↑ Bacon. From 1900 Onwards. p. 22.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26856. p. 2928. 25 May, 1897.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27211. p. 4433. 17 July, 1900.
  5. ↑ Bacon Service Record. ADM 196/42. f. 166.
  6. ↑ Bacon. From 1900 Onwards. p. 50.
  7. ↑ Ibid. f. 54.
  8. ↑ John Roberts. The Battleship Dreadnought. p. 18.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  10. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 30 May, 1907. Issue 38346, col F, p. 5.
  11. ↑ Bacon Service Record. ADM 196/42. f. 262.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28271. p. 5463. 16 July, 1909.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28313. p. 9123. 30 November, 1909.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29136. p. 3828. 20 April, 1915.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29236. p. 7073. 20 July, 1915.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29423. p. 80. 31 December, 1915.
  17. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29711. p. 8149. 18 August, 1916.
  18. ↑ Oliver Memoirs. II. pp. 170-171.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30887. p. 10549. 6 September, 1918.
  20. ↑ Oliver. II. f. 33.

Bibliography

  • Bacon, Admiral Sir Reginald (1925). A Naval Scrapbook: First Part, 1877–1900. London: Hutchinson & Co..
  • Bacon, Admiral Sir Reginald (1940). From 1900 Onward. London: Hutchinson & Co..

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Sir John R. Jellicoe 		Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes
1907 – 1909 		Succeeded by
A. Gordon H. W. Moore
Preceded by
The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood 		Vice-Admiral Commanding, Dover Patrol
1915 – 1918 		Succeeded by
Roger J. B. Keyes

Template:CatAdmiral

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