Cecil Burney: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Changed infobox placement of "Sir" per recent discussions on infobox talk and MOS
 
(47 intermediate revisions by 34 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet (1858–1929)}}
{{For|Sir Cecil Burney, 3rd Baronet|Burney baronets}}
{{for|the British businessman and Zambian politician|Cecil Dennistoun Burney}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Sir Cecil Burney, Bt
| honorific_prefix = [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
|image=Vice Admiral Cecil Burney (7307714298).jpg
|caption=Sir Cecil Burney
| name = Sir Cecil Burney
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|Bt|GCB|GCMG|DL}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1858|5|15|df=y}}
| image = Vice Admiral Cecil Burney (7307714298).jpg
|death_date ={{death date and age|1929|6|5|1858|5|15|df=y}}
| caption =
|birth_place=[[Saint Saviour, Jersey]]
| office = [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]]
|death_place=[[Upham, Hampshire]]
| term_start = March 1919
|placeofburial = [[Brookwood Cemetery]]
| term_end = 1920
|nickname=
| office2 = [[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]]
|allegiance={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
| term_start2 = October 1917
|branch= [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|23px]] [[Royal Navy]]
| term_end2 = March 1919
|serviceyears= 1871–1925
| office3 = [[Second Sea Lord]]
|rank= [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
| term_start3 = November 1916
|unit=
| term_end3 = September 1917
|commands=[[HMS Boscawen (1844)|HMS ''Boscawen'']]<br>[[HMS Minotaur (1863)|HMS ''Minotaur'']]<br>[[HMS Hawke (1891)|HMS ''Hawke'']]<br>[[HMS Sappho (1891)|HMS ''Sappho'']]<br>[[HMS Resolution (1892)|HMS ''Resolution'']]<br>[[HMS Empress of India (1891)|HMS ''Empress of India'']]<br>[[HMS Triumph (1903)|HMS ''Triumph'']]<br>[[HMS Impregnable (training establishment 1862)|HMS ''Impregnable'']]<br>Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet<br>5th Cruiser Squadron<br>[[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]]<br>[[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]]<br>[[Second Fleet (United Kingdom)|Second Fleet]] and [[Third Fleet (United Kingdom)|Third Fleet]]<br>[[Channel Fleet]]<br>[[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]]<br>[[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Coast of Scotland]]<br>[[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth|Portsmouth Command]]
| office4 = [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]]/[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] Commanding [[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]]
|battles= [[Anglo-Egyptian War]]<br>[[Mahdist War]]<br>[[Second Boer War]]<br>[[First Balkan War]]<br>[[World War I]]
| term_start4 = December 1914
|awards= [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br>[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
| term_end4 = November 1916
|relations=
| office5 = [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] Commanding [[Channel Fleet]]
|laterwork=
| term_start5 = August 1914
| term_end5 = December 1914
| office6 = [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] Commanding [[Second Fleet (United Kingdom)|Second]] and [[Third Fleet (United Kingdom)|Third Fleets]]
| term_start6 = December 1913
| term_end6 = August 1914
| office7 = [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] Commanding [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]]
| term_start7 = April 1912
| term_end7 = December 1913
| office8 = [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] Commanding [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]]
| term_start8 = September 1911
| term_end8 = April 1912
| office9 = [[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] Commanding [[5th Cruiser Squadron]]
| term_start9 = February 1911
| term_end9 = September 1911
| birth_date = {{birth date|1858|5|15|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1929|6|5|1858|5|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Saint Saviour, Jersey]]
| death_place = [[Upham, Hampshire]], England
| placeofburial = [[Brookwood Cemetery]]
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
| branch = [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|23px]] [[Royal Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1871–1925
| rank = [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
| unit =
| commands = [[HMS Boscawen (1844)|HMS ''Boscawen'']]<br>[[HMS Minotaur (1863)|HMS ''Minotaur'']]<br>[[HMS Hawke (1891)|HMS ''Hawke'']]<br>[[HMS Sappho (1891)|HMS ''Sappho'']]<br>[[HMS Resolution (1892)|HMS ''Resolution'']]<br>[[HMS Empress of India (1891)|HMS ''Empress of India'']]<br>[[HMS Triumph (1903)|HMS ''Triumph'']]<br>[[HMS Impregnable (training establishment 1862)|HMS ''Impregnable'']]<br>Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet<br>[[5th Cruiser Squadron]]<br>[[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]]<br>[[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]]<br>[[Second Fleet (United Kingdom)|Second Fleet]] and [[Third Fleet (United Kingdom)|Third Fleet]]<br>[[Channel Fleet]]<br>[[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]]<br>[[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Coast of Scotland]]<br>[[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth|Portsmouth Command]]
| battles = [[Anglo-Egyptian War]]<br>[[Mahdist War]]<br>[[Second Boer War]]<br>[[First Balkan War]]<br>[[First World War]]
| awards = [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br>[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
}}
[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] '''Sir Cecil Burney, 1st Baronet''', [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of St Michael and St George|GCMG]] (15 May 1858 – 5 June 1929) was a [[Royal Navy]] officer. After seeing action as a junior office in [[naval brigade]]s during both the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]] and the [[Mahdist War]], he commanded a [[cruiser]] in operational service during the [[Second Boer War]]. As a flag officer he commanded the Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet, the 5th Cruiser Squadron, the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]] and then the [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]].
[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] '''Sir Cecil Burney, 1st Baronet''', {{postnominals|size=100%|sep=,|country=GBR|GCB|GCMG|DL}} (15 May 1858 – 5 June 1929) was a [[Royal Navy]] officer. After seeing action as a junior office in [[naval brigade]]s during both the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]] and the [[Mahdist War]], he commanded a [[cruiser]] in operational service during the [[Second Boer War]]. As a flag officer he commanded the Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet, the [[5th Cruiser Squadron]], the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]] and then the [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]].


