Cecil Spencer Hickley

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AdmiralCecil Spencer Hickley, C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (22 January, 1865 – 1 May, 1941) was an officer of theRoyal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Cecil Spencer Hickley was born on 22 January, 1865, at Ashcott, Somerset, the son of Captain (later Admiral, Retired) Victor Grant Hickley, Royal Navy. He entered the training shipBritannia on 15 July, 1878.

Hickley was promoted to the rank ofLieutenant on 31 December, 1888.[1]

He was appointed to theRaleigh on theCape of Good Hope Station on 7 September, 1889. On 11 July, 1890, he was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Rear-AdmiralRichard Wells, the Commander-in-Chief, and served as such until 9 October.[2] Wells recorded: "Zealous & shows judgement. Considerable physical capabilities. Recommended for advancement."[3] He remained inRaleigh until 31 October, 1891.[4] CaptainArthur Barrow wrote of him: "Good judgement, energetic & active."[5] During his time at the Cape Hickley played first-class cricket for the Western Province team.[6]

On 16 January, 1892, he was appointed toBoadicea as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-AdmiralWilliam R. Kennedy,Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station. He arrived home on 7 April, 1895.[7] Kennedy recorded of him:

Very active & zealous, capital Signal officer, good judgement, specially recommended for advancement. Has performed duties of Flag Lieut with great tact & ability & entirely to my satisfaction: is at all times courteous ... which has proved of great help in all social relations in India & the Colonies.[8]

On 12 December, 1895, Hickley was appointed to the new battleshipMajestic.[9] In August, 1897, it was noted that "Lord W. Kerr speaks very highly of him in note to Pte. Secretary as candidate for Royal Yacht,"[10] and on 31 August Hickley was appointed to H.M.Y.Victoria and Albert.[11] He was promoted to the rank ofCommander on 31 August, 1899.[12] While in the Royal Yacht, Hickley played first-class cricket for Somerset.[13]

Captain

Hickley was promoted to the rank ofCaptain on 30 June, 1904.[14]

In August 1905, he assumed command of the armoured cruiserRoxburgh. He was to be in command for so short that he took command of his next vessel, the first class protected cruiserAmphitrite, later that same month.

On 7 December, 1906, Hickley was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiserHighflyer.[15]

He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiserCochrane on 5 January, 1909.[16]

He was appointed to command the battleshipVanguard on 5 June, 1913.[17]

Great War

On 11 January, 1916, Hickley was promoted to the rank ofRear-Admiral, viceSmith.[18] He was superseded on 22 January, and on 25 May was appointed a member of the Committee on East Coast Bases. His appointment as Rear-Admiral CommandingCruiser Force I on 4 December was cancelled owing to sickness, and on 6 December he was admitted to the Homeopathic Hospital, London, for treatment of toxæmia. On the 25th he was relieved on the East Coast Bases Committee by CaptainE. Percy F. G. Grant. Following a number of surveys by the Medical Director-General he was found fit for shore service on 29 May, 1917, and was regularly resurveyed afterwards.[19]

Hickley was appointed Senior Naval Officer, Harwich, on 1 April, 1918.[20] He was also in charge of Shotley Training Establishment and Naval Barracks.[21]

Post-War

On 9 April, 1919, Hickley was appointed Admiral of the Training Service (A.T.S.).[22] He was promoted to the rank ofVice-Admiral on 17 February, 1920, viceHayes-Sadler, and was placed on the Retired List on 18 February.[23] On 5 June Hickley was appointed a Companion in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on the occasion of the King's birthday.[24]

He was advanced to the rank ofAdmiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1925.[25]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral C. S. Hickley" (Obituaries).The Times. Monday, 5 May, 1941. Issue48917, col E, p. 6.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood		Captain of H.M.S.Cygnet
3 Feb, 1900[26]		Succeeded by
Robert G. D. Dewar
Preceded by
Charles Windham		Captain of H.M.S.Amphitrite
11 Aug, 1905[27][28] – 7 Dec, 1906[29]		Succeeded by
Francis W. Kennedy
Preceded by
?		Captain of H.M.S.Roxburgh
Aug, 1905[30] – Aug, 1905[31]		Succeeded by
Edward P. Ashe
Preceded by
Norman C. Palmer		Captain of H.M.S.Highflyer
7 Dec, 1906[32] – 18 Sep, 1908[33]		Succeeded by
Edward F. Bruen
Preceded by
Dudley R. S. de Chair		Captain of H.M.S.Cochrane
5 Jan, 1909[34][35] – 3 Jan, 1911[36]		Succeeded by
William E. Goodenough
Preceded by
Charles L. Vaughan-Lee		In Command, Shotley Training Establishment
13 Feb, 1911[37] – 20 May, 1913[38]		Succeeded by
George C. Cayley
Preceded by
Arthur D. Ricardo		Captain of H.M.S.Vanguard
5 Jun, 1913[39] – 21 Jan, 1916[40]		Succeeded by
James D. Dick
Preceded by
George C. Cayley		Senior Naval Officer, Harwich
1 Apr, 1918[41] – 1 Mar, 1919[42]		Succeeded by
Charles F. Thorp
Preceded by
Cecil F. Dampier		Admiral of the Training Service
9 Apr, 1919[43]		Succeeded by
Victor A. Stanley

Footnotes

  1. ↑ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  2. ↑ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  3. ↑ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  4. ↑ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  5. ↑ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  6. ↑Cricket Archive.Cecil Hickley.
  7. ↑ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  8. ↑ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  9. ↑"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).The Times. Monday, 18 November, 1895. Issue34737, col E, p. 7.
  10. ↑The National Archives.ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  11. ↑ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  12. ↑The London Gazette:no. 27117. p. 5692. 15 September, 1899.
  13. ↑Cricket Archive.Cecil Hickley.
  14. ↑The London Gazette:no. 27691. p. 4182. 1 July, 1904.
  15. ↑"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).The Times. Monday, 3 December, 1906. Issue38193, col C, p. 7.
  16. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  17. ↑The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 398t.
  18. ↑The London Gazette:no. 29450. p. 999. 25 January, 1916.
  19. ↑ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  20. ↑Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 3.
  21. ↑ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  22. ↑The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  23. ↑The London Gazette:no. 31802. p. 2463. 2 March, 1920.
  24. ↑The London Gazette:"Supplement" no. 31931. p. 6315. 3 January, 1902.
  25. ↑The London Gazette:no. 33049. p. 3445. 22 May, 1925.
  26. ↑The Navy List. (February, 1900). p. 241.
  27. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 166/330.
  28. ↑Day of month taken from predecessor. Windham Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/18. f. 348.
  29. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 166/330.
  30. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  31. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  32. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  33. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  34. ↑The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 293.
  35. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  36. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  37. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  38. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  39. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  40. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/88. f. 57.
  41. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  42. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.
  43. ↑Hickley Service Record. The National Archives.ADM 196/42. f. 330.