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(More customer reviews)Some of my own former commanding officers - whom I knew when Lt. Colonels, went on to achieve very high office and even include one Field Marshall. Whilst ordinary rivalry must have existed within their own careers, none would have been on a scale of the thoroughly unpleasant behaviour exhibited by Admiral Lord Charles Beresford from 1907 onwards. Whereas even a sergeant knows not to rebuke a corporal in front of those of lesser rank, Beresford embarked on a campaign designed to humiliate any officer - right up to the rank of Rear Admiral, whom he perceived as either a friend of Admiral of the Fleet (5 star admiral) Sir Jackie Fisher or who simply would not assist him in his evil campaign against this newly appointed Head of the Royal Navy. This was not only rivalry on an excessive scale, Beresford's hostility knew no bounds whatsoever as he used his hereditary title, plotted with fellow officers, peers and politicians and even leaked information to the press in a bid to bring about the downfall of the man who is now universally recognised as the architect of the modern Royal Navy. It was a bid which eventually went spectacularly wrong and caused Beresford untold personal bitterness right up until his death in 1919.
Beresford had proved himself to be more than competent and even quite courageous during his naval career and had also become one of the most popular commanders in the Royal Navy. Those attributes, however, combined to create a man who, unfortunately, became the very embodiment of arrogance. So arrogant that, at one time, he demanded to be acknowledged as; "A greater man than Nelson" and "the only man who knew anything whatsoever about the art of naval warfare." When Fisher, however, was appointed First Sea Lord, Beresford perceived this as being in his stead and, if Fisher were to be replaced, "he" would automatically assume that supreme role. Consequently, he determined to have Fisher's appointment revoked at all costs.
Beresford now embarked on the unforgivable. Here was a man prepared to give one Rear Admiral an impossible task and then disseminate his disapproval of that officer's subsequent actions to every ship and, thereby, every man under that Rear Admiral's command without even asking for an explanation. Here was a man who became a law unto himself, one who got away with insubordination and disloyalty and was even absent without leave in North America for several weeks when he should have been assuming his own new command. Here was a man who considered himself above the Admiralty and demanded more from the Royal Navy than it was possible to receive.
Whilst neither such a rift nor any similar behaviour could possibly be tolerated in any modern navy, the effects upon morale on those officers of lesser rank who were drawn into this intolerable situation - castigated if they took sides and penalised if they did not, was incalculable and eventually felt all the way down the line. This was a navy in crisis and that crisis was all of Beresford's making.
This book is one of several things and, to name but two,; Firstly, it is one you will find hard to put down. This is partly due to the excellent writing skills of author Richard Freeman and partly because of the sheer incredulity he engenders in the reader as he describes the behaviour of those involved - not just the two main protagonists, but also that of the Prime Minister, other politicians and naval officers of the day. Secondly, the work is an absolute triumph of research, study and achievement as far as the presentation of the facts are concerned. Not only is this book essential reading for anyone with an interest in the subject, it is also indispensable for anyone who is searching for a darned good read.
Altogether, we are provided with an incredible series of revelations about two of Britain's most senior officers in those crucial years immediately prior to WW1. It is a fact that, had the reforming Jackie Fisher "not" been appointed to head the Royal Navy at that time, that navy would have been no match for the German High Sea Fleet in 1914.
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Click Here to see more reviews about: THE GREAT EDWARDIAN NAVAL FEUD: Beresford's Vendetta against 'Jackie' Fisher
This is the story of the clash between two gigantic personalities in the early years of the twentieth century.
On one side was Admiral Lord Charles Beresford.Physically strong, courageous and hot-headed, he was the most popular admiral in the navy.Addicted to the sound of his own voice, he drew crowds of thousands whenever he spoke in public.On the other side was the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir John Fisher.Of humble origin, he had risen through hard work and genius to become the greatest naval reformer that Britain has ever known.
Both men wished to be First Sea Lord.When the prize went to Fisher, Beresford determined to unseat him at any cost.He launched attacks in Parliament, he plotted with Unionist politicians, he leaked state secrets and he courted public opinion.As a popular public figure, no one dared act against him until he finally overstepped the mark and viciously hounded a rear-admiral out of his fleet.
A Cabinet inquiry followed, sitting for fifteen days.Its five members listened to Beresford's incoherent account of his eight charges.In the end, they dismissed the charges, but failed to show any warm support for either man.Fisher's resignation followed and Beresford's career came to an end.
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