In April 1913 [[Montenegro]] seized control of [[Shkodër|Scutari]] in the latest round of hostilities between the [[Ottoman Empire]] and Montenegro during the closing stages of the [[First Balkan War]]. In April 1913 Burney was sent as temporary Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet to [[Bar, Montenegro|Antivari]] on the coast of Montenegro to take command of the international naval force despatched to deal with this situation. On arrival he blockaded Antivari and then also commanded the international force occupying Scutari as part of its transition to Albanian control. He was well rewarded with honours for the success of this mission.
In April 1913 [[Montenegro]] seized control of [[Shkodër|Scutari]] in the latest round of hostilities between the [[Ottoman Empire]] and Montenegro during the closing stages of the [[First Balkan War]]. In April 1913 Burney was sent as temporary Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet to [[Bar, Montenegro|Antivari]] on the coast of Montenegro to take command of the international naval force despatched to deal with this situation. On arrival he [[Blockade of Montenegro|blockaded Antivari]] and then also commanded the international force occupying Scutari as part of its transition to Albanian control. He was well rewarded with honours for the success of this mission.


On the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]] Burney became Commander-in-Chief of the [[Channel Fleet]]. In that role he ensured the safe passage of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] to France. He went on to be commander of the [[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]] commanding the squadron at the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916, where his flagship [[HMS Marlborough (1912)|HMS ''Marlborough'']] was the first ship to engage the Germans but was later [[torpedo]]ed. He was appointed [[Second Sea Lord]] in November 1916 but removed on the grounds of his age in September 1917 and appointed [[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]] instead. He went on to be [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] after the War.
On the outbreak of the [[First World War]] Burney became Vice-Admiral Commanding the [[Channel Fleet]]. In that role he ensured the safe passage of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] to France. He went on to be commander of the [[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]] commanding the squadron at the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916, where his flagship {{HMS|Marlborough|1912|6}} was the first ship to engage the Germans but was later [[torpedo]]ed. He was appointed [[Second Sea Lord]] in November 1916 but removed on the grounds of his age in September 1917 and appointed [[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]] instead. He went on to be [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] after the War.


==Early years==
==Early years==
The son of Captain Charles Burney RN and Catherine Elizabeth Burney (née Jones), Burney was born in [[Saint Saviour, Jersey]]. He was educated at [[Burney's Academy|Burney's Royal Naval Academy]], [[Gosport]] and then joined the Royal Navy as a [[cadet]] in the training ship [[HMS Prince of Wales (1860)|HMS ''Britannia'']] in July 1871.<ref name=odnb>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32192?docPos=1|title=Sir Cecil Burney|publisher=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> Promoted [[midshipman]] in October 1873, he was assigned to the [[battleship]] [[HMS Repulse (1868)|HMS ''Repulse'']], flagship of the [[Pacific Station]] and, after promotion to [[sub-lieutenant]] on 18 October 1877, he transferred to the [[troopship]] [[HMS Serapis (1866)|HMS ''Serapis'']] in January 1879.<ref name=heath36>Heathcote, p. 36</ref> He joined the [[Royal Yacht]] [[HMY Victoria and Albert II|HMY ''Victoria and Albert II'']] in June 1879 and was promoted [[lieutenant]] on 30 August 1879.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=24758|supp=|startpage=5309|date=2 September 1879|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
The son of Captain Charles Burney RN and Catherine Elizabeth Burney (née Jones), Burney was born in [[Saint Saviour, Jersey]]. He was educated at [[Burney's Academy|Burney's Royal Naval Academy]], [[Gosport]] and then joined the Royal Navy as a [[cadet]] in the training ship [[HMS Prince of Wales (1860)|HMS ''Britannia'']] in July 1871.<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32192?docPos=1|title=Sir Cecil Burney|year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/32192 |accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> Promoted [[midshipman]] in October 1873, he was assigned to the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Repulse|1868|6}}, flagship of the [[Pacific Station]] and, after promotion to [[sub-lieutenant]] on 18 October 1877, he transferred to the [[troopship]] {{HMS|Serapis|1866|6}} in January 1879.<ref name=heath36>Heathcote, p. 36</ref> He joined the [[Royal Yacht]] [[HMY Victoria and Albert (1855)|HMY ''Victoria and Albert'']] in June 1879 and was promoted [[lieutenant]] on 30 August 1879.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24758|page=5309|date=2 September 1879}}</ref>


Burney joined the [[corvette]] [[HMS Carysfort (1878)|HMS ''Carysfort'']] in the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] in September 1880 and served ashore in command of a [[Gatling gun]] team as part of a [[naval brigade]] and saw action at the Battle of Tell al-Mahuta in August 1882 and the [[Kassassin|Battle of Kassasin]] also in August 1882 during the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]].<ref name=heath36/> He then also accompanied [[Charles Warren|Sir Charles Warren's]] expedition in pursuit of the murderers of [[Edward Henry Palmer|Professor Edward Palmer]] and his associates.<ref name=heath36/> He went on to serve in operations against [[Osman Digna]] who was threatening [[Suakin]] in Spring 1884 during the [[Mahdist War]].<ref name=heath36/>
Burney joined the [[corvette]] {{HMS|Carysfort|1878|6}} in the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] in September 1880 and served ashore in command of a [[Gatling gun]] team as part of a [[naval brigade]] and saw action at the Battle of Tell al-Mahuta in August 1882 and the [[Kassassin|Battle of Kassasin]] also in August 1882 during the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]].<ref name=heath36/> He then also accompanied [[Charles Warren|Sir Charles Warren's]] expedition in pursuit of the murderers of [[Edward Henry Palmer|Professor Edward Palmer]] and his associates.<ref name=heath36/> He went on to serve in operations against [[Osman Digna]] who was threatening [[Suakin]] in Spring 1884 during the [[Mahdist War]].<ref name=heath36/>


