The Great Edwardian Naval Feud

Beresford’s Vendetta against ‘Jackie’ Fisher

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Transportation, Ships & Shipbuilding, History, Modern, Biography & Memoir, Historical
Cover of the book The Great Edwardian Naval Feud by Richard Freemen, Pen and Sword
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Author: Richard Freemen ISBN: 9781844684649
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publication: November 19, 2009
Imprint: Pen and Sword Language: English
Author: Richard Freemen
ISBN: 9781844684649
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication: November 19, 2009
Imprint: Pen and Sword
Language: English

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.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

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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