Gresham Nicholson Explained

Honorific Prefix:Admiral
Sir Gresham Nicholson
Birth Date:16 December 1892
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:Royal Navy
Serviceyears:1914–1950
Rank:Admiral
Commands:HMNB Devonport (1945–50)
Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham (1940–43)
6th Destroyer Flotilla (1938–40)
(1938–40)
(1936)
HMS Pegasus (1935)
Battles:First World War
Second World War
Awards:Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Order of the Phoenix (Greece)

Admiral Sir Randolph Stewart Gresham Nicholson, (16 December 1892 – 28 July 1975) was a Royal Navy officer who became Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey.

Naval career

Nicolson served in the First World War with the Harwich Force and took part in the Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids in 1918.[1] After the war he joined the staff at the Royal Navy College, Dartmouth and then became Aide-de-camp to the Governor of Malaya and the Straits Settlements.[1] He was appointed Captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Pegasus in 1935,[2] Captain of the cruiser in 1936[2] and Captain of [2] and Commander of the Tribal Destroyer Flotilla in 1938.[1] Under Nicholson's command the Somali took possession of the Hannah Böge, the first prize of the Second World War at sea, just two hours into the war.[3] He continued his war service as Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham from November 1940 to August 1943 and then appointed as Flag Officer, Ceylon from August 1943 to April 1944. He was then appointed Flag Officer, Ceylon and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet until July 1945.[1] After the war he became Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport until he retired in 1950.[1]

In retirement he was Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey.[4] There is a memorial to him in Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/NICHOLSON3.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  2. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersN.html Unit Histories
  3. http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4435.html Uboat.net
  4. http://jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk/view/14144073/00008439_jpg This is Jersey