Burney returned to [[Portsmouth]] to attend the gunnery school [[HMS Excellent (shore establishment)|HMS ''Excellent'']] in September 1884 and then joined the staff at the gunnery training ship [[HMS Windsor Castle (1858)|HMS ''Cambridge'']] at [[Devonport, Devon|Devonport]] in June 1886.<ref name=heath36/> He became gunnery officer first in the battleship [[HMS Bellerophon (1865)|HMS ''Bellerophon'']] on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] in August 1887, then in the [[cruiser]] [[HMS Comus (1878)|HMS ''Comus'']] on the same station in April 1889 and finally in the [[armored cruiser|armoured cruiser]] [[HMS Immortalité (1887)|HMS ''Immortalité'']] in the [[Channel Fleet|Channel Squadron]] in January 1892.<ref name=heath36/> Promoted [[commander]] on 1 January 1893,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=26359|supp=|startpage=2|date=2 January 1893|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> he became Executive Officer in the [[cruiser]] [[HMS Hawke (1891)|HMS ''Hawke'']] in the Mediterranean Fleet in May 1893.<ref name=heath36/> In January 1896 he went on to be [[commanding officer]] of the boys' training establishment at [[Isle of Portland|Portland]] first in the training ship [[HMS Boscawen (1844)|HMS ''Boscawen'']] and then in the training ship [[HMS Minotaur (1863)|HMS ''Minotaur'']] and was promoted [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]] on 1 January 1898.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=26924|supp=|startpage=7854|date=31 December 1897|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
Burney returned to [[Portsmouth]] to attend the gunnery school [[HMS Excellent (shore establishment)|HMS ''Excellent'']] in September 1884 and then joined the staff at the gunnery training ship [[HMS Windsor Castle (1858)|HMS ''Cambridge'']] at [[Devonport, Devon|Devonport]] in June 1886.<ref name=heath36/> He became gunnery officer first in the battleship {{HMS|Bellerophon|1865|6}} on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] in August 1887, then in the [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Comus|1878|6}} on the same station in April 1889 and finally in the [[armored cruiser|armoured cruiser]] [[HMS Immortalité (1887)|HMS ''Immortalité'']] in the [[Channel Fleet|Channel Squadron]] in January 1892.<ref name=heath36/> Promoted [[commander]] on 1 January 1893,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26359|page=2|date=2 January 1893}}</ref> he became executive officer in the [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Hawke|1891|6}} in the Mediterranean Fleet in May 1893.<ref name=heath36/> In January 1896 he went on to be [[commanding officer]] of the boys' training establishment at [[Isle of Portland|Portland]] first in the training ship {{HMS|Boscawen|1844|6}} and then in the training ship {{HMS|Minotaur|1863|6}} and was promoted [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]] on 1 January 1898.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26924|page=7854|date=31 December 1897}}</ref>


In September 1899 Burney took command of his old ship HMS ''Hawke'' and in 1900 became the captain of cruiser [[HMS Sappho (1891)|HMS ''Sappho'']], initially on the North American Station, but soon transferred to the [[Cape of Good Hope Station]] for operational service in the [[Second Boer War]].<ref name=heath36/> HMS ''Sappho'' struck the [[Durban]] [[shoal|bar]] on 3 May 1901, although she was under the command of a [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] at the time and Burney was not to blame, and returned to the United Kingdom for repairs.<ref name=heath36/> On 27 May 1902 he was appointed in command of the [[pre-dreadnought battleship]] [[HMS Resolution (1892)|HMS ''Resolution'']],<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Naval & Military intelligence|day_of_week=Saturday |date=3 May 1902 |page_number=14 |issue=36758| }}</ref> as [[Flag Captain]] to Rear-Admiral [[George Atkinson-Willes]], Second-in-Command of the [[Home Fleet]]. The following September he was appointed to [[HMS Empress of India (1891)|HMS ''Empress of India'']] in the same capacity, and he remained with Atkinson-Willes´ successor Rear-Admiral [[Edmund Poë]] until June 1904.<ref name=odnb/> He became commanding officer of the battleship [[HMS Triumph (1903)|HMS ''Triumph'']] in the Home Fleet in June 1904 and commanding officer of the training establishment [[HMS Impregnable (training establishment 1862)|HMS ''Impregnable'']] as inspecting captain of boys' training ships in July 1905.<ref name=heath37>Heathcote, p. 37</ref> He became a naval [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Edward VII|the King]] on 17 October 1906.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=27959|supp=|startpage=7017|date=19 October 1906|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
In September 1899 Burney took command of his old ship HMS ''Hawke'' and in 1900 became the captain of cruiser {{HMS|Sappho|1891|6}}, initially on the North American Station, but soon transferred to the [[Cape of Good Hope Station]] for operational service in the [[Second Boer War]].<ref name=heath36/> HMS ''Sappho'' struck the [[Durban]] [[shoal|bar]] on 3 May 1901, although she was under the command of a [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] at the time and Burney was not to blame, and returned to the United Kingdom for repairs.<ref name=heath36/> On 27 May 1902 he was appointed in command of the [[pre-dreadnought battleship]] {{HMS|Resolution|1892|6}},<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=3 May 1902 |page=14 |issue=36758}}</ref> as [[Flag Captain]] to Rear-Admiral [[George Atkinson-Willes]], Second-in-Command of the [[Home Fleet]], during the [[Coronation Review]] for King [[Edward VII]]. The following month, he was on 16 September appointed in command of [[HMS Empress of India (1891)|HMS ''Empress of India'']] in the same capacity,<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence |date=27 August 1902 |page=4 |issue=36857}}</ref> and he remained with Atkinson-Willes' successor Rear-Admiral [[Edmund Poë]] until June 1904.<ref name=odnb/> He became commanding officer of the battleship {{HMS|Triumph|1903|6}} in the Home Fleet in June 1904 and commanding officer of the training establishment [[HMS Impregnable (training establishment 1862)|HMS ''Impregnable'']] as inspecting captain of boys' training ships in July 1905.<ref name=heath37>Heathcote, p. 37</ref> He became a naval [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Edward VII|the King]] on 17 October 1906.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27959|page=7017|date=19 October 1906}}</ref>


