Sir Ernest Gaunt | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt |
| Born | (1865-03-25)25 March 1865 Beechworth,Victoria |
| Died | (1940-04-20)20 April 1940 Westminster Hospital,London |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1878–1925 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | 1st Battle Squadron Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Western Approaches |
| Battles / wars | Boxer Rebellion World War I |
AdmiralSir Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt,KCB, KBE, CMG (25 March 1865 – 20 April 1940)[1] was an Australian-bornRoyal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches.
Gaunt was born inBeechworth,Victoria, Australia, the son of William Henry Gaunt and Elizabeth Mary Palmer.[2] Gaunt joined theRoyal Navy in 1878 at the age of 13.[2]
In 1881, he was a midshipman inHMSWolverine, by 1891 he was alieutenant onBelleisle, and by 1896 he was1st Lieutenant on thearmoured cruiserHMSNarcissus.[2] Promoted toCommander on 30 June 1898,[3] Gaunt was, in 1898 and 1899, 1st Commissioner forWeihawei and Administrator forLiukungtao,China. In 1900, he was Commissioner and Superintending transport officer Weihawei, China, at the time of theBoxer Rebellion.[2]
He was appointed a Companion of theOrder of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the1902 Coronation Honours list on 26 June 1902 for his services during the rebellion.[4][5] In August 1901, he was appointed in command of the cruiserHMS Scout,[6] which served with theMediterranean Fleet and in June 1902 replacedHMSHarrier as special service vessel atConstantinople.[7] The vessel visitedConstanța, the main seaport of Romania, in October 1902,[8] then travelled on theDanube toGalați.[9]
He transferred toHMSMohawk in January 1903, as she replacedScout on the Mediterranean station.[10][11] In December 1903, he commanded a landing party fromMohawk at Durbo, on the coast ofItalian Somaliland, where he was wounded.[2][12] In 1905, as commander ofHMS Cambrian, he took possession of theAshmore Islands in the Indian Ocean on behalf of the United Kingdom.[13]
In 1913, he becameCommodore of theRoyal Naval Barracks, Chatham, England, and in 1913 and 1914, he wasaide-de-camp to KingGeorge V. In 1916, duringWorld War I, he served as second-in-command of the 1st Battle Squadron at theBattle of Jutland as Rear Admiral;[2] his flagship wasColossus. From 1917 to 1919 he wasCommander-in-Chief, East Indies, and from 1921 to 1922 he wasCommander-in-Chief, Western Approaches. In 1925 he retired,[2] and was knighted. He died inChelsea, London.
In 1899, he married Louise Geraldine Martyn ofGregans Castle, nearBallyvaughan inCounty Clare, Ireland.[2]
His brother,Guy Gaunt, was also an Admiral of the Royal Navy, and later became aConservativeMember of Parliament.[2] Their sister,Mary Gaunt, was a well-known author in Australia and wrote several travel books.[citation needed]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 1917–1919 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches 1921–1922 | Post disestablished |
