Henry Oliver
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Henry Francis Oliver, GCB
, KCMG
, MVO
(22 January 1865 – 15 October 1965) was a British naval officer.
in July, 1878 as a Naval Cadet in the Navigating Branch, before transferring to the Executive Branch. In 1913 he became the Director of the Intelligence Division
of the Admiralty War Staff. From 14 October 1914, less than a month after the outbreak of the First World War, he served as Naval Secretary
to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill
. In November 1914, Oliver became Chief of the Admiralty War Staff with the acting rank of Vice-Admiral. In May 1917 he was elevated to Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and became an additional Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
.
In early 1918 he left the Admiralty and reverted to his substantive rank of Rear-Admiral, commanding the First Battle Cruiser Squadron in the Grand Fleet. On 1 January 1919 Oliver was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. Later that year he commanded the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and then commanded the Home Fleet. In 1920 he became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
, and remained at the Admiralty until 1924, being promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 November 1923. His final command was that of the Atlantic Fleet, which he held from 1924 to 1927, striking his flag in Revenge
on 15 August 1927 after the customary period of three years. Oliver was promoted to the Navy's highest rank, Admiral of the Fleet
, on 21 January 1928 and promoted to GCB
on 4 June. He was placed on the Retired List on 21 January 1933.
In 1917, he was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun
, 2nd class, which was duly published in the London Gazette
. Oliver married Beryl Joseph
on 10 June 1914. When he reached the age of 100 it was estimated that during his thirty-year period of retirement he received £76,000 in retired pay.
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir Henry Francis Oliver, GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, MVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(22 January 1865 – 15 October 1965) was a British naval officer.
Naval career
Oliver entered the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in July, 1878 as a Naval Cadet in the Navigating Branch, before transferring to the Executive Branch. In 1913 he became the Director of the Intelligence Division
Naval Intelligence Division
The Naval Intelligence Division was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Staff in 1965. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence...
of the Admiralty War Staff. From 14 October 1914, less than a month after the outbreak of the First World War, he served as Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. In November 1914, Oliver became Chief of the Admiralty War Staff with the acting rank of Vice-Admiral. In May 1917 he was elevated to Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and became an additional Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy.Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. The Lords...
.
In early 1918 he left the Admiralty and reverted to his substantive rank of Rear-Admiral, commanding the First Battle Cruiser Squadron in the Grand Fleet. On 1 January 1919 Oliver was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. Later that year he commanded the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and then commanded the Home Fleet. In 1920 he became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...
, and remained at the Admiralty until 1924, being promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 November 1923. His final command was that of the Atlantic Fleet, which he held from 1924 to 1927, striking his flag in Revenge
HMS Revenge (06)
HMS Revenge was the lead ship of the Revenge class of battleships of the Royal Navy, the ninth to bear the name. She was launched during World War I in 1915. Though the class is often referred to as the Royal Sovereign class, official documents of 1914–1918 refer to the class as the Revenge class...
on 15 August 1927 after the customary period of three years. Oliver was promoted to the Navy's highest rank, Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
, on 21 January 1928 and promoted to GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
on 4 June. He was placed on the Retired List on 21 January 1933.
In 1917, he was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, 2nd class, which was duly published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
. Oliver married Beryl Joseph
Beryl Oliver
Dame Beryl Carnegy Oliver GBE RRC , née Beryl Carnegy Joseph, was a British charity administrator as well as the British Red Cross Society's Director of Education.-Personal life:...
on 10 June 1914. When he reached the age of 100 it was estimated that during his thirty-year period of retirement he received £76,000 in retired pay.
Honours and awards
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Member of the Royal Victorian Order
- Order of the Rising SunOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, 2nd Class (Japan) - Commander of the Legion of Honour (France)
- Distinguished Service Medal (United States)Distinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...