Promoted [[rear-admiral]] on 10 October 1907,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=28068|supp=|startpage=6813|date=11 October 1907|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> Burney was given command of the Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet.<ref name=odnb/> He became commander of the 5th Cruiser Squadron in the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]], with his flag in the armoured cruiser [[HMS Good Hope (1901)|HMS ''Good Hope'']], in February 1911 and Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet with his flag in the battleship [[HMS Prince of Wales (1902)|HMS ''Prince of Wales'']] and with the rank of acting [[vice-admiral]], in September 1911.<ref name=heath37/> He transferred to the command of the [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]] in the Mediterranean Fleet, with his flag in the battleship [[HMS King Edward VII|HMS ''King Edward VII'']], in April 1912 and was promoted to the substantive rank of vice-admiral on 20 September 1912.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=28647|supp=|startpage=7022|date=24 September 1912|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
Promoted [[rear-admiral]] on 10 October 1907,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28068|page=6813|date=11 October 1907}}</ref> Burney was given command of the Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet.<ref name=odnb/> He became commander of the 5th Cruiser Squadron in the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]], with his flag in the armoured cruiser {{HMS|Good Hope|1901|6}}, in February 1911 and Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet with his flag in the battleship [[HMS Prince of Wales (1902)|HMS ''Prince of Wales'']] and with the rank of acting [[vice-admiral]], in September 1911.<ref name=heath37/> He transferred to the command of the [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]] in the Mediterranean Fleet, with his flag in the battleship {{HMS|King Edward VII}}, in April 1912 and was promoted to the substantive rank of vice-admiral on 20 September 1912.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28647|page=7022|date=24 September 1912}}</ref>


==First Balkan War==
==First Balkan War==
[[File:London Peace Treaty Signing 30 May 1913.jpg|thumb|left|The [[London Conference of 1912–13|London Conference]] which led to Burney being despatched to the Balkans to keep the Peace]]
[[File:London Peace Treaty Signing 30 May 1913.jpg|thumb|left|The [[London Conference of 1912–13|London Conference]] which led to Burney being despatched to the Balkans to keep the Peace]]
In April 1913 [[Montenegro]] seized control of [[Shkodër|Scutari]] in the latest round of hostilities between the [[Ottoman Empire]] and Montenegro during the closing stages of the [[First Balkan War]]. The view taken at the [[London Conference of 1912–13|London Conference]] was that Scutari should be handed over to Albania. In April 1913 Burney was sent as temporary Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet, flying his flag in the cruiser [[HMS Dublin (1912)|HMS ''Dublin'']], to [[Bar, Montenegro|Antivari]] on the coast of Montenegro to take command of the international naval force despatched to deal with this situation. On arrival he blockaded Antivari and then, from May to November 1913, also commanded the international force occupying Scutari as part of its transition to Albanian control.<ref name=heath37/> For his very successful handling of this situation he was appointed [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] (KCB) on 3 June 1913<ref name=kcb>{{LondonGazette|issue=28724|supp=|startpage=3903|date=30 May 1913|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> and appointed [[Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (KCMG) on 27 October 1913.<ref name=kcmg>{{LondonGazette|issue=28770|supp=|startpage=7674|date=4 November 1913|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
In April 1913 [[Montenegro]] seized control of [[Shkodër|Scutari]] in the latest round of hostilities between the [[Ottoman Empire]] and Montenegro during the closing stages of the [[First Balkan War]]. The view taken at the [[London Conference of 1912–13|London Conference]] was that Scutari should be handed over to Albania. In April 1913 Burney was sent as temporary Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet, flying his flag in the cruiser {{HMS|Dublin|1912|6}}, to [[Bar, Montenegro|Antivari]] on the coast of Montenegro to take command of the international naval force despatched to deal with this situation. On arrival he [[Blockade of Montenegro|blockaded Antivari]] and then, from May to November 1913, also commanded the international force occupying Scutari as part of its transition to Albanian control.<ref name=heath37/> For his very successful handling of this situation he was appointed [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] (KCB) on 3 June 1913<ref name=kcb>{{London Gazette|issue=28724|page=3903|date=30 May 1913}}</ref> and appointed [[Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (KCMG) on 27 October 1913.<ref name=kcmg>{{London Gazette|issue=28770|page=7674|date=4 November 1913}}</ref>


==First World War==
==First World War==
[[File:HMS Marlborough (1912).jpg|right|thumb|The battleship [[HMS Marlborough (1912)|HMS ''Marlborough'']], Burney's flagship at the Battle of Jutland]]
[[File:HMS Marlborough (1912).jpg|right|thumb|The battleship {{HMS|Marlborough|1912|6}}, Burney's flagship at the Battle of Jutland]]
Burney returned to England and took command of the [[Second Fleet (United Kingdom)|Second Fleet]] and [[Third Fleet (United Kingdom)|Third Fleet]], with his flag in the battleship [[HMS Queen (1902)|HMS ''Queen'']] in December 1913 and then in the battleship [[HMS Lord Nelson (1906)|HMS ''Lord Nelson'']] in July 1914.<ref name=heath37/> On the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]] in August 1914 these fleets were combined into the [[Channel Fleet]] with Burney in command.<ref name=heath37/> In that role he ensured the safe passage of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] to France in October 1914.<ref name=heath37/> He went on to be commander of the [[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]] as well as second-in-command of the [[Grand Fleet]] with his flag in the battleship [[HMS Marlborough (1912)|HMS ''Marlborough'']] in December 1914.<ref name=heath37/> He commanded the squadron at the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916, where his flagship HMS ''Marlborough'' was the first ship to engage the Germans but was later [[torpedo]]ed, necessitating the transfer of his [[flag officer|flag]] to the battleship [[HMS Revenge (06)|HMS ''Revenge'']].<ref name=heath37/> Promoted full [[admiral]] on 9 June 1916,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=29621|supp=yes|startpage=5828|date=13 June 1916|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> he was appointed [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (GCMG) on 15 September 1916.<ref name=gcmg>{{LondonGazette|issue=29751|supp=yes|startpage=9071|date=15 September 1916|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
Burney returned to England and took command of the [[Second Fleet (United Kingdom)|Second Fleet]] and [[Third Fleet (United Kingdom)|Third Fleet]], with his flag in the battleship {{HMS|Queen|1902|6}} in December 1913 and then in the battleship {{HMS|Lord Nelson|1906|6}} in July 1914.<ref name=heath37/> On the outbreak of the [[First World War]] in August 1914 these fleets were combined into the [[Channel Fleet]] with Burney in command.<ref name=heath37/> In that role he ensured the safe passage of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] to France in October 1914.<ref name=heath37/> He went on to be commander of the [[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]] as well as second-in-command of the [[Grand Fleet]] with his flag in the battleship {{HMS|Marlborough|1912|6}} in December 1914.<ref name=heath37/> He commanded the squadron at the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916, where his flagship HMS ''Marlborough'' was the first ship to engage the Germans but was later [[torpedo]]ed, necessitating the transfer of his [[flag officer|flag]] to the battleship {{HMS|Revenge|06|6}}.<ref name=heath37/> Promoted full [[admiral]] on 9 June 1916,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29621|supp=y|page=5828|date=13 June 1916}}</ref> he was appointed [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (GCMG) on 15 September 1916.<ref name=gcmg>{{London Gazette|issue=29751|supp=y|page=9071|date=15 September 1916}}</ref>
[[File:CecilBurneysketchbyDodd.jpg|upright|thumb|A 1917 portrait of Cecil Burney by [[Francis Dodd (artist)|Francis Dodd]].]]
[[File:Cecil Burney (sketch by Dodd).jpg|upright|thumb|A 1917 portrait of Cecil Burney by [[Francis Dodd (artist)|Francis Dodd]].]]


Burney was appointed [[Second Sea Lord]] in November 1916. However, in September 1917 he was removed, despite the opposition of First Sea Lord [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|Sir John Jellicoe]], on the insistence of both the Prime Minister [[David Lloyd George]] and the First Lord of the Admiralty [[Eric Geddes]], who wanted a younger man in the post. Burney became [[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]] instead in October 1917.<ref name=heath38>Heathcore, p. 38</ref>
Burney was appointed [[Second Sea Lord]] in November 1916. However, in September 1917 he was removed, despite the opposition of First Sea Lord [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|Sir John Jellicoe]], on the insistence of both the Prime Minister [[David Lloyd George]] and the First Lord of the Admiralty [[Eric Geddes]], who wanted a younger man in the post. Burney became [[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]] instead in October 1917.<ref name=heath38>Heathcore, p. 38</ref>


==Post-war career==
==Post-war career==
Burney became [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] in March 1919.<ref name=heath38/> He became a [[Deputy Lieutenant]] of [[Southampton]] on 5 May 1920.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=31894|supp=|startpage=5362|date=11 May 1920|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> He was also promoted [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] on 24 November 1920,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=32150|supp=yes|startpage=11942|date=3 December 1920|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> created a [[baronet]] in the [[1921 New Year Honours]],<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=32178|supp=yes|startpage=2|date=1 January 1921|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> and appointed [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] (GCB) in the [[1922 New Year Honours]].<ref name=gcb>{{LondonGazette|issue=32563|supp=yes|startpage=10712|date=30 December 1921|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> He officially retired on 24 November 1925,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=33110|supp=|startpage=7950|date=1 December 1925|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref> died at his home at [[Upham, Hampshire|Upham]] in [[Hampshire]] on 5 June 1929 and was buried at [[Brookwood Cemetery]].<ref name=heath38/>
Burney became [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] in March 1919.<ref name=heath38/> He became a [[Deputy Lieutenant]] of [[Southampton]] on 5 May 1920.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31894|page=5362|date=11 May 1920}}</ref> He was also promoted [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] on 24 November 1920,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32150|supp=y|page=11942|date=3 December 1920}}</ref> created a [[baronet]] in the [[1921 New Year Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32178|supp=y|page=2|date=1 January 1921}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32262 |date=18 March 1921 |pages=2218–2219 }}</ref> and appointed [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] (GCB) in the [[1922 New Year Honours]].<ref name=gcb>{{London Gazette|issue=32563|supp=y|page=10712|date=30 December 1921}}</ref> He officially retired on 24 November 1925,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33110|page=7950|date=1 December 1925}}</ref> died at his home at [[Upham, Hampshire|Upham]] in [[Hampshire]] on 5 June 1929 and was buried at [[Brookwood Cemetery]].<ref name=heath38/>


==Family==
==Family==
In 1884 Burney married Lucinda Burnett; they had two daughters and a son.<ref name=heath36/>
In 1884 Burney married Lucinda Burnett; they had two daughters, and a son.<ref name=heath36/> His son [[Dennistoun Burney]] became a marine and aeronautical engineer, and his daughter [[Sybil Neville-Rolfe|Sybil Katherine Neville-Rolfe]] was founder of the [[Galton Institute|Eugenics Society]].<ref name="odnb" />


==Honours==
==Honours==
Line 60: Line 90:
*[[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross of the Bath]] (GCB) – 1 January 1922<ref name=gcb/> (KCB – 3 June 1913<ref name=kcb/>)
*[[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross of the Bath]] (GCB) – 1 January 1922<ref name=gcb/> (KCB – 3 June 1913<ref name=kcb/>)
*[[Order of St Michael and St George|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] – 15 September 1916<ref name=gcmg/> (KCMG – 27 October 1913<ref name=kcmg/>)
*[[Order of St Michael and St George|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] – 15 September 1916<ref name=gcmg/> (KCMG – 27 October 1913<ref name=kcmg/>)
*Grand Officer of the French [[Legion of Honour]] – 15 September 1916<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=29751|supp=yes|startpage=9081|date=15 September 1916|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*Grand Officer of the French [[Legion of Honour]] – 15 September 1916<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29751|supp=y|page=9081|date=15 September 1916}}</ref>
*Russian [[Order of St. Vladimir]], 2nd Class (with Swords) – 5 June 1917<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=30116|supp=yes|startpage=5591|date=5 June 1917|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*Russian [[Order of St. Vladimir]], 2nd Class (with Swords) – 5 June 1917<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30116|supp=y|page=5591|date=5 June 1917}}</ref>
*Grand Cross of the Italian [[Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]] – 11 August 1917<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=30227|supp=yes|startpage=8208|date=10 August 1917|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*Grand Cross of the Italian [[Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]] – 11 August 1917<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30227|supp=y|page=8208|date=10 August 1917}}</ref>
*Grand Cordon of the Japanese [[Order of the Rising Sun]] – 29 August 1917<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=30258|supp=yes|startpage=8989|date=28 August 1917|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*Grand Cordon of the Japanese [[Order of the Rising Sun]] – 29 August 1917<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30258|supp=y|page=8989|date=28 August 1917}}</ref>
*Grand Cordon of the Belgian [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] – 29 November 1918<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=31038|supp=yes|startpage=14092|date=26 November 1918|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*Grand Cordon of the Belgian [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] – 29 November 1918<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31038|supp=y|page=14092|date=26 November 1918}}</ref>
*American [[Distinguished Service Medal (US Navy)|Distinguished Service Medal]] – 16 September 1919<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=31553|supp=yes|startpage=11582|date=12 September 1919|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*American [[Distinguished Service Medal (US Navy)|Distinguished Service Medal]] – 16 September 1919<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31553|supp=y|page=11582|date=12 September 1919}}</ref>
*French [[Croix de guerre]] – 22 January 1920<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=31748|supp=yes|startpage=949|date=20 January 1920|accessdate=13 December 2014}}</ref>
*French [[Croix de Guerre]] – 22 January 1920<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31748|supp=y|page=949|date=20 January 1920}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
Line 81: Line 111:
{{s-mil}}
{{s-mil}}
{{S-bef |before=[[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|Sir John Jellicoe]]}}
{{S-bef |before=[[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|Sir John Jellicoe]]}}
{{S-ttl |title=[[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet]] |years=1911–1912}}
{{S-ttl |title=[[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet]] |years=1911–1912}}
{{S-aft |after=Post abolished}}
{{S-non|reason=Post abolished}}
{{s-new| post}}
{{succession box | title=[[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|Vice-Admiral Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron]] | years=1912&ndash;1913 | before=[[Christopher Cradock|Sir Christopher Cradock]] | after=[[Lewis Bayly (Royal Navy officer)|Lewis Bayly]]}}
{{s-ttl
{{succession box | title=[[Channel Fleet|Vice-Admiral Commanding 2nd and 3rd Fleets/Channel Fleet]] | years=1913&ndash;1914 | before=[[Frederick Hamilton (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Frederick Hamilton]] | after=Unknown}}
{{succession box | title=[[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|Vice-Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron]] | years=1914&ndash;1916 | before=[[Lewis Bayly (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Lewis Bayly]] | after=[[Sir Charles Madden, 1st Baronet|Sir Charles Madden]]}}
| title=[[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|Vice-Admiral Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron]]
| years=1912–1913
{{succession box | title=[[Second Sea Lord]] | years=1916&ndash;1917 | before=[[Somerset Gough-Calthorpe|Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe]] | after=[[Rosslyn Wemyss|Sir Rosslyn Wemyss]]}}
}}
{{succession box | title=[[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]] | years=1917&ndash;1919 | before=[[Frederick Hamilton (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Frederick Hamilton]] | after=[[Herbert Heath|Sir Herbert Heath]]}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Lewis Bayly (Royal Navy officer)|Lewis Bayly]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] | years=1919&ndash;1920 | before=[[Stanley Colville|Sir Stanley Colville]] | after=[[Somerset Gough-Calthorpe|Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe]]}}
{{s-bef
| before=[[Frederick Hamilton (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Frederick Hamilton]]}}
{{s-ttl
| title=[[Channel Fleet|Vice-Admiral Commanding 2nd and 3rd Fleets/Channel Fleet]]
| years=1913–1914
}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{succession box | title=[[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|Vice-Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron]] | years=1914–1916 | before=[[Lewis Bayly (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Lewis Bayly]] | after=[[Sir Charles Madden, 1st Baronet|Sir Charles Madden]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Second Sea Lord]] | years=1916–1917 | before=[[Somerset Gough-Calthorpe|Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe]] | after=[[Rosslyn Wemyss|Sir Rosslyn Wemyss]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]] | years=1917–1919 | before=[[Frederick Hamilton (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Frederick Hamilton]] | after=[[Herbert Heath|Sir Herbert Heath]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] | years=1919–1920 | before=[[Stanley Colville|Sir Stanley Colville]] | after=[[Somerset Gough-Calthorpe|Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe]]}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-new}}
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Burney baronets|Baronet]]<br />'''(of Preston Candover) | years='''1921–1929}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Burney baronets|Baronet]]<br />'''(of Preston Candover)''' | years=1921–1929}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Dennistoun Burney]]}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Dennistoun Burney]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Burney, Cecil
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Royal Navy admiral of the fleet
| DATE OF BIRTH = 15 May 1858
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Saint Saviour, Jersey]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 5 June 1929
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Upham, Hampshire]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burney, Cecil}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burney, Cecil}}
[[Category:1858 births]]
[[Category:1858 births]]
[[Category:1929 deaths]]
[[Category:1929 deaths]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Anglo-Egyptian War]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Mahdist War]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Mahdist War]]
[[Category:Jersey military personnel]]
[[Category:Jersey military personnel]]
[[Category:Deputy Lieutenants of Hampshire]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class]]
[[Category:Foreign recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Foreign recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals of the fleet]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals of the fleet]]
[[Category:Burials at Brookwood Cemetery]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals of World War I]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals of World War I]]
[[Category:Lords of the Admiralty]]
[[Category:Lords of the Admiralty]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Second Boer War]]
[[Category:Military personnel of the Balkan Wars]]

Latest revision as of 15:27, 25 April 2024

For the British businessman and Zambian politician, see Cecil Dennistoun Burney.

Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Cecil Burney
Bt GCB GCMG DL
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
In office
March 1919 – 1920
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland
In office
October 1917 – March 1919
Second Sea Lord
In office
November 1916 – September 1917
Vice-Admiral/Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron
In office
December 1914 – November 1916
Vice-Admiral Commanding Channel Fleet
In office
August 1914 – December 1914
Vice-Admiral Commanding Second and Third Fleets
In office
December 1913 – August 1914
Vice-Admiral Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron
In office
April 1912 – December 1913
Vice-Admiral Commanding Atlantic Fleet
In office
September 1911 – April 1912
Rear-Admiral Commanding 5th Cruiser Squadron
In office
February 1911 – September 1911
Personal details
Born(1858-05-15)15 May 1858
Saint Saviour, Jersey
Died5 June 1929(1929-06-05) (aged 71)
Upham, Hampshire, England
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch/service Royal Navy
Years of service1871–1925
RankAdmiral of the Fleet
CommandsHMS Boscawen
HMS Minotaur
HMS Hawke
HMS Sappho
HMS Resolution
HMS Empress of India
HMS Triumph
HMS Impregnable
Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet
5th Cruiser Squadron
Atlantic Fleet
3rd Battle Squadron
Second Fleet and Third Fleet
Channel Fleet
1st Battle Squadron
Coast of Scotland
Portsmouth Command
Battles/warsAnglo-Egyptian War
Mahdist War
Second Boer War
First Balkan War
First World War

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Cecil Burney, 1st Baronet, GCB, GCMG, DL (15 May 1858 – 5 June 1929) was a Royal Navy officer. After seeing action as a junior office in naval brigades during both the Anglo-Egyptian War and the Mahdist War, he commanded a cruiser in operational service during the Second Boer War. As a flag officer he commanded the Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet, the 5th Cruiser Squadron, the Atlantic Fleet and then the 3rd Battle Squadron.

In April 1913 Montenegro seized control of Scutari in the latest round of hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and Montenegro during the closing stages of the First Balkan War. In April 1913 Burney was sent as temporary Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet to Antivari on the coast of Montenegro to take command of the international naval force despatched to deal with this situation. On arrival he blockaded Antivari and then also commanded the international force occupying Scutari as part of its transition to Albanian control. He was well rewarded with honours for the success of this mission.

On the outbreak of the First World War Burney became Vice-Admiral Commanding the Channel Fleet. In that role he ensured the safe passage of the British Expeditionary Force to France. He went on to be commander of the 1st Battle Squadron commanding the squadron at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, where his flagship HMS Marlborough was the first ship to engage the Germans but was later torpedoed. He was appointed Second Sea Lord in November 1916 but removed on the grounds of his age in September 1917 and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland instead. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth after the War.

Early years[edit]

The son of Captain Charles Burney RN and Catherine Elizabeth Burney (née Jones), Burney was born in Saint Saviour, Jersey. He was educated at Burney's Royal Naval Academy, Gosport and then joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in the training ship HMS Britannia in July 1871.[1] Promoted midshipman in October 1873, he was assigned to the battleship HMS Repulse, flagship of the Pacific Station and, after promotion to sub-lieutenant on 18 October 1877, he transferred to the troopship HMS Serapis in January 1879.[2] He joined the Royal Yacht HMY Victoria and Albert in June 1879 and was promoted lieutenant on 30 August 1879.[3]

Burney joined the corvette HMS Carysfort in the Mediterranean Fleet in September 1880 and served ashore in command of a Gatling gun team as part of a naval brigade and saw action at the Battle of Tell al-Mahuta in August 1882 and the Battle of Kassasin also in August 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War.[2] He then also accompanied Sir Charles Warren's expedition in pursuit of the murderers of Professor Edward Palmer and his associates.[2] He went on to serve in operations against Osman Digna who was threatening Suakin in Spring 1884 during the Mahdist War.[2]

Burney returned to Portsmouth to attend the gunnery school HMS Excellent in September 1884 and then joined the staff at the gunnery training ship HMS Cambridge at Devonport in June 1886.[2] He became gunnery officer first in the battleship HMS Bellerophon on the North America and West Indies Station in August 1887, then in the cruiser HMS Comus on the same station in April 1889 and finally in the armoured cruiser HMS Immortalité in the Channel Squadron in January 1892.[2] Promoted commander on 1 January 1893,[4] he became executive officer in the cruiser HMS Hawke in the Mediterranean Fleet in May 1893.[2] In January 1896 he went on to be commanding officer of the boys' training establishment at Portland first in the training ship HMS Boscawen and then in the training ship HMS Minotaur and was promoted captain on 1 January 1898.[5]

In September 1899 Burney took command of his old ship HMS Hawke and in 1900 became the captain of cruiser HMS Sappho, initially on the North American Station, but soon transferred to the Cape of Good Hope Station for operational service in the Second Boer War.[2] HMS Sappho struck the Durban bar on 3 May 1901, although she was under the command of a pilot at the time and Burney was not to blame, and returned to the United Kingdom for repairs.[2] On 27 May 1902 he was appointed in command of the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Resolution,[6] as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral George Atkinson-Willes, Second-in-Command of the Home Fleet, during the Coronation Review for King Edward VII. The following month, he was on 16 September appointed in command of HMS Empress of India in the same capacity,[7] and he remained with Atkinson-Willes' successor Rear-Admiral Edmund Poë until June 1904.[1] He became commanding officer of the battleship HMS Triumph in the Home Fleet in June 1904 and commanding officer of the training establishment HMS Impregnable as inspecting captain of boys' training ships in July 1905.[8] He became a naval aide-de-camp to the King on 17 October 1906.[9]

Promoted rear-admiral on 10 October 1907,[10] Burney was given command of the Plymouth Division of the Home Fleet.[1] He became commander of the 5th Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic Fleet, with his flag in the armoured cruiser HMS Good Hope, in February 1911 and Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet with his flag in the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and with the rank of acting vice-admiral, in September 1911.[8] He transferred to the command of the 3rd Battle Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet, with his flag in the battleship HMS King Edward VII, in April 1912 and was promoted to the substantive rank of vice-admiral on 20 September 1912.[11]

First Balkan War[edit]

The London Conference which led to Burney being despatched to the Balkans to keep the Peace

In April 1913 Montenegro seized control of Scutari in the latest round of hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and Montenegro during the closing stages of the First Balkan War. The view taken at the London Conference was that Scutari should be handed over to Albania. In April 1913 Burney was sent as temporary Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet, flying his flag in the cruiser HMS Dublin, to Antivari on the coast of Montenegro to take command of the international naval force despatched to deal with this situation. On arrival he blockaded Antivari and then, from May to November 1913, also commanded the international force occupying Scutari as part of its transition to Albanian control.[8] For his very successful handling of this situation he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on 3 June 1913[12] and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) on 27 October 1913.[13]

First World War[edit]

The battleship HMS Marlborough, Burney's flagship at the Battle of Jutland

Burney returned to England and took command of the Second Fleet and Third Fleet, with his flag in the battleship HMS Queen in December 1913 and then in the battleship HMS Lord Nelson in July 1914.[8] On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 these fleets were combined into the Channel Fleet with Burney in command.[8] In that role he ensured the safe passage of the British Expeditionary Force to France in October 1914.[8] He went on to be commander of the 1st Battle Squadron as well as second-in-command of the Grand Fleet with his flag in the battleship HMS Marlborough in December 1914.[8] He commanded the squadron at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, where his flagship HMS Marlborough was the first ship to engage the Germans but was later torpedoed, necessitating the transfer of his flag to the battleship HMS Revenge.[8] Promoted full admiral on 9 June 1916,[14] he was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) on 15 September 1916.[15]

A 1917 portrait of Cecil Burney by Francis Dodd.

Burney was appointed Second Sea Lord in November 1916. However, in September 1917 he was removed, despite the opposition of First Sea Lord Sir John Jellicoe, on the insistence of both the Prime Minister David Lloyd George and the First Lord of the Admiralty Eric Geddes, who wanted a younger man in the post. Burney became Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland instead in October 1917.[16]

Post-war career[edit]

Burney became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in March 1919.[16] He became a Deputy Lieutenant of Southampton on 5 May 1920.[17] He was also promoted Admiral of the Fleet on 24 November 1920,[18] created a baronet in the 1921 New Year Honours,[19][20] and appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1922 New Year Honours.[21] He officially retired on 24 November 1925,[22] died at his home at Upham in Hampshire on 5 June 1929 and was buried at Brookwood Cemetery.[16]

Family[edit]

In 1884 Burney married Lucinda Burnett; they had two daughters, and a son.[2] His son Dennistoun Burney became a marine and aeronautical engineer, and his daughter Sybil Katherine Neville-Rolfe was founder of the Eugenics Society.[1]

Honours[edit]

Burney's honours included:

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Sir Cecil Burney". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32192. Retrieved 13 December 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Heathcote, p. 36
  3. ^ "No. 24758". The London Gazette. 2 September 1879. p. 5309.
  4. ^ "No. 26359". The London Gazette. 2 January 1893. p. 2.
  5. ^ "No. 26924". The London Gazette. 31 December 1897. p. 7854.
  6. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36758. London. 3 May 1902. p. 14.
  7. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36857. London. 27 August 1902. p. 4.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Heathcote, p. 37
  9. ^ "No. 27959". The London Gazette. 19 October 1906. p. 7017.
  10. ^ "No. 28068". The London Gazette. 11 October 1907. p. 6813.
  11. ^ "No. 28647". The London Gazette. 24 September 1912. p. 7022.
  12. ^ a b "No. 28724". The London Gazette. 30 May 1913. p. 3903.
  13. ^ a b "No. 28770". The London Gazette. 4 November 1913. p. 7674.
  14. ^ "No. 29621". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1916. p. 5828.
  15. ^ a b "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9071.
  16. ^ a b c Heathcore, p. 38
  17. ^ "No. 31894". The London Gazette. 11 May 1920. p. 5362.
  18. ^ "No. 32150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 December 1920. p. 11942.
  19. ^ "No. 32178". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1921. p. 2.
  20. ^ "No. 32262". The London Gazette. 18 March 1921. pp. 2218–2219.
  21. ^ a b "No. 32563". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1921. p. 10712.
  22. ^ "No. 33110". The London Gazette. 1 December 1925. p. 7950.
  23. ^ "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9081.
  24. ^ "No. 30116". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1917. p. 5591.
  25. ^ "No. 30227". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 August 1917. p. 8208.
  26. ^ "No. 30258". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 August 1917. p. 8989.
  27. ^ "No. 31038". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 November 1918. p. 14092.
  28. ^ "No. 31553". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 September 1919. p. 11582.
  29. ^ "No. 31748". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 January 1920. p. 949.

Sources[edit]

  • Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-835-6.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cecil Burney.
Military offices
Preceded by Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet
1911–1912 		Post abolished
New post Vice-Admiral Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron
1912–1913 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-Admiral Commanding 2nd and 3rd Fleets/Channel Fleet
1913–1914 		Unknown
Preceded by Vice-Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron
1914–1916 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Sea Lord
1916–1917 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland
1917–1919 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
1919–1920 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New title Baronet
(of Preston Candover)
1921–1929 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cecil_Burney&oldid=1220729291"